Judges

Kevin Bampton

CEO, British Occupational Hygiene Society

Professor Kevin Bampton is a former United Nations Constitutional Adviser and Legal Adviser for the UK Foreign Office. He has held Chairs in Comparative Justice and Public Law, as well as Fellowships in Governance and also in Health. His current role is Chief Executive Officer of the British Occupational Hygiene Society and Deputy Chair of the UK Council for Work and Health.

He led an COVID-19 expert team during the height of the global pandemic which won the International Institute of Risk and Safety Management Leadership team of the year for 2020. He is a member of the Executive of the COVID-19 Airborne Transmission Alliance, campaigning for better protection against airborne diseases and providing substantial evidence to the UK COVID-19 Inquiry as a core participant.

Simon Banks

Founder, The Banks Foundation

Simon founded CSL in 1996 and continues to be heavily involved. He is also Chairman of the British Security Industry Association (BSIA) and Skills for Security, as well as a board member of the National Security Inspectorate (NSI). He also spent 8 years on the board of BAFE.  

Simon founded Apprentices for Fire and Security (A4FS) in 2011 which has placed thousands of apprentice engineers within the security sector and he also represents the security manufacturers for the Government’s Trailblazer framework. Most recently, Simon founded The Banks Foundation, acquiring 49.9% of Skills for Security (SfS), the UK’s largest fire and security apprenticeship provider.

Tim Barnes

CEO, The Centre for Entrepreneurs

Tim is the CEO of the Centre for Entrepreneurs, the UK’s leading entrepreneurship charity and has worked with thousands of startups across a 25-year career that has encompassed being an early-stage investor, building startup accelerator and incubator programmes and developing entrepreneurial talent at universities including UCL, Cambridge and Loughborough. He sits on the boards of Capital Enterprise and NACUE, two leading entrepreneurship support organisations. In 2014 he was granted the Queen’s Award for Enterprise Promotion for life.

Jonathan Biney

Trustee, IIRSM

Jonathan is an IIRSM Fellow with over 15 years of experience in Quality Health, Safety, Environmental (QHSE), and Explosives (Fire) safety management, including 8 years in leadership and strategic roles. He is adept at managing strategic risk and ensuring regulatory compliance, with a strong focus on organisational performance and workforce wellbeing. As a Chartered Fellow of the Chartered Management Institute (CMI), he brings over a decade of management expertise, dedicated to driving improvements across all levels of an
organisation.

A 15-year tenure in the British Army has provided him with a robust foundation in risk management and leadership, equipping him to develop and implement effective safety protocols in high-pressure, high-risk environments. This background has fostered a unique blend of analytical and technical skills, combined with excellent communication and leadership capabilities with experience in leading diverse teams and managing complex safety projects across a variety of industries and geographical locations.

In his current role as QHSE Manager at Veolia Water Technologies & Solutions UK, he oversees the QHSE management across Veolia’s specialist Dewatering facility at their Brettex site in Chesterfield, responsible for driving initiatives that enhance regulatory compliance, improve incident management systems, and promote a culture of continuous improvement and professional development. His approach remains tactical, focusing on sustainable, medium-term solutions with strategic solutions that align with Veolia’s goals and the ever-changing needs of their workforce.

Prior to this, as HSE Manager at Castings Technology International Ltd., Jonathan led the safety strategy for Europe’s largest titanium casting facility, overseeing safety and compliance initiatives that ensured the highest standards of performance across the organisation.

Ian Cass

Forum of Private Business

Ian Cass originally joined the Forum of Private Business in 2013 and took the reins as Managing Director three years later in Summer 2015. Ian worked for Diageo for 14 years before forming the Venture team, he also runs Jack in the box Training, owned a couple of pubs, Founded Hunters gin, is chairman of the Micro Business Alliance which represents organisations accounting for 1.4 million micro businesses in the UK and has been a business angel and investor for a variety of small businesses.

The Forum is a small business membership organisation which was formed in 1977 and offers advice, support and protection to small UK companies and puts the members and the growth of their businesses first, which is why they now represent in excess of 30,000 small private and family firms.

