ISIA Awards 2024
Celebrating Outstanding People and Service in Security
The ISIA Awards 2024 recognised individuals and ISIA member companies in the following categories:
- Electronic Security Technician of the Year
- Security Officer of the Year
- ISIA Event Security Person of the Year
- Innovation in Security sponsored by Axis Communications
- ISIA Client Service Award
- ISIA Arc Team of the Year
- ISIA Diversity & Inclusion
- Women in Security
- Female Security Professional of the Year
- Male Security Professional of the Year
- Electronic security Supervisor of the Year
- Security Supervisor of the Year sponsored by RSP & Hytera
A prized element of this annual event is the opportunity it gives the ISIA to recognise individuals. groups or organisations that have made a significant contribution to the safety and security of the island of Ireland and its people with the Premier Award, Paul Lynch Memorial Trophy. Each accolade is always a highlight of the event, and the ISIA is thrilled to have the continued support of MITIE who have once again sponsored the Premier Award, Paul Lynch Memorial Trophy.
The ISIA Awards is brought to life by the MC who brings character and energy to a truly special annual event that shines a spotlight on private security in Ireland. We were delighted to have Ruth Scott as MC and to have the support of Provincial as sponsor.
Sarah O’Donnell, Communications Director, ISIA stated ‘It is incredibly meaningful to the ISIA to be able host the ISIA Awards and honour the exceptional individuals and companies in the private security sector. Our members are continually working to attract top talent to the industry to effectively manage risk and ensure safety across the state. Showcasing exceptional examples of people already working in the industry supports our members to achieve this. We extend our gratitude to all our sponsors and a special thank you to Synergy Security Solutions, our media sponsor, for their support which assists in highlighting the remarkable talent within this industry.”
Selection of Finalists & Winners
The standard of candidates this year was exceptional. Shortlisting and the judging process proved to be a difficult job with only those who reached a certain standard being selected as finalists. The finalists and winners of the ISIA Awards are:
Electronic Security Technician of the Year
This award enables the security industry to recognise exceptional service, performance, and technical ability by electronic security technicians. The award demonstrates the importance management attach to excellent performance, exceptional achievements, and service by recognising the contributions that individual security technicians make to the overall operation and success of security contracts.
The winner was Mark Smith of Acre Security. Merit awards were presented to Patrick Culbert, G4S; Frank Curtis, Securitas Technology; Daire Tucker, Bidvest Noonan and Andy Williams, Acre Security.
Security Officer of the Year
This award recognises exceptional service to the client and their stakeholders by security officers. The award demonstrates the importance management attaches to high standards, exceptional achievements, and outstanding service by recognising the contributions of individual security officers to the success of the security contract.
The winner was Anthony Roche from OCS. Merit awards were presented to Vladimir Bokmanis, Synergy Security Solutions; Aisling Dent, Bidvest Noonan; Joey Kennedy, G4S; Conor Maguire, Mitie; Jason Scanlan, Synergy Security Solutions; Aman Deep Singh, Mitie and Lakshmi Yarrabotula, Bidvest Noonan.
Event Security Person of the Year
This award recognises exceptional services to the customer or the public by those working in event and entertainment security, an area of private security with its own unique challenges. The award demonstrates the importance management attaches to excellence of performance, exceptional achievements, and service by recognising the contributions of individual employees to the overall operation of the event security assignment.
The winner was David Connelly from Brinks.
Innovation in Security sponsored by Axis Communications
This award recognises those companies which are being truly innovative in their approach to the delivery of security through product, process, or service innovation. The award is intended to foster and encourage initiative and commitment to innovation in the security industry which will drive competitiveness, quality, a higher level of service and customer satisfaction in the security industry overall.
The winner of the Innovation in Security award was Bidvest Noonan. Brinks were also recognised in this category as a finalist.
Client Service Award
This award enables the ISIA to recognise member companies who are delivering exceptional service to their client base. The award is intended to foster and encourage client focus and high standards in the delivery of critical security services.
The winner of the Client Service award was Synergy Security Solutions. Bidvest Noonan, Brinks and OCS were also recognised as finalists in this category.
ARC Team of the Year
This award enables the Security Industry to recognise those security companies who operate monitoring stations and the teams who deliver their services. Monitoring stations are the hidden but critical element in delivering a response to security threats and incidents. The award is intended to foster and encourage the highest standards in the delivery of this critical security service.
The winner was G4S. MCM Technology were also recognised as a finalist in this category.
Diversity & Inclusion
This award enables the ISIA to recognise those companies in the private security industry that are making efforts to create an inclusive culture that encourages diversity in the workplace. Diversity in the workplace brings great benefit to companies by having a wider range of skills available and improving cultural insights. This leads to increased productivity, improved employee engagement, lower turnover of employees, improved company reputation which combined all deliver successful outcomes for the company.
