Securing our borders, facilities and public spaces

Following its successful Wellington debut in 2019, Conferenz’s Securing NZ’s Borders, Facilities & Public Spaces is back for 2021. This time, the event brings a pantheon of renown security and resilience specialists to Auckland.

Shaping today’s security landscape has become a lot more intricate over the past months, with the ongoing threat of COVID reminding us that this issue will continue to evolve in the near future.

Questions are being asked as to what new or additional measures might be put in place to securing our borders, facilities and public spaces, and how understanding further the rights of the public and the obligations at law is critical to delivering effective security and safety services.

The Securing NZ’s Borders, Facilities & Public Spaces Conference will focus on key currents shaping today’s security landscape with presentations by renowned local and international practitioners and academics.

The event is set to draw together professionals concerned with safety and security at the border and at facilities where people tend to congregate. The agenda features thought provoking contributions from a wide range of experts from across law enforcement, government, venue operators, risk management and the security industry.

Along with COVID threats and implications for our shared environments, there are other trends emerging. For example, a darker side of social media has arisen - one which threatens national security and undermines democracy. Nowhere has this been more evident and arguably effective than in the 2016 and 2020 United States Presidential Elections and 2016 BREXIT referendum, but also more recently during the recent COVID-19 pandemic. How these social media implications can be countered is a question to be discussed with Nick Nelson from Massey University.

Cyber-attacks are increasing in complexity and sophistication with international and domestic hostile agents increasingly targeting critical areas of infrastructure. Philip Whitmore, Partner - Cyber Security, KPMG will share current trends in cyber terrorism along with tactics for determining the highest risk areas of infrastructure within New Zealand.

Our airports have had to implement many new changes in screening to advanced screening using CT technology/body scanners. Clinton McCaughan, General Manager Aviation Security, Queensland Airport Ltd - ISS Facility Services will share on The shifting landscape of Australian aviation security.

It is important to note that amongst all the care one can take to protect our personnel, cities and communities – there are the legal parameters to follow. James Warren & Gretchen Fraser from Dentons Kensington Swan will share with a Legal Clinic: Maintaining public safety within legal parameters – because understanding the rights of the public and your obligations at law is critical to delivering effective security and safety services.

Securing NZ’s Borders, Facilities & Public Spaces is co-located with the National Safety Leaders’ Summit and Wellbeing at the Front-Line events, and features a jam-packed two-day speaker line up, with just some of the sessions including:

The shifting landscape of Australian aviation security – Clinton McCaughan, General Manager Aviation Security, Queensland Airport Ltd - ISS Facility Services

• Explore the threats to aviation

• International and national objectives of Australian aviation security and legislation

• Change in screening to advanced screening using CT technology/ body scanners

• Recognition of firearms and explosives including dangerous goods

Security at national and civic level – funding, collaboration, and strategy – Darroch Todd, Risk Manager, Auckland Unlimited

• An understanding of the decisions to allocate funding to increase safety and security in New Zealand is crucial for security professionals, hear about what is being done at the national and civic level to make this country a safer place.

• Analyse strategy used to react to security threats in the long and short term

• Learn how funding is allocated to various departments and services

• Gain insight into how New Zealand operates security at a national and civic level

Building safer cities – how security technology and architectural design are mitigating harm – Dr Lee Beattie, Deputy Head of School - School of Architecture + Planning , The University of Auckland

• With many of New Zealand’s largest cities undergoing modernisation and transformation, building in security and safety features is becoming increasingly common

• Innovations in architecture, designing cities to reduce hostile threats

• Integrating innovative security technology into public spaces

• Hostile architecture, security features designed to reduce antisocial behaviour

Cyber-attacks on public infrastructure – the dangers of attacks on infrastructure and the potential physical harm – Philip Whitmore, Partner - Cyber Security, KPMG

• Cyber-attacks are increasing in complexity and threat, with international and domestic hostile agents increasingly targeting critical areas of infrastructure

• Determine the highest risk areas of infrastructure in New Zealand

• Analyse the potential fallout of a damaging cyber attack • Evaluate the current trends in cyber terrorism

Reviewing the latest developments in the New Zealand security industry – Nicholas Dynon, Chief Editor - New Zealand Security Magazine

• How has the security industry weathered the challenges of 2020?

• Where are we now – what challenges and opportunities are there going forward?

• Examining the private security industries involvement in the delivery of Government managed isolation

• Mapping the impact of the pandemic on major events in New Zealand – what’s on in 2021 and what’s not - what does this mean for the security sector?

Legal Clinic: Maintaining public safety within legal parameters – James Warren, Partner, Gretchen Fraser, Senior Associate, Dentons Kensington Swan

• Understanding the rights of the public and your obligations at law is critical to delivering effective security and safety services

• Understand your obligations under the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 when providing security and safety services

• Learn how to avoid breaches of privacy of your personnel and others

• Identify other rights and obligations impacting the role of security organisations and their ability to deliver security effectively and within the law (including mitigating areas of risk)

Shaping the Enterprise Security Risk Management (ESRM) Architecture and Design Process – Chris Kumeroa, Director, Global Risk Consulting

• Reviewing internal and external events that help shape Security Design

• Key elements of the Security Predesign Phase

• Understanding your organisation’s exposure to security related risks and its security vulnerabilities

• How best to articulate your organisation’s risk profile and vulnerabilities to decision makers

Curated to address our current fast-changing environment, the agenda will feature thought-provoking contributions from a wide range of experts from across police, law enforcement, government, legal, sports, venue operators, risk management and the security industry. It’s therefore a must for those responsible for security and safety at NZ’s border, facilities and public spaces, as well as event operators and security professionals from across New Zealand.

For more information, visit www. conferenz.co.nz.