Joe Connell, owner of Praemunitus Ltd, was elected the new chairman of the Association of Security Consultants (ASC) at this year’s AGM.
Joe, who has been a member of the ASC since 2010, has served on the Board for three years. Joe is joined by fellow ASC member Roger, a stalwart of the security industry, as Deputy Chairman. Between them Joe and Roger with fellow ASC Director Nick Johnson (Marketing) have been developing and producing a series of ASC events including the annual conference, CONSEC and the themed ASC Business Groups which are now being held at the new venue of the London Chamber of Commerce.
New members of the ASC Board include Steve Beels and Warren Collins. They join the existing Board comprising Mike Calahane (Founder), Nigel Flower (Founder), Bob Martin (Treasurer), Graeme Dow (External Events), Ken Graham (Membership), and Jon Laws (Industry Standards).
Joe has been in the consulting world since 2006 following a 32-year police career which took him to a senior position with Specialist Operations at new Scotland Yard. He spends much of his time as the Senior Police Adviser in Somaliland where he leads a team developing the capabilities of this growing country in a vitally important region for global security.
Joe and the new ASC leadership say that they are keen to grow the ASC as a membership body for independent security consultants. Joe says: “The independence aspect is key to the value ASC Consultants bring to the market. Members are drawn from a broad range of professional backgrounds, each honed in their own security related discipline. It is this consultant knowledge, coupled with their independence from specific products, which gives end users the confidence they are being offered the best advice on their security related issues.”
Roger adds: “That is not to say that ASC consultants don’t maintain a regular insight into latest technologies and capabilities available in the marketplace.”
Mike Calahane, one of the founder members of the ASC, says: “Standards are vitally important to us. That is why ASC is represented on each of the (BSI) standards committees, where it can contribute to and promote standards within the wider security industry.”
The ASC holds a number of events over a year to promote standards and to build knowledge and understanding in the industry and also among users of security services and products. CONSEC, its keynote event is held in the autumn and attracts top class speakers and exhibitors. CONSEC 2015 runs on October 15 at the Heathrow Marriott Hotel.
The Imbert Award Luncheon is held in June of each year in recognition of the contribution to security made by practitioners and from those in academia. The 2015 Imbert Award Luncheon was on June 25, at the Royal Air Force Club, London. And ASC Business Groups are held regularly to enhance knowledge and understanding of ASC members and guests alike and provide networking opportunities.
Joe says: “We revitalised our Business Groups in 2014 and now hold them at the London Chamber of Commerce. This has been a great success as the venue and facilities of the Chamber has proved very successful with our members and guests. In fact the London Chamber of Commerce has also proved to be a valuable business partner as we share mutual interests in promoting security and resilience within industry and commerce in general and ASC is represented on the Chamber’s Defence & Security Committee.”
Professional association with the London Chamber of Commerce is one of the ASC membership benefits.
Roger says: “Professional Security Magazine is another valuable partner; the team there work closely with ASC in presenting CONSEC each year and supporting our other activities.”
So what will the new management team do differently? Joe says that some things they won’t do differently at all: “For instance we want to maintain the high standards that have always been associated with ASC since its foundation in 1991. At the same time we do want the ASC to grow in terms of its membership and scope. We want ASC to be the first choice for truly independent security consultants entering or practicing in the industry and to provide them with the wider benefits of membership of a professional association. We also want ASC to be the first choice for end users looking for the best advice for their particular security issues.”
“Finally” adds Roger “We look forward to welcoming readers to one, or hopefully more, of our ASC events.”
