Annual Conference 2024

The Changing Face of Security

Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal attended The Security Institute Annual Conference: The Changing Face of Security

The Security Institute has just celebrated its annual conference and awards ceremony sponsored by Fastline Steel and HZL and titled ‘The Changing Face of Security’, marking a significant moment in the lead-up to its 25th Anniversary in 2025. Held on the 16th October 2024, at the impressive Royal Society of Medicine on Wimpole Street, the event brought together security professionals from across the sector to reflect on the profound shifts that have reshaped their roles in recent years, and welcomed The Security Institute’s Royal Patron, Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal as a special guest of honour.

During Her Royal Highness’ visit, delegates were thrilled to see The Princess Royal announce The Security Institute’s prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award to their late former President, Baroness Ruth Henig CBE JP DL. Baroness Henig’s family were in attendance to accept the award from Her Royal Highness.

The wider event focused on a number of exciting and crucial topics, with updates from The Security Institute Chair Julie Nel MSyI and The Security Institute Chief Executive Officer Professor Simon Hepburn MA MCMI FRSA, followed by talks from Paul Maskall of UK Finance and the City of London Police, who spoke about the psychology and sociology of security in a fascinating talk entitled ‘The Changing Face of Risk’, and Heather Baily QPM, Chair of the Security Industry Authority (SIA), who spoke about the unique challenges and changes that SIA licence-holders now face.

A captivating panel discussion then followed, with the key areas of diversity and inclusion subsequently addressed. Shortly thereafter, the Institute held its awards ceremony, with a number of excellent winners in each category, the results of which can be found on The Security Institute website.

In the afternoon, delegates heard from a similarly impressive array of industry experts and thought leaders, including representatives from the NPSA, Stuart Wortley of Eversheds Sutherland, Paul Bean MSyI of Royal Mail and finally, an enlightening talk from representatives of recent Nobel Prize-winners Google DeepMind.

CEO Professor Simon Hepburn remarked upon the occasion, “We are truly delighted to have held such a successful conference this year, and are deeply honoured by Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal’s continued dedication to our cause and Royal patronage.

The importance of our range of speakers, the topics discussed and the themes addressed this year cannot be overstated; the threat landscape is now more vast and more complex than at any previous point in history, and we at The Security Institute are proud to be facing these challenges head-on, not only for the benefit of our members, but for wider society as a whole.”