Deborah Higgins appointed security and resilience director at ADS

With over 20 years’ worth of experience gained across both the public and private sectors, including in law enforcement and international resilience roles, Higgins is the latest individual to join the ADS senior leadership team, bringing a wealth of expertise to bear in helping the Trade Association to champion the UK’s security and resilience sector.

Prior to taking up the role at ADS, Higgins served as head of resilience at Serco where she led on complex multi‑stakeholder environments at both the strategic and operational levels.

In her new role at ADS, Higgins will lead the Trade Association’s security and resilience sector activities, duly providing strategic direction across member engagement, policy, business development and innovation. Higgins will play a key role in strengthening ADS’ engagement with Government and industry partners, including by leading its contribution to the Home Office’s Security and Policing event and supporting the work of the Security Sector Council.

Further, Higgins will act as principal advisor and secretary to the UK’s Security and Resilience Industry Suppliers Community (RISC), thereby ensuring strong industry alignment with the Government’s national security priorities.

Strengthening support

Kevin Craven, CEO of the ADS Group, said: “I’m delighted to welcome Deborah as our new director of security and resilience. At a time when the global security environment is becoming increasingly fragile, such roles carry great weight. Deborah’s leadership and depth of experience will be invaluable as we continue to strengthen the support we provide to our sector and our members.”

Craven added: “With Deborah in this role, I’m confident that an industry which already supports 150,000 jobs and contributes £15 billion to the UK’s economy will continue to grow and succeed across the board.”

Hub of innovation

Deborah Higgins responded: “I’m honoured to take on the role of director of security and resilience at ADS, working closely with our membership to champion a highly innovative and fast‑growing sector.”

Higgins continued: “The UK’s security and resilience sector is a hub of innovation, helping to keep our country secure, our streets safe and our supply chains resilient. I look forward to working with ADS members, policymakers and industry partners alike to strengthen the sector’s capabilities, drive investment and reinforce the UK’s industrial leadership.”

For its part, ADS continues to expand its support for the 1,100 member companies active in the UK’s security and resilience industry, in turn ensuring that the sector is well positioned for future growth and innovation.

*Further information is available online at www.adsgroup.org.uk