Women in Security Awards Aotearoa: Winners Announced!

The results are in, and we can now reveal the category winners and highly commended finalists of the 2023-24 Women in Security Awards Aotearoa! And the winners are…

In its fourth year, Women in Security Awards Aotearoa (WiSAA) has once again proven a challenge for its judging panel, with a high quality field of nominees from across New Zealand’s security and resilience sector.

Organised by the New Zealand Security Sector Network (NZSSN) and supported by Defsec New Zealand –publisher of New Zealand Security Magazine and Line of Defence Magazine, and the international Women in Security & Resilience Alliance (WISECRA), the WiSAA initiative was established in 2020 to recognise women who have advanced the New Zealand security and resilience sectors.

Nominees must be women, or identify as women, have more than three years of experience in a security or resilience-related profession, and be actively practising in Aotearoa New Zealand or working overseas in a New Zealand-focused role.

This year’s WiSAAs winners are spread across eight new categories:

1. Securing organisations and infrastructure

2. Safeguarding networks and people online

3. Countering incivility and violent extremism

4. Contributing to defence and international security

5. Combatting fraud and misrepresentation

6. Protecting borders, trade, and biosecurity

7. Responding to natural disaster events

8. Building resilient communities

WiSAA organisers were this year honoured to be joined by an expert judging panel reflecting the skills, experience and diversity of the sector:

• International risk management, organisational resilience, and extreme events academic and practitioner Dr Bridgette Sullivan-Taylor;

• Former New Zealand Defence Industry Association (NZDIA) CEO, IFSEC Global Influencer in Security, and 2021 WiSAA alumna Jennie Vickers;

• ASIS International Regional Vice-President, respected physical security educator and 2020 WiSAA alumna Ngaire Kelaher CPP PSP; and

• Former ASIS International New Zealand Chapter Chair and former NZSA New Zealand Security Consultant of the Year, Andrew Thorburn

And the winners are…

1. Contributing to defence and international security: Lieutenant Colonel Laura Cranston, New Zealand Defence Force

2. Protecting borders, trade, and biosecurity: Janna Binning, New Zealand Customs

3. Countering incivility and violent extremism: Detective Sergeant Beth Bates, New Zealand Police

4. Safeguarding networks and people online: Tegan Wedderburn, Netsafe

5. Securing organisations and infrastructure: Gina LindsayCrawford, FIRST Security

6. Combatting fraud and misrepresentation: Catherine Abel-Pattinson, Netsafe

7. Responding to natural disaster events: Colonel Mel Childs, New Zealand Defence Force

8. Building resilient communities: Inspector Juanita (Whiti) Timutimu, New Zealand Police

Among high performing finalists from the private security sector was Kallia McFarland, Director of Serpenti Investigations, who was placed Runner-Up in the "combating fraud and misrepresentation" category.

According to the organisers, this year’s WiSAA category winners and highly commended finalists will each receive award certificates and their inspirational stories will be featured in an upcoming series of features in New Zealand Security Magazine and Line of Defence Magazine

Look out for more to come in the AugustSeptember issue of NZSM!