The traditional problem, suppliers want to charge more for a better service versus clients who want to pay less for a more targeted service, has been and is being played out globally. The difficulty of recruiting personnel, and keeping them, plus the opportunities provided by technology against a background of economic austerity are factors that are giving this topic both extra attention and a modern focus.

This webinar will discuss:
• The factors that clients need to consider to drive optimal performance
• The issues that suppliers need to consider to retain client confidence
• How the modern challenges can lead to a better security

Panelists:
• Alexander Masraff – Security / Fire Safety / Cybersecurity Manager, Icade
• Michael White – Founder, President and Principal Consultant, Michael White Group International
• Oliver Curran – Security Manager, UCL

A video and summary of this session is available here: https://www.theospas.com/2023/01/13/managing-security-suppliers-what-are-the-key-factors-to-optimising-performance/

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There has been a growth of different mechanisms around the world for the initial notification and management of security incidents, but there has been relatively little discussion about the pros and cons of the best ways of doing so effectively. Arguably this is the crucial stage of security response, ineffectiveness here can be severely detrimental as to how well security (technology and personnel) can respond.

This webinar will discuss:
• The key security challenges facing Canada
• The key attributes of the security sector to respond effectively
• The barriers to progress and how they can be overcome

Panelists
• Candyce Kelshall – President, CASIS Vancouver
• Brine Hamilton, CHPA – President, IAHSS

Following the webinar, the presentation of the 2022 Canada OSPAs took place.

A video and summary of this session is available here: https://www.theospas.com/2022/12/09/the-canadian-security-sector-what-are-the-current-challenges-and-how-good-is-the-response/

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It has long been argued that the knowledge domains of cyber and physical security professionals differ markedly, in some cases complicating converged activities. At the same time there has been a great coming together, not always harmoniously. So where are we now? In terms of outstanding performance what can each group of professionals learn from the other? How do they perceive each other? When are they collaborators and when are they foes?

This webinar will discuss:     
The ’distinct’ fields of expertise of cyber and physical security professionals     
The comparative of hierarchies of the CSO and the CISO     
The future of collaboration, or is that one group taking over the other?

Panellists:
Martin Simpson – Senior Security Leader, ThreeTwoFour

A video and summary of this session is available here:
https://www.theospas.com/2022/11/25/security-excellence-what-can-cyber-professionals-learn-from-physical-security-experts-and-vice-versa/

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Body worn cameras have been widely heralded by the security sector for generating a range of benefits, not least the fact they provide evidence to support interactions preventing – or at least reducing the chances – of frivolous claims of malpractice. They have also been welcomed for giving the security personnel who use them confidence in tricky situations. Yet, others have viewed them as an intrusion on people’s privacy, some have said that customers in some settings have complained about being watched. In some cases the quality of the footage has been questioned and there is a concern they can be abused. So what is the potential for body worn cameras?

This webinar will discuss:
• The value of body worn cameras in different contexts
• The negative aspects of these cameras and how these can be managed
• The potential and future of body worn cameras in a security context

Panellists:
Dave Cox – Head of Security, London Bridge City
Chris Middleton – Chartered (CSyP), Dip ML, MSyl – Security and Client Services Director, ABM UK
Tom Ellis – Principal lecturer, Institute of Criminal Justice Studies, University of Portsmouth

A video and summary of this session is available here: https://www.theospas.com/2022/10/28/the-opportunities-and-limits-of-body-worn-cameras/

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While it is well known that in order to operate terrorists need weapons, what is less well known and much less discussed is how they get them. 

In this interview, Frank Portinari explains how he developed from being a football hooligan, to involvement in right wing extremism, to supplying guns to loyalist paramilitaries entering the world of terrorism and assassinations and eventually prison. It is a compelling tale which offers important insights for how we understand the route people take into terrorist activities and how we might think about curtailing it.

A video and summary of this session is available here: https://www.theospas.com/2022/10/14/an-interview-with-ex-offender-frank-portinari-a-gun-runner-for-terrorists/

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There is now an abundance of security qualifications and certifications, they have taken off dramatically in recent years. But are there now too many to the extent that it has led to confusion and undermined their very credibility? Does it matter? Are some more credible than others and how should we distinguish? To what extent does the credibility of the security profession depend on getting certification right?

In this webinar we will discuss:
What distinguishes a credible qualification/certification from the rest?
Are there too many and why?
What importance should we attach to qualification/certifications in developing credibility for the security sector?

