OSPAs Thought Leadership Summit 2023 announces programme line up

The fifth UK Outstanding Security Performance Awards (OSPAs) Thought Leadership Summit is set to take place on Thursday 23 February 2023 at the Royal Lancaster Hotel in London.

The OSPAs team is once again working in collaboration with the National Security Inspectorate (NSI) to deliver the Summit, which is set to provide a platform for security providers and industry stakeholders to gather and debate topical issues affecting the UK security sector. A series of panel sessions and presentations from leading industry figures will form the basis of the event.

The full programme has been announced, with further details below. Doors will open at 11:30 AM.

2023 Thought Leadership Summit programme

This year several hot topics will be covered, said to be relevant to the whole industry.

Third Party Certification – Delivering Buyer Confidence

• Richard Jenkins – Chief Executive, National Security Inspectorate (NSI)

Public and private sector collaboration: what are the barriers and opportunities?

• David Ward – Director, DW Associates

Discussing the realities of public-private sector collaboration and the issues that thwart progress, with a real example of tackling terrorism in the City to be explored. How did it work and how were barriers overcome? What lessons can be learnt and by whom?

What do insurers think of the security sector?

• Mark Dunham – Chair of RISCAuthority, Head of Technical Underwriting at AVIVA

Insurers are important players when it comes to engaging with clients on security matters. In some ways insurers play a key role in driving interest in security and encouraging better provision. But what do insurers think of the security sector? And how will the pending Protect Duty impact what insurers are expecting of security in the future?

Developing security industry capability: what is happening?

• Amanda Gentle – Senior Manager (Strategy and Scheme Delivery), Security Industry Authority (SIA)

How do we know good professional development in security from bad? How doable is it to develop a universal frame of reference for skills? Where can someone go to find the very best security industry career advice? What needs to happen to ensure private security can become a career of choice?

Panel discussion – Purchasing good security: what are the modern drivers for buying decisions?

• Clare Rogers – Senior Operations Manager (Services), National Security Inspectorate (NSI)
• Joanne Kenny – Commercial Lead, Crown Commercial Service
• Mike Reddington – CEO, British Security Industry Association (BSIA)

Is legislation necessary to drive more secure environments, and best practice in purchasing and security delivery? What will drive purchasing behaviours that serve public safety?

What would improve the security sector’s image? What the bosses say

• Sarah Jane Cork – Managing Director, Bidvest Noonan
• Peter Harrison – Managing Director, FGH Security

Bosses will talk about the challenges they face, and those they feel the sector faces, in improving security and the environment in which it operates. What are the main obstacles, and how can they be overcome?

Reflecting on my route to conducting terrorist activities: questions and answers

• Frank Portinari, Former offender

A former offender will discuss his journey into terrorism, and how it developed from football hooliganism. Frank will address some of the issues into what can be done to prevent others following this path and answer audience questions on radicalisation.

Commenting on the successful series of Thought Leadership Summits, Richard Jenkins, NSI Chief Executive, said: “We are proud to once again be working with the OSPAs to deliver the 2023 Thought Leadership Summit enabling key players of the industry to come together and contribute to topical discussions about subjects that matter most to the sector.

“No other event provides such a platform and we are looking forward to welcoming those forward thinking leaders for whom this is an established not-to-be-missed date in the calendar and those who will be joining for the first time on 23 February 2023”.

Professor Martin Gill, OSPA founder and organiser, said: “We are excited to be tackling some of the pressing issues of our time, including: the challenges to purchasing good security; the barriers to developing security sector capabilities; we have a question-and-answer session with a former offender involved in terrorist activities; as well as our usual ‘what the bosses say’ feature. And these are just some reasons to be there. This is an event not to be missed.”

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