The Forum’s efficient and knowledgeable staff believes that everything they do for a small business owner is about growth and profitability from start up in the early years of operation to businesses that have been trading for many years.

Ian’s relationship with the Forum actually started in 1997 when he started his own business and became a member, then in 2013 he was asked to look at the strategy and development of the company’s sales and to review the partner strategy for members. Ian took the challenge, setting a firm foundation upon which to move the business forward and grow it to what it is today. Over the years, Ian and the team have together built on this developing the best membership package in the UK aimed at small private and family employers.

Ian comments: “I am passionate about providing this support, advice and protection to our members, enabling them to do what they do best, growing and developing their business. I fully support the small and medium business sector having been a business owner myself over the years. I believe private and family businesses are the backbone of the UK economy and we need to support these business owners. There are lots of entrepreneurs in the UK who want to be innovative and want to grow; they just need the support to do so.”

To find out more about Ian Cass https://www.fpb.org/getbritaintrading/ian-cass/

Sarah Blanchfield

Forum of Private Business

Sarah Blanchfield is Chief Operating Officer at rradar, a leading UK risk, legal and regulatory advisory enterprise supporting organisations in navigating business risk. She sits on rradar’s senior leadership team and plays a central role in shaping the firm’s strategic direction, operational performance, and culture.

With over 20 years’ experience operating at board and executive level, Sarah is a highly respected leader in people strategy, organisational transformation and operational delivery across the financial services, insurance, and business process outsourcing sectors. Her career has spanned complex, highly regulated environments, where strong governance, resilience and people‑led leadership are critical to sustainable growth.

Prior to joining rradar, Sarah held senior leadership roles including HR Director at Sedgwick International UK, where she led culture, engagement, and talent strategies across the UK. Earlier in her career, she held senior positions with organisations including Capita plc, International Personal Finance plc and Bradford & Bingley, leading large‑scale, multi‑country teams and delivering transformational programmes across reward, learning and development, recruitment, and organisational design.

At rradar, Sarah has been instrumental in supporting the business’s growth and evolution, championing a people‑first approach while ensuring strong operational discipline and governance. She brings extensive experience in navigating regulatory complexity, scaling teams responsibly, and embedding cultures that prioritise safety, wellbeing, and long‑term value creation.

Carol Daniels

National Enterprise Network (NEN)

Carol Daniels, is the Operations Director for National Enterprise Network (NEN), the home of enterprise support. NEN’s members provide enterprise support for start-up, small and microbusinesses, enabling economic growth and improving lives in communities across England. Carol has been with National Enterprise Network since 2012, and brought over 13 years of experience from her previous role at a leading national charity.

As Operations Director, Carol doesn’t just manage the day-to-day running of the business; she oversees contract management on a number of contracts, ensuring every detail aligns with the organisation’s goals.

Ian Farrar

Micro Business Alliance

Sales professional Ian Farrar has over 20 years in global business development roles.  Trained by the UK Institute of Directors, Ian has successfully negotiated business deals… as well as scams, martial arts street fights and car crashes on his global travels, but that’s a story for another day!

With a strong, global network of influential contacts to call on, Ian has held management and operational leadership positions for engineering and technology companies.  Ian also has impressive experience holding non-executive directorships for public sector organisations.

Passionate about driving growth and exposure into forward thinking clients, entrepreneur Ian founded the sales and marketing agency Far North to assist organisations in his native North-East England.

Via his company, Far North Ltd Ian enjoys working with clients to coach them through their business growth and strategy plans and works one-on-one with individuals to realise their potential.  Ian delivers upskilling group masterclasses such as Business Model Canvas, Social Media Mastery and Sales Leadership.

As a self-confessed Social Evangelist, Ian embraces relationships across many social platforms.  Founding and hosting the UK’s top-ranking business podcast Industry Angel, saw Ian nominated for a European influencer award alongside Gary Vaynerchuk and Tim Ferris.

