Women in defence, law enforcement, government, and private security recognised in national awards

The category winners of the 2023-24 Women in Security Awards Aotearoa have been announced, with outstanding female leaders recognised from across New Zealand’s broader security sector.

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

Among the winners are members/ employees of the New Zealand Defence Force, New Zealand Police, New Zealand Customs Service, nonprofit online safety charity Netsafe, and private security provider FIRST Security.

Organised by the New Zealand Security Sector Network (NZSSN) and supported by publisher of Line of Defence Magazine Defsec New Zealand 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 Zealandfocused role.

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.

The Winners

The judging panel assessed the following finalists as the top scoring candidates in their respective categories, and as such they are this year’s category winners:

Contributing to defence and international security:

Lieutenant Colonel Laura Cranston, New Zealand Defence Force

Protecting borders, trade, and biosecurity:

Janna Binning, New Zealand Customs

Countering incivility and violent extremism:

Detective Beth Bates, New Zealand Police

Safeguarding networks and people online:

Tegan Wedderburn, Netsafe

Securing organisations and infrastructure:

Gina Lindsay-Crawford, FIRST Security

Combatting fraud and misrepresentation:

Catherine Abel-Pattinson, Netsafe

Responding to natural disaster events:

Colonel Mel Childs, New Zealand Defence Force

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

In addition to the category winners, the WiSAA organisers also recognised several Highly Commended Runners-Up, including:

• Karoline Jacobs, Aviation Security Service

• Tamara Gould, New Zealand Customs Service

• Lance Corporal S, New Zealand Defence Force

• Kallia McFarland, Serpenti Investigations

• Pilot Officer Mikaela Heald, New Zealand Defence Force

• Danielle Kaiwai, KiwiRail

According to the organisers, this year’s WiSAA category winners and runners-up will each receive award certificates bearing their awardee citations, and the right to use the coveted awardee logo. In accordance with the WiSAA’s principles of independence, including nonsponsorship and non-profit, there is no gala awards event associated with the awards program.

It is anticipated that a call for nominations for the 2024-25 awards will be made in late 2024 with winners to be announced in time to be celebrated on International Women’s Day (08 March) 2025

Winner Citations

LTCOL Laura Cranston

New Zealand Defence Force

LTCOL Laura Cranston is recognised for her contribution to implementing UN Security Council Resolution 1325 – Women, Peace and Security (WPS) within the NZDF and among international partners.

LTCOL Cranston was a key architect of the MOD and NZDF‘s Gender in Security Policy Statement that outlined Defence’s commitment to the UNSCR 1325 WPS Agenda. She led the growth of Gender Focal Points and Gender Advisors throughout the Services and the training of partners from the Pacific and beyond.

Among other initiatives, she is formalising training packages addressing the role of gender in nontraditional threats, such as climate change, human trafficking, and cybersecurity. Her achievements have promoted the prevention of genderbased violence, protection of human rights, fostering of development and building of resilient communities, contributing to international security.

Janna Binning

New Zealand Customs Service

Customs Technical Specialist

Janna Binning is recognised for her successes in identifying risks facing New Zealand’s border. In the first eight months of 2023, Ms Binning supported the USCBP with detecting and preventing more than 500kg of methamphetamine from reaching New Zealand (an estimated 25,000,000 doses).

Ms Binning engaged in real time information sharing with Brazilian colleagues, US-based Immigration staff and the NZCS Integrated Targeting Operations Centre resulting in multiple drug couriers being refused entry into New Zealand.

Over three years, her work directly prevented at least 1,300 kilograms of illicit narcotics entering New Zealand. Additionally, she is an active member of the International Customs Attaché Group and Community in Washington DC, actively supporting New Zealand border security internationally.

Beth Bates

New Zealand Police

Detective Beth Bates is recognised for her work in Waitemata CIB and in particular for her professionalism in preventing a potentially major incident in January 2024.

Detective Bates monitored an individual who had threatened to suicide by detonating several IEDs in Auckland’s Albert Park. Her notifying the appropriate police workgroups led to a response that included the Armed Offenders Squad, Eagle helicopter, Explosive Ordnance Disposal Squadron of the NZDF, and frontline officers. She maintained phone communication with the individual, gathering intelligence as resources were put

in place and evacuation completed. Upon attempting to detonate the IED’s the individual was thwarted by the Armed Offenders Squad and arrested.

