Women in Security (WiS) groups are popping up everywhere. Next year’s nominations for the Professional Security Magazines (PSM) WiS Award will not be short of candidates, writes our regular contributor Una Riley.
I attended two WiS events and have recently been appointed the new IPSA-WiS co-ordinator. As an ASIS member here and in the US I am always supportive of any ASIS initiative and especially the ASIS-WiS platform. The ASIS Women In Security Group (ASIS-WIS) UK serves as a designated forum where like-minded women can enjoy social networking and form mentoring relationships; and enjoy each other’s company when life becomes challenging. The idea is that women can share issues that may affect any or all phases of security careers in a relaxed and inviting place … and what better than the National Portrait Gallery (NPG). October 4 saw the second ASIS-WiS meeting at the NPG in London. The meeting was organised by Alexandra Whyte, Group Security Manager at Johnson Matthey; and Zara Doughty, Director, Corporate Accounts for Shield Guarding, both members of ASIS. I took the chance to ask Zara what’s the main thrust of the group and what is the vision for the future? Zara replied: “Ultimately what we do as a group is driven by the members themselves and not dictated by us. Alex and I just really facilitate the opportunity for women to promote their needs and interests in a positive friendly environment. There is no feministic or political agenda, just a fun, informative and informal meeting of minds. For future growth some of the things our members have asked us to look at include regional ASIS-WIS meetings, mentoring, industry-specific training and qualifications and to explore the concept of role models. For instance to have the ability to recognise and celebrate the contribution that women have made to the industry, like through Professional Security WiS awards.” Looking around on the night there seemed to be quite a few role models attending. For instance, Eileen Restall, Security Services Manager, and Pim Baxter, Deputy Director of the NPG. Eileen is a recognised security professional and Pim is the co-chair of the Women Leaders in Museums Group. The evening kicked off with a splendid drinks reception in the main hall of, sponsored by Total Security Group. We got to know each other a little better before making our way to the magnificent Victorian Gallery Room (Room 23) to be more formally welcomed by Pim Baxter and given a quick overview of the gallery.
Pim had us captivated with her obvious passion for the NPG. The room was truly awesome with its rich background of gilded framed paintings and the air crackled as the keynote speaker Baroness Ruth Henig regaled us with her experiences of being a women in business. She started: “The general topic of women and the workplace has been a topic of interest to me ever since I was quite young. My mother used to tell me stories about her mother (whom I never knew) and her four sisters, all of whom were talented and ambitious young women. But my great grandfather was adamant that his daughters were not to be allowed to work – they were all to make good marriages and to bring up the next generation.” This seemed to resonate with the audience that although we were surrounded with beautiful historic portraits it was not that long ago that women were rarely allowed to work. Baroness Henig went on: “My grandmother duly married – and when her husband died tragically young, just after the First World War, she took over the running of his business and by all accounts was brilliant at it! My mother made it clear to me that she wanted me to have the freedom to work and to have a career – it didn`t matter what, though doctor or lawyer would be good. I always assumed I would work, and have always done so.” Baroness Henig painted a picture of a career spanning over 40 years and said: “Women still have serious battles to fight and challenges to overcome, and they apply to workplaces across the board, In the first place, it is women who mostly, though not exclusively, have caring responsibilities – for children, for parents, for other family members. Thus women find their careers being interrupted, and find men less competent than they are shooting past them. In other words, women`s career profiles are often very different to men`s, and this needs to be recognised. Women may not be at a very senior level at 40, but may shoot up the ladder after 50, overtaking male colleagues who arrived years back but have reached the level of their abilities. Directors and managers need to understand this different career trajectory and to assess women accordingly, but they don`t always do so.” At this the women nearing 40 and those over could not help but smile … so for women life does begin at 40! She went on to explain that women tend to cluster in certain policy areas and in certain professions – for instance primary school teaching, nursing, welfare work etc. However they don`t tend to have a monopoly on senior positions.” She went on to say: “An important point I have learned over the years is that the more powerful and important the position, the greater likelihood it will be occupied by a man, even though the percentage of male primary teachers and nurses is low …now this isn`t always because of men having sharp elbows!” Everyone laughed as she went on: “One of the factors here is that many women (not necessarily in this room) lack self-confidence and don`t apply for promotion, especially if it entails learning new skills or needing to take on different areas of work. It has often been observed that if a man can fulfil 60 per cent of a job specification, he will happily apply for the job, whereas if a woman fulfils 90pc of it, she worries about the 10pc she can`t do. There is a real issue here –and we need to be aware of it.” Once again the audience reflected as she gave an example of a story about Dutch male and female local politicians which exemplified the point. Baroness Henig also applauded the upsurge of the WiS groups, appearing across the profession. For instance if it is the case that women are likely to lack self-confidence, then that`s where women mentors and women`s networks can play such an important role. Henig said: “I am so pleased to see the launch of this particular initiative, because there can be no doubt at all it is definitely needed for women in the private security sector. This is a sector in which women do not cluster – far from it. Since 2005, the percentage of female SIA license holders has remained between 8pc and 9pc of the licensed population. The picture in the higher echelons of the industry is similar, if the membership of the Security Institute is anything to go by. Out of their 1100 members, only 83 are women – around 7.5pc. So there is not much evidence of a sizeable number of women in the different sectors of the industry – which is why these types of network platforms will be so important in helping women to progress, helping them to combat discrimination, and working with them to project positive role models throughout the private security industry.”
Baroness Henig is an established role model for others. She is also a judge of the PSM-WiS awards that recognise the role that women (in security) have played over the years and is starting to produce role models. She concluded: “We know that women are doing a really good job – their contribution in the door supervisor sector is much appreciated. They bring a different dimension to the role – less brawn, more brain and quiet but firm persuasion. They are good trainers, and conscientious achievers in managerial positions. And there have been some excellent women in leadership roles … so women are breaking through – but quite slowly. So the challenge is clear – to attract more women into the industry in this post-Olympic period, to mentor them, to provide forums where issues can be raised and problems resolved, and collective action taken if necessary, and then to ensure that some compete for a wide variety of middle ranking and top jobs. This will take time – but the existence of this type of network will provide a positive platform for women`s progression – and hopefully sooner rather than later there will be a marked increase in the percentage of women in the industry and in the level, and quality of jobs they do. And to end on a positive note – the very first SIA license holder was a female door supervisor from Portsmouth. So for just a brief moment, SIA license holders were 100 per cent female!”
About the National Portrait Gallery
Founded in 1856, the aim of the National Portrait Gallery, London is ‘to promote through the medium of portraits the appreciation and understanding of the men and women who have made and are making British history and culture, and … to promote the appreciation and understanding of portraiture in all media’.
The Gallery holds the most extensive collection of portraits in the world. With over 1000 portraits on display across three floors, from Elizabeth I to David Beckham, the Gallery has something for everyone. Artists featured range from Holbein to Hockney