In his speaking roles, Ian often shares his burn out experience that landed him pushing through businesses meetings with beta blockers and ultimately collapsing in hospital.  Ian subsequently fired himself from corporate life in 2015.  With a calling to share his thoughts on culture and leadership, Ian speaks passionately about the need for leaders to protect their teams from work place stress.  “People don’t leave a good position, they leave a bad manager.  A red felt pool table and a pinball machine does not tick the culture box”.

Uzair Osman

BSIA

Uzair Osman is the Managing Director of Galliford Try’s Asset Intelligence business. Uzair has 18 years’ experience within construction in the security, digital innovation, and consulting fields. He is a Fellow of the Royal Institute of Surveyors and a Project Management Professional (PMP) with the Project Management Institute. He is also a non-executive director of the British Security Industry Association’s (BSIA) Operating Board.

Matt Gilmartin

BSIA

Matt Gilmartin, Managing Director of Smoke Screen, brings over 25 years of people-first leadership to the security industry. In this time, he has driven the development of Smoke Screen’s award-winning security fogging technology, recognised for its proactive crime prevention capabilities. Beyond product innovation, Matt plays a vital role as a collaborator in the “Fight Back Against Retail Crime” initiative pioneered by Reading BID and supported by Thames Valley Police. Following the initiative’s success in Reading, a second event has already been held in High Wycombe, with two more planned to further bolster retail security across the country.

Wesley Harper

The Worshipful Company of Security Professionals

Wes Harper is a multi-award-winning consultant and board advisor within the security industry, bringing over 35 years of leadership experience to his work. He is the founder and Managing Director of Harper Morgan, a management consultancy serving clients across the international security sector.

Wes holds an MBA in International Business and is currently pursuing an MSc in Digital Economies and transformation at King’s College London, reflecting his commitment to continuous learning and innovation in the security field.

A longstanding member of the Worshipful Company of Security Professionals, Wes has served on its board for ten years and currently leads efforts to secure corporate support, generating substantial funds for the Company’s charitable trust that supports the security industry. He previously chaired the Sheriffs of the Old Bailey Award for Bravery and the Membership Committee for nine years and was installed as Senior Warden in 2025. His contributions to the profession have been recognized with the Freedom of the City of London.

In addition to his consultancy and advisory work, Wes operates a security manufacturing business that provides Rapid Deployment CCTV towers and other solutions to protect Critical National Infrastructure (CNI) sites.

Sue Jones

The Worshipful Company of Security Professionals

Sue Jones joined the Foreign & Commonwealth Office in 1979 having gained a Business Diploma, with Secretarial Studies, at College. She retired in 2019 after 40 years’ service. She held a wide variety of posts in London and served overseas in Diplomatic Missions in Singapore, West Berlin and Brussels, with temporary duties in Bangkok, Jakarta and Kuala Lumpur. She has wide experience in HR, having held posts in Recruitment and Training.
Her partner is a Past Master of the Honourable Company of Air Pilots and it was this association with the Livery world which prompted her to join the WCoSP in 2016.

Sue is a volunteer at the Gurkha Museum in Winchester, where she lives and is a member of The Arts Society (formerly NADFAS). In 2020 (during Lockdown) Sue gained her WSET Level 3 in Wines.

Sue was installed as Senior Warden of the WCoSP in June 2024 and, subject to election, should be the Master in June 2025.”

Isabella Dixon Smith

IPSA

Marie Tyler

IPSA

Recognised in the Security Buyer Power25, Marie Diane Tyler is Director of Strategic Engagement at OrangeDoor and Executive Board Director at IPSA. She has spent more than two decades building strategic partnerships, leading marketing initiatives and connecting organisations across the security, technology and events sectors. Marie is a women in industry podcast host and voice-over artist who is passionate about helping organisations create meaningful engagement, stronger communities and measurable business impact. 

Chris Middleton

The Security Institute

Julie Nel

The Security Institute

Julie Nel, MA MSyI, is the Chair of The Security Institute and one of the leading women within the UK’s security profession. She has an extensive security background spanning 35 years, having served in the UK military and UK law enforcement, leaving at the rank of Detective Superintendent.

