The Security Institute focuses on ‘The Changing Face of Security’

The Annual Conference brought together security professionals from across the sector who chose to reflect in some detail on the profound shifts that have reshaped their roles in recent years. Importantly, the event welcomed The Security Institute’s Royal Patron, Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal, as a special guest of honour.

During Her Royal Highness’ visit, The Princess Royal announced the winner of The Security Institute’s prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award, which was bestowed upon the organisation’s former president Baroness Ruth Henig CBE JP DL, who sadly passed away on 29 February this year. Members of Baroness Ruth Henig’s family – including her son Andrew – were in attendance to accept the award from Her Royal Highness.

Topics under discussion

The wider event focused on a number of key topics, with updates courtesy of RiThe Security Institute’s chair Julie Nel MSyI and CEO Professor Simon Hepburn MA MCMI FRSA followed by presentations from Paul Maskall (strategic fraud prevention and behavioural lead at UK Finance and the City of London Police) and Heather Baily QPM, chair of the Security Industry Authority (SIA).

For his part, Maskell concentrated on the psychology and sociology of security in a fascinating talk entitled ‘The Changing Face of Risk’, while Baily spoke about the unique challenges and changes that SIA licence-holders now face.

A captivating panel discussion then followed, with the key areas of diversity and inclusion subsequently addressed. Following this session, the Institute held its annual awards ceremony (more of the winners anon).

Post-lunch presentations

In the afternoon, delegates heard from a similarly impressive array of industry experts and thought leaders, among them representatives from the National Protective Security Authority, Stuart Wortley (partner at law firm Eversheds Sutherland), Paul Bean MSyI (director of security and resilience for Royal Mail) and, finally, an enlightening talk from representatives of recent Nobel Prize-winners Google DeepMind.

Reflecting on the day, Professor Simon Hepburn remarked: “We are truly delighted to have held such a successful conference this year, and are deeply honoured by Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal’s continued dedication to our cause and Royal patronage.”

Hepburn added: “The importance of our range of speakers, the topics discussed and the themes addressed this year cannot be overstated. The threat landscape is now more vast and more complex than at any previous point in history. At The Security Institute, we’re proud to be facing these challenges head-on, not only for the benefit of our members, but for wider society as a whole.”

The Security Institute’s Annual Awards 2024: The Winners

International Achiever of the Year Award

Benjamin Brown CSyP MSyI

Security Innovation or Product of the Year Award

Daniel Pike MSyI and Jacqueline Pike – Dynamic Threat, Risk Assessment and Security: Early Years Education

Institute Learner of the Year Award (In memory of John Aplin)

Bob Kahlon MSyI

Volunteer of the Year Award

Andy Donaldson MSc CSyP FSyI and Steve McGrath FSyI 

The EDI Initiative of the Year Award

‘Corps Together’ (Corps Security)

Outstanding Contribution to Security Award (In memory of George van Schalkwyk)

Garry Bergin CSyP FSyI

Academic Achiever of the Year Award (In memory of Wilf Knight)

Shelley Natthanit Jones (Buckinghamshire New University)

President’s Award for an Outstanding Young Professional

Oliver Hair ASyI