Horizon scanning offers the potential to see into the future. Via the presentation of strategic plans and ambitions it seeks to chart what might happen based on historical trends and events. It provides an indication of what can be expected in the future and when done well can serve as a good barometer of the ambitions in place. It also serves as a form of reassurance to an organisation’s board or executive committee, for example. So how good are we at predicting the future? Are predictions safe as a guide to security action? How precise are predictions and how reliable are they? How could improvements be made?

This webinar will discuss:

- How useful is horizon scanning? Can we really predict the future?
- Who is using this approach with what effect?
- How can it be improved?

Panellists:
Masseh Tahiry - Director, Pallas Advisors
Paul Ekblom - Visiting Professor, Department of Security and Crime Science, UCL

A video and summary of this session is available here: https://www.theospas.com/2022/03/10/horizon-scanning-how-good-are-we-at-predicting-the-future/

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The security sector is very good at talking to itself. Conferences do this, so do many magazines and other media output, and most of the work of security associations is similarly focussed. Previous webinars have lamented this and called for more commitment to positively influencing the opinions of key external stakeholders. There have been attempts to achieve this, some of them very good, but have they worked? Also who needs to be influenced, how can influence be achieved and what are the barriers that need to be overcome?

This webinar will discuss:

- The value of influencing external stakeholders, who in particular should be targeted?
- What does good practice look like?
- What are the barriers that need to be overcome?

Panellists:
Tom Reeve - Communications Consultant and Chief Communications Officer at the CCTV User Group
Catherine Piana - Director General of CoESS
Joe Connell - Registered Independent Security Consultant representing the UK Security Commonwealth

A video and summary of this session is available here: https://www.theospas.com/2022/03/04/influencing-opinion-to-improve-perceptions-of-the-security-sector-what-should-we-do/

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On the face of it mentoring has much to commend it; it involves having the support from more experienced professionals/leaders to identify and then guide, and to opening hearts and minds around self-leadership, self-learning and self-development. But is this the reality? Do people really benefit? Are mentors really motivated to help others or are they self-serving? Does mentoring really make a difference to young people’s lives or is it overstated? What does a good mentor look like and how do you measure success? If it is effective why is it not more common? What can and should a dissatisfied mentee do? What factors make mentoring effective and which ones contribute to failures?

This webinar will discuss:
- What are the key characteristics of good mentoring?
- How effective is mentoring in the security sector?
- How can the best elements of effective mentoring be embraced?

Panellists:
Yolanda Hamblen - Head of Security Operations, Virgin Media O2
Claire Humble - Director, Nuology
John Sephton - Key Account Director, Bidvest Noonan

A video and summary of this session is available here: https://www.theospas.com/2022/02/18/mentoring-does-it-work-is-the-security-sector-good-at-it/

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Violence takes many forms and there are a range of groups that pose threats. There is much discussion about countering terrorism, but what about other threats? How is the security sector responding? Is political violence on the business' risk register and should to be? In a different way how should risks be assessed and how are they being monitored? Ad one recent study has found that sometimes business owners are drivers of violence, where does that leave the security sector?

This webinar will discuss:

- The threats posed by different types of political violence
- The methods of assessing risks and the implications for the security sector
- Trends and the future: where do we go from here?

Panellists:
Robert A. Pape - Professor, Political Science Department. Director, Chicago Project on Security & Threats, University of Chicago
Dr. Victor Chidubem Iwuoha - Department of Political Science, University of Nigeria
Roderick A. Cowan - Executive Director, Chicago Project on Security & Threats, University of Chicago

A video and summary of this session is available here: https://www.theospas.com/2022/02/11/when-is-political-violence-a-business-problem/


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Degree fraud is an extremely serious but underrepresented area of fraud involving the use of fake credentials to obtain employment or any other benefit. Once employed in an organisation with fake credentials, the fraudster is much more likely to engage in other forms of crime such as embezzlement or falsifying documents. While in some countries there has been a reduction in degree fraud due to a wider verification culture, there has been a rise in more general qualification fraud, such as the use of fraudulent further education and vocational qualifications in order to gain employment. In this session, we will cover the more notable recent examples of the tragic consequences ranging from financial crime to loss of human life through neglect and unregulated, untrained practitioners.

This webinar will discuss:

- The scale and nature of the problem
- The weak points and the potential remedies
- The role of different stakeholders in improving the response

Panellists:
Keith Rosser - Director of Reed Screening, Reed
Gavin Burton - Consultant, Qualification Check

A video and summary of this session is available here: https://www.theospas.com/2022/02/04/fraudulent-degrees-and-qualifications-the-problem-and-potential-remedies/

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There is considerable discussion about supporting the future workers and leaders of the security sector, about the need to create career pathways and provide supportive training and mentoring. Certainly, there is a range of group and support networks for young security professionals and associations have dedicated sections to engage, and support. But how good is the support available and what could make things better?

