The Association of University Chief Security Officers (AUCSO) is to award Les Allan a Fellowship. Les, pictured, was AUCSO’s Chair between 2021 and 2023, and Vice Chair between 2019 and 2021.
He recently retired as Director of Safeguarding Services at Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, and now works as a consultant for one of AUCSO’s partners, CriticalArc, the personal safety, security, wellbeing and emergency management software company.
Oliver Curran, who took over as Chair, said: “We are honoured to present Les with this award as he has worked tirelessly for AUCSO for many years and been pivotal in shaping the direction of the Association. We wanted to recognise the outstanding contribution he has made over this period.
“Throughout his time with AUCSO, Les has always actively promoted the sharing of best practice across the wider security sector, creating strategic alliances and encouraging collaboration and consultation with government and regulatory agencies. He championed the use of innovative technology to enhance the reach of security provision and acted as a mentor to those just beginning their leadership careers, actively investing in the next generation of professionals working towards career progression. We are truly grateful for everything he has done.”
Julie Barker, COO at AUCSO added: “Les really does deserve this Fellowship. I have always admired his capability, as an experienced and inspirational leader, to develop new approaches to modernise security and safety by breaking down barriers to collaborative thinking and using his influence to support new initiatives and strategic alliances. He is one in a million!”
Les is the seventh AUCSO Fellow. He’ll join Alfred Feichtinger, the first European Region Chair; Bernadette Duncan MBE, Chair in 2001/2002; Ray Wheatley, the association’s Ireland Region Chair; David Owen, Secretary from 2000-2017; Brian Scofield, Treasurer 2015-2019 and Trevor Jones, Chair 2018-2021, and Vice Chair 2015-2018.
Les said: “I’m proud and delighted to have been bestowed this honour and to be in such great company makes it even more special.”
A formal presentation will be at the University of Warwick in April as part of the 2025 AUCSO Conference.