Julie is an expert in threat intelligence and strategic risk analysis and holds an MA in Intelligence and Security Studies. She is the CEO and Founder of B4 Secure Ltd, which specialises in the cyber and digital space, enhancing organisational resilience through business intelligence and data analysis, and providing global insights on threats, opportunities, and risks.

Julie is a champion of inclusivity within the security sector and is an active mentor and coach. She runs an internship program to encourage and guide new talent, particularly women, entering the security field. She also participates in various committees and advisory groups, advocating for gender equality and the professionalisation of the security industry.

Pauline Norstrom

Industry Representative – CEO, Anekanta®

Pauline Norstrom is the CEO of Anekanta® Consulting and Anekanta® AI which are focused on commercial research into responsible AI, and the provision of impact and risk services for compliance with the EU AI Act and pending national and international regulations. The brand specialises in high-risk AI, GenAI and biometrics use cases for civil security, transportation and smart cities. She established the Anekanta® brand in 2016, having gained several decades of experience in senior statutory board positions in a number of international businesses specialised in video surveillance and analytics.

A former Chair of the British Security Industry Association (BSIA), Norstrom is now an honorary member appointed by the board to advise on AI and biometrics, and represents the BSIA on the CoESS AI expert committee in the EU. Additionally she is a recent judge for the British Security Awards, IFSEC Global Security Influencer Awards and the AI Journal.

A champion of the ethical and legal application of digital technology, she played a leading role in the BSIA’s guide to facial recognition technology, now a new British Standard BS 9347:2024. She is also an advisor on AI ethics and trustworthiness to the Institute of Directors Expert Advisory Group for Science Innovation and Technology. Pauline also sits on the Security Industry Association’s cybersecurity, data privacy and AI advisory boards providing input and guidance on AI, cyber and privacy good practice for the North American security market. Furthermore, she has been appointed Vice Chair of the ISRM AI special interest group, and was instrumental in the creation of a glossary of AI terms for strategic risk management professionals.

Presenting evidence for the BSIA to the UK’s All-Party Parliamentary Group for AI (APPG AI) on facial recognition software for national security in 2021, she was back again in 2023 representing the IoD and its framework for board governance and accountability based on Anekanta®’s own ethical AI framework. Finally, Pauline holds fellowships with the RSA (Royal Society of Arts), IoD (Institute of Directors) and BCS The Chartered Institute for IT, and is a member of the UK’s National Committee for AI standards aligned with CEN/CENELEC and ISO/IEC, run by the British Standards Institute (BSI).

James Gribben

Skills for Security

James Gribben is the Commercial Director of Skills for Security, the UK’s leading fire & security apprenticeship training provider, having previously worked for a range of other leading brand names within the security industry.

Originally graduating in marketing and subsequently gaining his MBA from the Alliance Manchester Business School, James’ expertise supports Skills for Security along its continued growth trajectory, through widening its fire & security customer base in apprenticeships, technical training and sponsorship, whilst expanding into adjacent markets.

James is based in Wilmslow in the North-West with his family and is a keen sportsman outside of work, taking part in regular running and triathlon events.

David Scott

Skills for Security

David’s passion lies in the development and improvement of training within the fire and security industry. As a past apprentice himself, he is driven by his love for the industry that provided him with so many opportunities to grow and develop. With a determination to give something back, David’s career goal is to raise apprenticeship participation, employer engagement in training and continuously drive industry improvements by raising the standard of training delivered throughout the United Kingdom.

Over the last 8 years David has been employed by New College Lanarkshire with a remit to drive continuous improvement in their apprenticeship programme. After a successful number of years lecturing, David was promoted to Curriculum & Quality Manager in 2016, where he was responsible for the curriculum strategy, development & delivery to over 450 students, with the line management responsibility of 20 staff across a mixed curriculum of Carpentry & Joinery, Built Environment and Electronic Fire & Security sectors. David’s passion was instrumental in New College Lanarkshire’s rise in becoming the largest provider of the fire and security apprenticeship programme in the UK, with 200 apprentices enrolled. Since then, New College Lanarkshire have had huge success at national events, with 12 placed winners at the security excellence awards over 8 years.

