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Managing Editor, IFSEC Insider

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James Moore is the Managing Editor of IFSEC Insider, the leading online publication for security and fire news in the industry. James writes, commissions, edits and produces content for IFSEC Insider, including articles, breaking news stories and exclusive industry reports. He liaises and speaks with leading industry figures, vendors and associations to ensure security and fire professionals remain abreast of all the latest developments in the sector.
November 24, 2021

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Awards

Global Security Influencer of the Year 2021: Jennie Vickers

IFSEC Global and The Security Partners’ Forum are delighted to reveal that the inaugural Global Security Influencer of the Year winner has been unveiled as Jennie Vickers, CEO of Zeopard Consulting – and who recently stepped down as CEO of the New Zealand Defence Industry Association.

The award, which was new to the well established and highly regarded IFSEC Global Influencers of the Year process this year, was revealed at the prestigious Security & Fire Excellence Awards in London on the 23rd November.

A panel of highly experienced and well-regarded judges, separate from the original awards process, were put together by Head Judge, Grant Lecky. The panel assessed the shortlisted individuals’ – those who placed #1 in their categories in the IFSEC Global Influencers of the Year – achievements and level of influence in the security sector.

It should be highlighted that the award takes nothing away from the list of influencers that were announced in late July, but has been designed instead to add an extra layer of excitement and recognition into the mix. Winners come from a mixture of nominations from the public (self-nominations are not allowed) and the judges – though judges may not score their own nominations. As described in the launch release of the award in January, the award celebrates the successes of the Primus inter pares – ‘first among equals’.

Jennie’s energetic efforts from her work at the New Zealand Defence Industry Association in building a base and creating momentum across the industry to connect New Zealand businesses with a large base of international experts has been an inspiration in the field. And since leaving her role in the Association in May this year, has continued to support the industry in an unofficial capacity by connecting people and ideas.

A huge congratulations to those who made the original list, as well as the other shortlisted contenders for the Global Security Influencer of the Year Award:

  • Brian Tuskan, Chief Security Officer (Physical), Microsoft
  • Christina Alexander Alexandropoulou, Director of Security, Four Seasons – Astir Palace Hotel Athens
  • Loredana Mancini, Vice Chair, OWASP WIA Diversity and Inclusion
  • Andrew Lanning, Co-founder, Integrated Security Technologies

About the winner: Jennie Vickers, CEO, Zeopard Consulting

Jennie Vickers describes her expertise as connecting people, building relationships, influencing, problem solving and supporting better business outcomes. For the last eight years Jennie has been focused on the Defence sector in Australasia. As CEO of the NZ Defence Industry Assoc for four years (stepped down in May 2021), Jennie championed courageous and open conversations between Government and industry in the defence and security sectors to support better procurement outcomes and supporting more SMEs to participate in Government supply chains.

One illustration of Jennie’s agility is that one of NZ’s lockdowns for COVID-19, Jennie and her team ran a hybrid event to help NZ Defence launch its Information Domain and facilitate an open dialogue with the security and technology sectors.

Jennie was absolutely delighted and honoured to have made it to the #1 Spot on the list for Security: Association Figures/Academics/Thought Leaders, in the IFSEC Global Influencers in Security and Fire 2021, which were announced in July 2021.

Along with qualifications to practice law (commercial/IT) in NZ, Australia and UK, Jennie is a WorldCC Fellow, Expert in SRM and CCMP qualified in CCM. A life long learner she is currently studying Disruptive Technologies at TechFuturesLab (NZ), Digital Transformation with Media Design School (NZ) and Art Appreciation. Every day she also adds to her cyber skills portfolio.

In her consultant role to Fortinet, she is focusing on helping businesses and non-tech public sector employees in ANZ, understand what security-driven Networking looks like and supporting Fortinet’s  global initiatives around closing the Cyber-security professionals gap.

Summary of original nomination

Jennie Vickers stepped down as CEO of the New Zealand Defence Industry Association in April 2021 after four years in the role, during which she brought the Association into the 21st century and widened its remit to include members from throughout New Zealand’s security sector.

Apart from significantly increasing the Association’s membership and its links across other industry sectors and internationally, Jennie pioneered the use of made-for-purpose virtual event platforms. This enabled the NZDIA to quickly pivot during COVID to virtual events, which was critical in ensuring that engagement and collaboration among the NZ national security supply chain continued without missing a beat.

Jennie’s leadership and considerable online and cross-sector engagement has been instrumental in raising the profile of the private sector’s contribution to the defence and national security sectors in New Zealand.

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