Sector challenges outlined at The Security Institute’s Annual Conference

Conference provided a proportionate blend of learning and networking opportunities. The Security Institute’s chair Julie Nel MSyI opened proceedings and promptly invited the organisation’s president, Baroness Ruth Henig of Lancaster CBE, to share her considerable insight and sector knowledge.

Presentations commenced with a senior representative from the National Protective Security Authority sharing the strategic perspective on the adversarial threat assessment and showcasing a library of tools designed to help today’s security practitioners address the subsequent risks.

Following on from a busy networking session, delegates returned to the auditorium to listen to Rob Kennedy CSyP FSyI (from the Protective Security Centre) debate the need to develop tomorrow’s security professionals. A panel of experts discussed the merits of a Level 4 apprenticeship that converges the four traditional strands of protective security to provide the student with an awareness across the profession for those at an early stage of their career.

Towards the culmination of the day, delegates were reminded of the consequences of a successful terrorist attack when Pauline Cranmer QAM recited her personal experience of being the London Ambulance Service Gold Command during the Westminster Bridge terror attack on 22 March 2017. Cranmer spoke of her learnings when co-ordinating the emergency medical response to an incident that resulted in the loss of life for five members of the public and one on-duty police officer protecting the Houses of Parliament.

Afternoon presentations

On arrival, and accompanied by Stuart Shilson LVO DL (Deputy Lord Lieutenant of London), Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal was met by Julie Nel, Institute vice-chair Sarah Austerberry CSyP FSyI, interim CEO Frank Cannon CSyP FSyI and Board advisor Bob Martin.

Prior to taking her seat for the afternoon presentations, The Princess Royal met with several of the conference speakers, a selection of those individuals who chair The Security Institute’s Special Interest Groups and also selected members of the Institute’s head office staff.

Her Royal Highness then joined conference and listened to an informative session from Michelle Russell, CEO of the Security Industry Authority, during which the latter set out how the industry’s regulator aims to help prepare the sector to protect communities and raise professional standards.

This session was followed by a delivery from Mike Croll (senior lecturer at Buckinghamshire New University, who took the audience on a fascinating and humorous journey through generational communication styles, illustrated through music and methods of communication themselves.

Croll and the assembled panel highlighted the diverse styles required when communicating across the generations, from the Baby Boomers, through the Millennials and Generation Z and on again to today’s Gen Alphas.

Need for protection

When addressing conference delegates immediately after that session, Her Royal Highness spoke to the assembled security professionals with knowledge, empathy and humour. The 15-minute speech proved to be the highlight of conference with The Princess Royal weaving in her obvious understanding of the need to protect those at risk with personal experiences, so too those developed while supporting her charitable organisations.

Acknowledgement was also given to the lengths The Security Institute is going to in order to ensure that, on a broad spectrum, it’s assisting in the development of standards for the expanding professional security sector.

Before departing, The Princess Royal had the opportunity to meet with some of the corporate partners and sponsors of the Annual Conference. The Princess Royal concluded her visit by meeting with Stuart Bratt, the founder of ‘Tough Enough to Care’, a suicide prevention charity and The Security Institute’s chosen charity for conference in 2023. The sum of £3,645 was raised through a raffle and auction. Visit the charity’s website at https://toughenoughtocare.help/ for further information.

Conference concluded with Sarah Austerberry and Frank Cannon providing the membership with meaningful insights and an opportunity to ask questions about The Security Institute’s future strategy.

Networking session

Proceedings closed with a lively and congenial networking session full of rich debate around the value of predictive analysis and early intervention to stop the ‘domino effect’, while also being prepared to deal with the consequences of a successful attack.

As always, members left the venue emboldened by the glow of rekindled relationships and the anticipation of returning home safely in the knowledge that they were better informed for having attended The Security Institute’s 2023 Annual Conference.