David’s commitment to the industry is evident; he regularly attends key industry events across the UK to deliver engaging and promotional talks to industry about training.

Qualified to degree level in both Teaching and Management, David is an advocate of self-development and continuous improvement, and has recently become an accredited chartered manager with the CMI.

Marie Tedstone

Young Enterprise

Having worked at Young Enterprise for over 15 years, Marie is passionate about helping young people to develop enterprising mindsets and encourage their entrepreneurial spirit.    In her current role, she works with a range of organisations to secure support to help the next generation fulfil their true potential.

Young Enterprise (YE) works directly with young people, teachers, and businesses to help build a successful and sustainable future for all young people – since 1962 we’ve equipped more than 7.2 million young people with the skills and knowledge needed to succeed in the changing world of work.  

Milena Maneva

The Institute of Strategic Risk Management (ISRM)

Milena is a recognised thought leader in resilience with over 16 years of experience across financial services, brokerage, law, and real estate. Her expertise spans risk, business continuity, crisis management, governance, and enterprise resilience. Passionate about unlocking potential, she champions preparedness, adaptability, and collaboration to build resilient organisations and leaders.

Currently she serves as the Head of Business Continuity and Resilience, EMEA at BGC Group/Cantor Fitzgerald, Founder of ResilienceArc, and Chair of Institute of Strategic Risk Management (ISRM) London. Milena also serves as a board advisor and awards judge, and is an active member of ISACA, ISRM, SASIG, BCI and the Virtue Community at The Hacking Games.

She also served as a judge for ISACA Global Achievement Awards 2026, FSTech Awards 2026, and the Recruiters Investing in Talent Awards 2022 and 2023. Committed to helping organisations and individuals unlock their potential, she fosters preparedness, adaptability, and resilience – driving collaboration, thought leadership, and strategic risk and resilience management across industries.

Richard Tydeman

Security Industry Federation

Richard Tydeman is a security and technology leader whose career spans frontline physical security through to enterprise cyber and risk management.

He began as a licensed Door Supervisor, working in high-pressure environments where situational awareness, de-escalation and real-world threat response were essential. That experience shaped his practical, people-focused approach to security long before he moved into cyber and IT.

Richard went on to build and lead cyber security and managed services teams, supporting organisations from fast-growth businesses to regulated, mission-critical enterprises. His work covers network security, identity and access control, monitoring, compliance and incident response, always with a focus on operational resilience.

Alongside his technical leadership, Richard has held senior enterprise account roles, translating complex security risk into clear commercial and board-level decisions. He is a Board Member of the Security Industry Federation and co-founder of the Protect Card.

As a judge for the Security and Safety Entrepreneur Awards, Richard looks for innovation that delivers real-world protection, not just impressive technology.

Jo Watling

Security Industry Federation

Jo works day-to-day with workers right across the private security industry, spanning all roles, ensuring their voices are heard and their concerns are addressed.

Incorporating decades of experience in people management within the nighttime economy into her advocacy work, she demonstrates a commitment to not only understanding the needs of security workers but also actively collaborating with employers to create solutions that contribute to a more equitable and just working environment.

Jo is an elected local parish councillor with a true dedication to making a positive impact at grassroots level. By directly addressing the concerns and needs of her community, she actively contributes to positive changes in the lives of those she represents.

Jo has always campaigned for causes she feels strongly about, specifically the importance of fair treatment and equality. She has a particular interest in Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) within the security industry and is an active member of the Security Industry EDI Forum, advocating for policies and practices that ensure fair treatment and opportunities for all individuals.

Jo stands out as a force to be reckoned with. Her unwavering commitment to justice and sympathetic ear, along with her proactive approach to serving her trade union members, is second to none. Her passion and expertise make her an invaluable asset in SIF’s pursuit of positive change within the industry.