HOMELAND SECURITY World #1: Jennie Vickers named Global Security Influencer of the Year
Jennie Vickers, CEO of Zeopard Consulting and former New Zealand Defence Industry Association CEO, dominates a stellar international field to claim IFSEC Global’s inaugural supreme influencer award. It was all revealed at the prestigious Security & Fire Excellence Awards in London on the evening of 23 November. After a final judging process in which the category winners of the IFSEC Global Influencers – who had already been judged the most influential in their fields – were again put through their paces, New Zealand’s own Jennie Vickers was announced as the inaugural Global Influencer of the Year! Grant Lecky, co-founder of the Security Partners Forum and Lead Judge for the awards, commented that this new award will play an important role within the international community of security professionals. “Security affects our lives and communities more deeply and expansively than ever, and recognising global influencers helps to emphasise this,” he said. “This new award will help further recognise influencers who have made exceptional contributions throughout the year – not just over a career – which can help identify current and future trends and opportunities.” Editor of IFSEC Global, James Moore, commented that the new award was a ‘Primus inter pares’ – ‘First among Equals’ – award for the IFSEC Global Influencers in Security and Fire. It is an historic win for Aotearoa, having already claimed six IFSEC Global Influencers in Security and Fire 2021 awards earlier in the year. Constituting a record number of kiwi winners were New Zealand Security Association CEO Gary Morrison, ASIS International NZ Chapter Chair Ngaire Kelaher, Massey University academic Dr John Battersby, Atlas Gentech Enterprise Security & Risk Manager Andrew Thorburn, Security Lit Managing Director Ankita Dhakar, and eventual influencer-in-chief Jennie Vickers. The awards process The Global Influencer of the Year was chosen between the winners of the five security categories (excluding the ‘One to Watch’ category) that comprise the annual IFSEC Global Influencers awards. Judging was undertaken by an independent group of judges following the publication of the full list of IFSEC Global Influencers earlier in the year.
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The five categories the winner will be chosen from are: • Security executives (the senior most official in an enterprise, whose primary duties encompass leading and managing security for the enterprise) • Security – end users (e.g. heads of security, directors of security) • Security – manufacturers/vendors/installers/integrators (those displaying exemplary work in the field of installation or specific projects, as well as technological innovation) • Security – thought leadership (e.g. thought leaders, association figures, academics) • Cyber security professionals and thought leaders
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