Detective Bates’ quick thinking, tenacity, and professionalism averted potential tragedy and ensured the ongoing trust and confidence of the public was maintained.

Tegan Wedderburn

Netsafe

Tegan Wedderburn is recognised for her role as a Service Manager at Netsafe Incorporated where she is responsible for leading a team of Digital Harms Resolution Officers tasked with providing quick and efficient redress for people impacted online harm.

Ms Wedderburn’s dedication and commitment was recognised in September 2023, when her team was recognised for providing outstanding customer service at the annual New Zealand Contact Centre Awards 2023. She has demonstrated a focus on continuous improvement and delivering exceptional service through expertise, dedication, and a structured, considered approach.

Passionate about supporting others who have experienced online harm, Ms Wedderburn places the client at the centre of all decisions and achieves optimal outcomes via an ability to build rapport with anyone, no matter their circumstances. She is committed to nurturing and

growing talent, and in particular, supporting young women to reach their potential.

Gina Lindsay-Crawford FIRST Security

Client Services Manager Gina Lindsay-Crawford is recognised for implementing a range of initiatives that have improved the security posture of several nationally significant customer organisations across a range of critical sectors, including financial services, communications, and local and national government.

Ms Lindsay-Crawford’s engagement style and innovative solutions focus have been identified by several FIRST Security customer organisations as having driven positive security outcomes. These include tailored customer-specific training packages, as well as an online ordering system for the booking of specialised Security Officers in response to concerns over the safety of a customer’s field teams.

During the 2023 Auckland floods, Ms Lindsay-Crawford took charge of a significant local government contract, successfully managing a large guard force at very short notice to cordon off flooddamaged suburbs, ensuring that her staff were safe and equipped to protect the community.

Catherine Abel-Pattinson

Netsafe

Catherine Abel-Pattinson is recognised for her strategic foresight, her holistic approach to combating online financial scams, and her role in securing a partnership with CYBERA, and have significantly fortified New Zealand’s fraud recovery for New Zealanders losing money to offshore accounts and within blockchain.

As the Chief Operations Officer of Netsafe and through previous strategic governance roles, Catherine has cultivated a deep understanding of the complexities surrounding online fraud and online harm. Her leadership is characterised by a proactive stance on digital threats, emphasising the importance of strategic partnerships and community engagement in creating a secure online environment for New Zealanders.

The CYBERA partnership has been instrumental in developing robust mechanisms for New Zealanders victimised by online financial and bitcoin scams, particularly those involving funds transferred to offshore accounts. Through the initiative, victims have been able to recover their lost funds, contributing significantly to the national effort against digital fraud.

Colonel Mel Childs New Zealand Defence Force

Colonel Mel Childs is recognised for her role as Commander of the New Zealand Defence Force’s Deployable Joint Interagency Task Force in which she led the NZDF response to Cyclone Gabrielle in affected areas across the North Island in February 2023.

COL Childs coordinated around 1,000 personnel across New Zealand while liaising with other agencies and stakeholders under extreme political and time pressure. Her team excelled under her leadership – matching her enthusiasm by responding with the same tireless work ethic and impassioned focus on delivery.

Colonel Childs’ calm and professional nature, combined with her command presence and competence, led to a highly successful response by the Defence Force, utilising assets and people from the Royal New Zealand Navy, New Zealand Army and Royal New Zealand Air Force. Colonel Childs is recognised as an exceptional role model for wāhine, not only in uniform but across the country.

Inspector Juanita (Whiti) Timutimu New Zealand Police

Inspector Juanita (Whiti) Timutimu is recognised for her role as Chief Advisor Partnerships in New Zealand Police and as a board member of Eastern Central Community Trust, and in particular for her role in supporting Tairawhiti communities affected by cyclone and flooding events culminating in Cyclone Gabrielle in February 2023.

Inspector Timutimu went above and beyond in response to these extreme weather events to support communities in need. Her relationships with hapū and Iwi led to a rapid turnaround in support, making food, emergency supplies and medication and essential items available, and allowing communities to support themselves.

Inspector Timutimu’s actions and leadership contributed to the establishment of a long term climate change-focused funding arrangement, increasing the resilience of communities within Eastern Central Community Trust catchment to future events. She is recognised as a role model for the Police Commissioners priority of ‘focussed prevention through Strategic Partnerships’