Our USA correspondent Una Riley is the patron of the Professional Security Women in Security (WiS) awards (pictured). She was back in the UK last month to attend the WiS Awards.
For the 15 finalists shortlisted, see https://professionalsecurity.co.uk/news/announcement/wis-shortlist/.
In February the call went out to women in the Security Institute from Rachel Adamson and Di Thomas to form a group to facilitate and coordinate the 2016 WiS awards hosted this year by the Institute. The Awards were presented after the Security Institute Annual Conference at a dinner at the AMBA Hotel, Marble Arch (formerly The Thistle). You might think that is a logistical challenge but the group will have it covered. Leading up to this event Rachel Adamson and Di Thomas called for volunteers and held their first virtual meeting (a tele-conference), on Thursday, February 18. That was ‘D’ day … Di Thomas getting the ball rolling having been involved with the awards from the start. The talent around the (virtual) table at the start consisted of: Dawn Holmes – Bank of America (now at Bloomberg), Heather Norton – American Express, Julia McClelland – Sellafield Ltd, Amanda McCloskey – CIS Security, Angela Baker – Transport for London, Ali Mitchell – ALM Secure Consulting, Georgie Barnard – Met Police, Lyn Webb – Deloitte, and Liz Lloyd from Professional Security; and of course Di and Rachel. I wanted to know what the WiS Awards meant to them individually. Georgie Barnard said: “Recognition of the efforts and dedication of WiS to the industry.” She summed up in one that is basically it … although I have to say that I have had a few male colleagues comment, what about Men in Security awards? I remind them that I created the longest established individual award in the security profession in 1995 – the Peter Greenwood Award. That’s for outstanding contribution to the security systems industry. It is open to everyone from the systems sector … but how many women have been recognised? However, I am glad to report that there are other colleagues and peers who have welcomed and realised that there was a need for this unified award. This is a unique award where the major ILBs [joint industry bodies] come together with one voice that declares for women coming into the profession that this is a place that welcomes their talent and contribution.
I posed the same question to Angela Vernon-Lawson, of Transport for London. She replied: “The WiS awards is a great opportunity to demonstrate to the wider security community that we, as women, contribute in many different ways, and this platform provides the opportunity to gain recognition from those in the sector.” I also asked what message did she think is conveyed when the entire industry via the judges representing their lead bodies come together as one? Angela replied: “The WiS awards successfully promotes security as a diverse and challenging profession and one which offers young females the opportunity to consider a range of career opportunities in an industry which is evolving and more accepting of females entering the sector.” Insp Georgie Barnard of the Met also commented: “Their work is valuable! Their approach is well received and important to the industry, and it is imperative that the WiS are recognised as a contributor to the industry as a whole. Young entrants bring fresh ideas and innovative approaches to security work and so often understand and grasp ‘modern’ ways of working to embed in what might be perceived as an ‘old school’ industry. WiS remain under-represented. I hope that the awards will provide inspiration and give confidence to those still unrecognised.”
Julia McClelland at Sellafield said: “The awards are judged by eminent security peers and it is an opportunity to showcase the best of the best within the security profession and provide an inspirational insight for our younger colleagues who are new or thinking upon embarking upon a career within the security industry. There are a wide variety of career routes young women can choose to take; promoting our security profession allows them to gain an insight into the diverse, interesting and rewarding opportunities working as a security professional can offer.” I asked Julia what the PSM-WiS meant to her personally? She said: “The awards celebrate outstanding achievement in security, they acknowledge purpose, values, performance and recognise personal contribution to the security industry. The awards are an opportunity for individuals across all levels of the security community to highlight the excellent work that they do and to show how the positive changes and impact that individuals have made within their organisations. By entering you can benchmark your success against other individuals across the industry. It can also boost morale within your own organisation by recognising that hard work and commitment lead to satisfaction and personal achievement.”
I would like to congratulate the Institute’s WiS group for all their hard work and one in particular who has been a fellow WiS when there were not that many of us around. Di Thomas, Development Manager at the Institute said: “I have the pleasure of leading the team who are organising this year’s gala dinner where the awards will be presented. We’re in a unique position, as the awards were the original brainwave of Institute Fellow Una Riley, and are being organised by Institute affiliate Liz Lloyd on behalf of Professional Security, and hosted by the Security Institute – an all-round SyI effort!” Di never misses a beat to promote the Institute; that is why it has become the recognised organisation that it is. Di went on: “It’s great to have a special opportunity to recognise excellence delivered by women working in security. There’s certainly not enough of us, which is a real shame. Although I’ve worked with the Security Institute for many years, I remember when I used to have responsibility for security across 78 client sites in the UK, including policy and service delivery. It was always a struggle to get the client to recognise the need for investment in security solutions, and even more importantly, in training staff to follow the most basic of security instructions sometimes, let alone properly using the installed systems. These are problems that any security manager faces, and for me, one of the challenges I never had to deal with was being taken seriously because I was a woman. I was a security professional – and like to think I still am – and I was expected to do a good job for my clients. It’s all a question of attitude – particularly mine, but also my clients’, my teams and my management. Women have unique skills which can be particularly well utilised in security roles, and I know many female Security Institute members who enjoy the wide variety of challenges and opportunities that working in security gives them.”
I concur with Di regarding the difference that women bring to business although there were certain challenges and disadvantages as a female security company owner, in 1985. I can see my footprint in the history of our industry from being the first woman to hold down many roles that had traditionally be held by men; first woman CCTV Chairman of the BSIA responsible for the introduction of the ‘CCTV Manifesto’ and the introduction of recognised standards; first woman representing the BSIA in Europe on Euralarm as Executive Council Member and Chairman of SC1. I was also the Chairman of the SILB (Security industry Lead Body) from which I created and implemented JSIC (Joint Security Industry Council); I later became the cofounder of the FSA (Fire and Security Association). I am proud to be a Fellow of the Security Institute, former first female regional chairman of NACOSS-NSI and Past Master Emeritus of the WCoSP (Worshipful Company of Security Professionals). I am shining a spotlight on what just one woman has contributed to the wider world of security and there are a lot more. However, many women were not recognised. Now it is different … I wanted to send out a message to all existing women working in the profession along with a positive message to young women considering the wider world of security as a career of choice; this is a market that recognises women’s contribution by a unified industry perspective. Conveying a strong message to all women that you can make a difference and it will be recognised. Over the year, in one way or another, I have been involved with most of the lead bodies that host the WiS Awards which is why I was able to establish and get this unique award fully off the ground, unlike in the 1990s when I originally started the ball rolling; it has taken some time but here we are. This award is something that the entire security profession can be proud of.
Each year I am privileged to witness the different approach from each of the hosts regarding their individual organisation and their attitude to the facilitation of the WiS awards. One of the exciting facts of this award is that it travels around the industry affording people the opportunity to take a look at the diverse industry bodies that they might not have either had the opportunity to explore or consider before. The exposure to new people attending these events has resulted in the growth of interest and new members. At each ceremony people come up to me and inform me that they never knew the host organisation was as diverse in services or attitude and as a result it provoked interest in them becoming involved. Who would have thought that women in security would be the catalyst for bringing the entire security profession together with one unified vision; the recognition and contribution of women to the private industry.
