The Association of Security Consultants (ASC) made its annual Imbert Prize awards at its lunch in London.
Some 80 members and guests attended the Royal Air Force Club, on Piccadilly. Air Chief Marshal Sir Stuart Peach, Vice Chief of Defence Staff, spoke on the current state of world security. The Imbert Prize underlines the Association’s mission to encourage the advancement of risk and security management in the UK. It is named after Lord Peter Imbert of New Romsey, former Metropolitan Police Commissioner and an editorial board member of Professional Security. The university dissertation award was won by Lieut Col Paul Easter of Cranfield University for his paper ‘Jihadist Use of Technology: 1998-2013’. The author considered jihadists’ use of the entire technology spectrum as well as radicalisation of potential recruits, their training and the planning and execution of 9-11 and the assault on USS Cole.
The association also assesses nominations from professional bodies for the person making the most notable contribution to the security industry in the year. The nominating associations are ASIS, BSIA, IPSA and the Security Institute. The panel noted the high quality of entrants, with all the nominees having demonstrated commitment and tangible achievements in the security industry over many years. AThe Security Associations’ award went to Peter Finch for his contributions as chairman of the National Association for Healthcare Security and to NHS security in general.
The ASC Award is presented to the ASC member who has made the most significant contribution to independent security consultancy in the preceding year, nominated by his/her peers and adjudged by an ASC panel. The winner was Joe Connell, a board member and director, for his work organising the ASC’s annual conference, CONSEC.
This year a special award for outstanding continuous service was made to Colin Braziel. Colin has been involved with the ASC since the 1990s, shortly after it began, and has served variously as Information Security Lead, Events Organiser, Board Director, Vice Chairman, Chairman and currently as secretary.
Forthcoming ASC events include CONSEC 2014 and Women in Security Awards on October 2, at the London Heathrow Marriott Hotel; and the ASC annual dinner on November 28 at the House of Lords.
Pictured: left to right: Lord Brian Mackenzie of Framwellgate, ASC Patron; Peter Finch, Award Winner. Photo by Paul Hyatt, Solution One Media.
