Page 7 - SyI Quarterly - Q3 and Q4 Edition 2023

We shared this strategy in far more detail during our Annual Conference on 26th October, but I will
outline three priority areas here:

• Review of current structure, resources, policies, and processes for the Head Office team. We
have a great team and need to ensure they are given the right tools and skills to be able to carry out
their work. We will be completing gap analyses, whether these be in skills or resources. Lead Director,
our Vice Chair, Sarah Austerberry.

• Digital Strategy (no, not just re-vamping the website), this is an in-depth review of our processes,
communications (including website) and stakeholder/partner engagement, examining ways to refine,
automate and enhance delivery using digital solutions. Lead Director, our Vice Chair, Sarah Austerberry.

• Stakeholder and community mapping – we need to map who our members and stakeholders
are, so we can continue to support, engage, and communicate with them. In order for us to support the
security industry as a whole we must ensure we have influence in a variety of sectors to represent it. To
do so we need to understand which stakeholders we need to be working with. Lead Director – Chair,
Julie Nel.

There are nine priority areas each with a Director leading the activities underpinning them and
supporting Head Office. We will be asking members to assist us in completing the various activities and
thank you to those who are already engaging, having been already approached!

Each Director has also taken responsibility for specific SIGs and I know this has been warmly received.
The SIGs are playing a vital role in ensuring the continual development and influence of the security
sector within government and across other industries. Following a review of the SIGs, some are in the
process of being ‘refreshed’ with an updated terms of reference and new Chairs and others that have
been dormant are being removed to make way for potential new SIGs to evolve. This review is
important as we need to adapt to the changing security landscape and remain agile, innovative, and
progressive.

So what else has been happening?

One of the highlights of my time as Chair so far has been hosting the SyI Annual Conference on 26th
October. The conference was supported by our Royal Patron - Her Royal Highness The Princess
Royal who delivered a poignant address and continues to wholly support our industry. We had superb
presentations from the National Protective Security Authority giving us an outline of current threats,
Michelle Rusell CE of the SIA who detailed the challenges in maintaining standards, Pauline Cranmer
Director of Clinical Education who shared her learning as Gold Commander for the Westminster Bridge
attack, and Mike Croll MSyI who delivered a humorous insight on how the different generations view
their security and safety.

Our President Baroness Ruth Henig received an incredibly well deserved ‘Special Recognition Award’ at
the Women in Security Awards. Honouring all she has done for the security sector over many decades.
Lady Ruth continues to play a vital role within the security sector and in particular within The Security
Institute, as her dedication and support is unwavering and it is an honour to work with such a role
positive role model. From all of us Lady Ruth – thank you. The Security Institute shared sponsorship of
the event with the Association of Security Consultants, it was a great event celebrating inclusivity within
our industry and we look forward to supporting it again next year.

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