A University of Leicester graduate has won an industry award for his study of risk management at Dublin Airport.
Graham Smaul was the winner of this year’s Imbert Prize for best academic dissertation. He completed his MSc in Security and Risk Management at the University of Leicester‘s Department of Criminology last year. Pictured at the Association of Security Consultants (ASC) lunch is Leicester lecturer Dr Matt Hopkins receiving the award from Lord Imbert.
Graham’s dissertation on risk and business continuity management at Dublin Airport, identified possible threats to the airport including terrorism, organised crime, fire and industrial action. Graham, 33, spent time at the airport and interviewed key staff and industry figures to verify his findings. Originally from Clontarf, Dublin, Graham has lately been based in Baghdad, where he works as a risk management consultant for Dubai-based security firm Shield Corporation. He has been in Mogadishu; and was working in Tripoli, Libya, during the Arab Spring.
He said: “I was honoured and thrilled to receive such a prestigious award and that my work was recognised by the ASC, as having relevance and important implications for the security industry as a whole. Both my degree and dissertation gave me a wide range of skills that have assisted me to in my current role, including an in-depth understanding of the topics involved in security risk management.
“Importantly they have helped me to think critically and to approach any topic by from various perspectives. We have been approached to conduct risk assessments for various airports throughout Iraq.”
Graham also paid tribute to Stephen Madden of the Dublin Airport Police, the gatekeeper for the research, who has passed on since the work was completed.
The ASC presented Dr Matt Hopkins, of the University’s Department of Criminology, with the Imbert Prize on behalf of Graham at the organisation’s Annual Awards Luncheon at the Royal Air Force club, London on June 21.
Dr Hopkins said: “The dissertation presents a thorough overview of a number of key issues in relation to risk management; including how to manage risk and how to apply risk management practices in a risky environment such as an airport. It deserves the award as it is thorough, original and of a high academic standard.
“Graham’s studies not only show an awareness of key theoretical debates in relation to criminology, risk and security, but also apply these theoretical concepts to real risk situations. Indeed, this underlines the need for academic studies of risk management.”