This webinar will discuss:

- The types of support available to young security professionals
- The gaps in provision and why they have occurred
- The routes to offering better support

Panellists:
Richard Brooks - Director of Young Professionals, ASIS International - UK
Ben Brown - Sr. Special Security Operations Manager, Microsoft
Sarah Norman-Clarke - Head of Information and Cyber Security, Department for Transport

A video and summary of this session is available here: https://www.theospas.com/2022/01/31/do-we-really-care-about-young-security-professionals/

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The so called ‘Manchester Arena bombing’, at an Ariana Grande concert on the 22nd of May 2017 resulted in 22 deaths and over 250 injuries. In response the Government has proposed the 'Protect Duty, in short a requirement that those in charge of venues where the public gather are required to ensure there is proportionate security in place. Surely this is the golden ticket to generating more interest in security and security earning a higher place in organisations’ risk agenda? Or not?

This webinar will discuss:

- To what extent does this proposal herald a new dawn for security management in organisations?
- Is the security sector up the requirements?
- What can the rest of the world learn from the UK experience?

Panellists:
Paul Harvey - Chief Commercial Officer, Ward Security
Marshall Kent - Counter Terrorism & Security Consultant, Marshall Kent Consulting
Josie Nicastro - Commercial Underwriting Manager, Aviva

A video and summary of this session is available here: https://www.theospas.com/2022/01/24/making-the-protection-of-the-public-a-legal-obligation-a-good-idea-or-tried-and-failed-before/

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150th Episode

The security sector regularly discusses diversity issues, this is unsurprising since they are a major challenge. However, most of the focus has been on the need to promote women and be more racially diverse. Laudable though these are what has been less salient has been coverage of any challenges in engaging the disabled and the LGBT community in the security sector. This webinar aims to address this. It will discuss what barriers exists and consider how they might they be tackled; what a good initiative to promote engagement looks like?

This webinar will:

- Discuss the current approaches to inspire engaging the disabled and the LGBT community in the security sector and highlight the gaps
- Explore why these areas have not been a focus
- Evaluate what needs to happen next and who should be responsible

Panellists:
Jane Farrell - Head of Security UK and Ireland at Sodexo
Arevika Stepanian - ASIS UK Board Director for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
Oliver Lincoln - UK Sales Manager, Securitas Security Services

A video and summary of this session is available here: https://www.theospas.com/2022/01/17/diversity-what-about-the-disabled-and-the-lgbt-community/

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There has long been debate about what the proper role of auditors should be in relation to tackling fraud. Two recent reviews revealed a real gap between reality and expectations of audit performance. Current guidance is that auditors should take a more holistic approach towards fraud. However, auditors cannot do this on their own. They need to carry out such duties in partnership with a much wider audience, including boards, management, audit committees, standard-setters, and regulators, but not all feel they have this.

This webinar will discuss:

- The roles both internal and external auditors undertake in tackling fraud
- How both sets of auditors can work better together
- Improving partnership working with other stakeholders for a more holistic approach to tackling fraud

Panellists:
Liz Sandwith - Chief Professional Practices Adviser, Chartered Institute of Internal Auditors
Rob Winter - Head of Internal Audit, Anti-Fraud and Assurance, Barnsley MBC
Gareth Mills - Director, Public Services at Grant Thornton UK LLP

A video and summary of this session is available here: https://www.theospas.com/2022/01/10/the-role-of-auditors-in-tackling-fraud-how-we-can-get-the-best-from-our-teams/

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When a group of security professionals were informally discussing which country stood out as having adopted a firm approach to Covid, New Zealand was the most frequently mentioned. Has it been a success? What about the security sector there, how has it been affected, how has it adapted, and what does it see as the big issues that it has had to manage? Crucially, what can the global security sector learn about the New Zealand experience?

This webinar will explore these issues, specifically it will discuss:

- What have been the main challenges facing the security sector as a consequence of Covid?
- How has security fared? What are the big learning points?
- What are the key challenges/priorities for the security sector as we look ahead?

Panellists:
Ngaire Kelaher - Security Risk and Training Consultant
Gary Morrison - CEO, New Zealand Security Association
Andrew Thorburn - Enterprise Security & Risk Manager, Atlas Gentech

A video and summary of this session is available here: https://www.theospas.com/2021/12/09/learning-from-new-zealand-the-opportunities-and-challenges-for-security/

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