Security Commonwealth requests nominations for The David Clark Award

Many UK security professionals will be fully aware that David Clark, who passed away in late 2019, made exceptional contributions across the security profession. The new award is designed to build upon David’s efforts to encourage continuous improvement within the UK’s security sector.

During a hugely successful career, Clark served many top tier organisations, among them Allied Universal, the South Bank Employers Group, Bloomberg and Whitehall Security Services.

At The Francis Crick Institute, where he was in direct charge of 50-plus members of staff, Clark designed and implemented the organisation’s security and risk programme. For Allied Universal, where he reported directly to the CEO, Clark was instrumental in 90% of the company’s locations being reduced to the status of low risk.

In a pro bono capacity, Clark was an active member of the Security Industry Authority’s Strategic Forum, a member of AUCSO, the Association of Security Consultants, Project Griffin’s National Executive Board and also the Internet of Things Security Forum.

Criteria for entry

Nominations for The David Clark Award are invited in relation to:

*any individual or initiative on the recommendation of a Security Commonwealth membership organisation

*any programme or initiative of any Security Commonwealth membership organisation or cross-organisational programme or initiative

Objective adjudication will be undertaken by a panel of experts comprising Security Commonwealth membership organisations and other industry professionals and overseen by a Security Commonwealth Moderating Panel. 

Entries themselves will be judged according to the following criteria based on The Security Commonwealth’s own high-level aims and objectives:

*achieves effective ‘collaboration, co-operation and communication’

*shares good practices and promotes continuous improvement

*supports industry development and engagement

*brings the UK security profession together – ‘Stronger Together’

*demonstrates The Security Commonwealth’s commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion

*provides evidence of an ‘exceptional contribution to the UK security sector’

Submitting entries

Entry submissions will be accepted between Friday 6 August and Sunday 12 September.

Written entries should be of no more of no more than 650 words in total and must address the bullet points listed above.

Entries should be forwarded via e-mail to: awards@securitycommonwealth.org

Award ceremony

The winner of The David Clark Award 2021 will be announced at a presentation to be made at CONSEC 2021, the annual conference of the Association of Security Consultants. This event takes place on Thursday 21 October 2021 at Twickenham Stadium.

Commenting on the announcement, Jayne King (current chair of the UK Security Commonwealth) stated: “At the last Security Commonwealth Committee meeting we announced that The Security Commonwealth would be offering a new annual award for exceptional contributions to the UK’s security industry. The award will be known as The David Clark Award in recognition of David’s standing within and contribution across the UK’s security profession before his untimely death in 2019.”

King continued: “The award will build upon David’s efforts as an outstanding chair of The Security Commonwealth. Our fervent hope is that it will serve to encourage continuous improvement within the UK’s security sector. This is a really important initiative for The Security Commonwealth and a fitting way in which to remember David Clark. We need to make sure the new award has a strong start and, in order for this to happen, we need a range of worthy entries. To this end, please consider entries from your own organisations or those whom you would wish to support. Spread the word within your own organisation and beyond.”

Joe Connell (chair of the Association of Security Consultants) concluded: “We’re delighted to host The Security Commonwealth’s David Clark Award at CONSEC 2021. David was a great friend to many and an inspiration to even more. It’s a real pleasure to see his powerful legacy of making an exceptional contribution live on through this annual award.”

*Further information about The Security Commonwealth is available online at www.securitycommonwealth.org