Leading woman in security keeps Bay of Plenty safe

Selected as a finalist in the inaugural Women in Security Awards Aotearoa, Tauranga-based security personnel manager Jill Priest combines trade mastery with inspiring leadership.

A popular Women in Security Awards Aotearoa finalist, the December announcement of Jill Priest’s achievement was met with a tide of social media approval from her fellow security officer colleagues.

The new awards programme, which featured in the DecemberJanuary issue of NZSM, was established to recognise women who have advanced the New Zealand security industry. The awards attracted nominations in seven categories from across physical and cyber security occupations and from both the private and public sectors.

As FIRST Security’s Client Services Manager for the Bay of Plenty, Jill has responsibility for over 70 staff throughout the Bay of Plenty, Coromandel, and the Hawkes Bay and Gisborne areas.

“Jill’s a hard worker and honest as the day is long,” said FIRST’s Wellington-based Senior Account Manager Natasha Pennell. “She is a straight shooter and won’t beat around the bush when it comes to getting the job done. Jill lives and breathes security. She is involved in every aspect of it.”

According to her colleagues, Jill leads by example and from the front. One minute she’s in the office dealing with a management issue, and the next she’s in a patrol vehicle responding to an alarm or noise control complaint, or rounding up an ‘offender’ on animal control duties.

“Jill gives a human face and formidable personality to security, and this combined with a mastery of her trade makes her a truly inspiring leader to her teams of security and regulatory enforcement officers.”

According to Natasha, Jill is a prime example of an individual who has excelled in security from the ground up.

Getting her start at FIRST Security in 2011, Jill cut her teeth as a CCTV Operator before gaining experience as a static guard at Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology. She then went on to learn noise control, animal control, and bylaw enforcement; as well as EMS (which is part of FIRST Security’s justice sector work for monitoring offenders serving home-based sentences and defendants on bail).

Prior to joining FIRST, Jill spent 15 years in the hospitality industry, and was manager of a large hotel complex.

In addition to a New Zealand Certificate in Security Level 2, Jill has gained certifications and employer qualifications associated with the many security roles she has performed.

Natasha says that Jill’s involvement in setting up new contracts is invaluable from a frontline experience point of view.

“She creates jobs for people that they want to come to – she doesn’t accept work that won’t benefit her staff both physically, emotionally and financially,” continued Natasha. “Always community-minded, Jill’s holistic approach to security and community safety puts people first.”

For information on where a security career might take you, visit the NZ Security Career Pathways website https://securitycareers.co.nz.