Chair: Professor Martin Gill

Panellists:
Dr. David Sothie Naysadorai MCMI – Senior Lecturer and Post Graduate Programme Coordinator at Saito University College Malaysia
Garry Evanson – Panel Registrar, Chartered Security Professionals Registration Authority
Matt Hopkins – Associate Professor at University of Leicester

A video and summary of this session is available here: https://www.theospas.com/2022/09/23/security-qualifications-and-certifications-where-do-we-look-for-credibility/

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No doubt all of us have experienced or are aware of the dangers posed by ransomware attacks. But it would be a mistake to see the motives as purely financial gain, it is more complex than that. Indeed, there are many areas of interest. For example, nation state actors are involved, but how? What are their motives? Where are the risks? How significant is the insider threat? Who has responsibility to prevent ransomware attacks and are they diligent? What should individuals and businesses prioritise when it comes to tackling this form of cybercrime, and how and why?

This webinar will discuss:

The main threats posed by ransomware attacks
The key vulnerabilities that need to be addressed
The resources and focus needed to reduce impact, and who needs to prioritise them.

Panellists:
Dr. Mark H. Beaudry – Assistant Professor, Criminal Justice & Security Studies, cyber security, criminology at Worcester State University (US)
Andrew J. Peden – CEO at L5L Solutions (US)
Antoinette King – Founder of Credo Cyber Consulting

A video and summary of this session is available here: https://www.theospas.com/2022/09/09/ransomware-and-security-what-can-we-do/

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On the one hand security is regularly discussed as being primarily about people, and on the other we learn continually about the role of security personnel engaging with all parts of organisations. There are many elements to engaging people well, and there is a group of professionals that are specialists in people management and maximising the potential of people at work, namely Human Resources professionals. Then there is a group that plays a key role in financing this expensive commodity, Finance Professionals. These two groups have undergone a professionalisation process all of their own, but what do HR and Finance professionals think about security professionals? What does an optimal partnership look like? Are HR/Finance set-up to best advantage to leverage security as enabler / partner and vice versa?

This webinar will discuss:

- How important are the HR/Finance functions to security? And how much do they each need security and vice versa?
- In what ways can the HR/Finance functions support and enable security?
- What are the barriers to an effective partnership and how can they be overcome?

Panellists:
Eva Mueller – Global Human Resources Business Partner at Hilti Group (Switzerland)
Timothy B. Mhagama – Vice President, Finance at TE Connectivity Automotive (APAC) (Singapore)
Mike O’Neill – Group Managing Director at Optimal Risk (UK)

A video and summary of this session is available here: https://www.theospas.com/2022/07/01/hr-and-finance-do-they-support-or-undermine-security/

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Why should the security sector be conscious of Pride all year round? This webinar will explore the significance of Pride and the current status of LGBTQ+ representation across the sector. It will also cover the tangible actions that the security sector can take to being truly inclusive. To create positive change for the LGBTQ+ community it is essential that a collaborative approach is taken across the security sector, and as such we all have a part to play.

This webinar will discuss:

- Efforts being made across the security sector, to make the LGBTQ+ community more visible, including London Pride
- How the security sector can play a part in making the workplace more inclusive for the LGBTQ+ community
- The important role allies play in driving change

Panellists:
Jayne King – Head of Security & Site Services at Guys and St Thomas NHS Foundation Trust. Also, Chairperson for The UK Security Commonwealth
Satia Rai – Director of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion at International Professional Security Association (IPSA).Also, Co-chair of The Security Institute Rainbow+ Group
Seetan Varsani – Director of Major Accounts & Strategic Development at Corps Security. Also, part of the committee for the IPSA Alliance Special Interest Group

A video and summary of this session is available here: https://www.theospas.com/2022/06/24/pride-in-security-why-inclusivity-matters-and-the-role-of-allies/

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The implications of war are daily news in many countries. Beyond the human tragedy of all those directly involved are an array if implications for countries and their populations around the world. In this webinar we feature specific implications for the global security sector. These are diverse, but what are the most important ones and how should they be assessed?

In this webinar we will discuss:

How is the private security sector being impacted by the war?
In what ways has it shown up strengths and weaknesses?
What are the key learnings so far and how might these unfold?

Panellists:
Thomas Vonier – Architect and Senior Partner at Chesapeake Strategies Ltd. (France)
Euan Grant – Customs, Tax & Border Control Consultant at Grant & Gutsell Consultants (UK)
Philip Ingram MBE – Managing Director and Co Founder at Hephaestus Collective (UK)

A video and summary of this session is available here: https://www.theospas.com/2022/06/17/the-implications-of-the-russia-ukraine-war-on-the-private-security-sector/

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