Reflecting on the past, peering into the future, by Mike Hurst, of ASIS UK.
The year 2007 has proved to be another good year for ASIS International in the UK (Chapter 208), we have run 4 excellent seminars in London, two Breakfast Briefings in Bristol and Manchester, a Technology Workshop for ‘non techies’, produced an award winning quarterly Newsletter, achieved record numbers of CPP passes (see below) and recruited about 150 new members.
For any unaware of ASIS International, I should explain that it is the leading international body for security professionals with about 35,000 members in 204 chapters across the world. Since 1955 ASIS has been dedicated to raising standards within the security profession through education programmes. The internationally recognised Certified Protection Professional (CPP) programme has in recent years been augmented by two new technical certifications, the Physical Security Professional (PSP) and the Professional Certified Investigator (PCI). Take-up on the CPP in the UK is such that we have had to add an additional study programme and a second examination date. ASIS also promotes, security research, international standards and offers a huge amount of online resources for security professionals. There is also a major seminar and exhibition every year in the US and an annual European Conference: 2008’s is in Barcelona.
The membership in the UK is split perhaps 70:30 in favour of corporate security managers, with the remainder coming from security vendors, (e.g. manufacturers, installers, service providers and consultants) and a volunteer committee of ASIS members runs activities. In 2007, the committee was chaired by Derek Webster (The Postal Services Commission Chief Investigation Officer), who after an outstanding year, has stepped down early through work commitments. Going forward, new Chairman Barrie Millett of GE, ably assisted by Vice Chairman Mike Alexander of Henderson Global and the rest of the committee are looking to build not only on 2007, but also on success of recent years.
ASIS International Chapter 208 is managed by a Committee drawn from the membership and strives to provide a platform for all members to benefit from. With c.750 members, it is the largest Chapter outside of North America and without the support and input of these members, it would not be possible to be so successful and, as mentioned earlier, 2007 was a very successful year for the Chapter. We will be looking to expand the highly successful regional meetings, pushing further North into Scotland, and to provide and even better seminar and educational programme: promoting the CPP is key to this last point. The Chapter truly wants to play a big part in "Advancing Security" in the United Kingdom, working towards the goal of the Security Profession becoming a career of choice. As part of this commitment, ASIS is supporting Professor Martin Gill’s work on the ‘Security Research Initiative’ and we are looking forward to learning what the business world’s perception of the security industry is and to drawing up a strategic to advance the professionalism of security.
The Chapter is lucky that so many major corporations recognise the work we do and support us by offering seminar facilities and support and to those companies who realise the commercial benefits of being associated with ASIS through seminar sponsorship, advertising in the Newsletter and by exhibiting at our seminars. We are equally lucky that so many leading industry professionals agree to give up their time to speak at the seminars. The work we do would not be possible without them – THANK YOU!
About the author
Mike Hurst is a committee member of ASIS International Chapter 208 (United Kingdom) and is responsible for Media and Communications including the quarterly Newsletter, Website, Blog and our new LinkedIn Group.
For more information on ASIS International in the UK, email Mike Hurst – [email protected]