The winner of the award for Diversity & Inclusion was OCS. Brinks were also recognised as finalists in this category.
Women in Security
This award enables the Security Industry to recognise companies who are making specific efforts to both attract and retain more women to the security industry. Women are underrepresented in the security industry at operative level, mid management, and senior management level. Research has found that organisations that achieve gender balance across business units realise a variety of benefits to their business. This award aims to recognise those ISIA member companies working to encourage more women into the private security industry and to encourage others to do so.
Bidvest Noonan was the winner of the Women in Security award. OCS were also recognised having qualified as a finalist.
Female Security Professional of the Year
This award highlights the achievements of outstanding females in ISIA companies who have contributed to their employer’s success and serve as an exceptional example for women considering a career in the private security industry. Narrowing the gender gap in the workplace leads to positive business outcomes. By highlighting the success of female security professionals and outlining why these individuals serve as examples the ISIA hopes to encourage greater interest from women for roles within the security industry which will lead to more positive outcomes and future success for ISIA member companies.
Tammaryn Steers of Bidvest Noonan was the winner and this year’s Female Security Professional of the Year. Ksenia Cernecova, Brinks; Claudia Lungu, Acre Security; Aisling Sullivan, G4S received Merit awards in this category.
Male Security Professional of the Year
This award enables the Security Industry to recognise outstanding male security professionals to showcase the achievements of these men, highlight the contribution they make to the businesses they work for and encourage a future pool of candidates to join the private security industry. This award highlights the achievements of an outstanding man who has contributed to the business success of his employer and serves as an exceptional example for those considering a career in the private security industry.
The winner was Ollie Doyle, Brinks. Alan Kelly, OCS; James McKernan, Bidvest Noonan; Martin O’Reilly, Bidvest Noonan were presented with Merit awards in this category.
Electronic Security Supervisor of the Year
This award enables the security industry to recognise exceptional service, performance and leadership by supervisors in ISIA member companies operating in the Electronic Security area. The award demonstrates the importance attached to excellence in this field by Electronic Security Supervisors and recognises the contribution they make to their business’ operations.
The winner was Joseph McGann, Bidvest Noonan. Mark Carroll, Securitas Technology; Robert Cummins, Scope Technology; Niall Farrell, Acre Security were presented with Merit awards in this category.
Security Supervisor of the Year sponsored by RSP Radio and Security Products & Hytera
This award enables the security industry to recognise exceptional service to the client and their stakeholders by security supervisors. The award demonstrates the importance management attaches to outstanding performance, exceptional achievements, and leadership by highlighting the contributions of security supervisors to the overall success of the security contract.
The winner was Gareth Davies, Synergy Security Solutions. Mark Clail, Mitie; Mark Cunningham, Mitie; Richie Gibson, G4S; and Zoltan Gubicza, OCS; Ciaran Norris, Brinks; Abdul Rahman Syedand Martin Trabara were presented with Merit awards in this category.
Premier Award sponsored by Mitie.
Since 1985 the Paul Lynch Memorial Trophy has been awarded to an individual or group in recognition of a major contribution to the safety or security of the island of Ireland and her people. The award is a specially commissioned sculpture depicting a pair of clasped hands, which symbolize caring, strength and protection. It is presented in honour of Paul Lynch who died suddenly at the age of 38 during his term as President of the Irish Security Industry Association (ISIA).
Dave Fenton
This year the ISIA was honoured to be able to recognise and honour Dave Fenton with this year’s Premier Award, Paul Lynch Memorial Trophy.
Dave was a Garda, an active volunteer with the RNLI and active in his community as a sportsman. As the Irish Independent put it, “he saved lives both on land and sea. Being Garda Dave Fenton was his job and contributing to safety and security his duty as a garda. However, Dave took that responsibility outside of his work and brought it into his voluntary efforts and the way he fully lived his life. He was involved in so many significant rescue operations at sea. “Dave was always available, always first to volunteer, always ready to help with courage, humour and compassion,” This was how Paul Stevens of the RNLI described him.
Water Safety Ireland selected Dave Fenton on two occasions for “Just in Time” awards for rescues — the first for his quick response to a situation in 2014 at the pier in Castletownbere and the second more recently in 2020.
It meant so much to be able to present this year’s Premier Award in honour of Dave Fenton who encapsulated through the way he lived all that the Paul Lynch Memorial Trophy represents.
For further details about the Irish Security Industry Association (ISIA) or the ISIA Awards 2024. Please contact:
Sarah O’Donnell, Tel: 353 (0) 87 222 9127, Email: sarahodonnell@isia.ie