A college porter from Lancaster University has won a UK security officer of the year award. Nino Sibilla, who works at Graduate College, received his award at the annual Association of University Security Officers (AUCSO) conference in June, at St Andrews University, from AUCSO chairman Roger Morgan, head of security at Sussex University.
Nino said: “I love being a porter because you get to know so many people. This award makes the job worthwhile because people don’t know what we do.”
The award was his sensitive handling of the death of Graduate College, Lancaster University postgraduate student Anuj Bidve, an Indian, shot dead in Salford on Boxing Day. Nino notified students, including the dead man’s shocked friends, and passed messages on behalf of the Greater Manchester Police and Security Reception.
Mark Salisbury, Security Operations Manager for Facilities, said: “I saw at first hand exceptional customer service and inter-personal skills. On several occasions he showed deep compassion and a caring attitude for the many students who were literally walking around Graduate College in a daze and visibly in a state of deep shock.”
Nino knew not only Anuj but virtually every student in Graduate College by name. He said: “I want students to know they can talk to me if they need help. If I sent my kids to university, I’d like to know they’re safe so I treat the students as if they were my sons and daughters.”
He protected students from any media or other intrusions. He had the door lock to Anuj’s room changed to prevent any unauthorised access.
Mr Salisbury said: “I am so pleased that something positive has emerged from such a sad and tragic event. Nino’s dedication to duty on behalf of the students during this awful time cannot be underestimated. Sometimes the soft skills and caring attitude often displayed by security staff members can be just as critical as acts of bravery.”
Other finalists were Thomas Bailey of Durham University, Leon De’Gannes of Bellerbys College and Steve Walker of the University of York.
Separately, AUCSO has a new logo after a re-branding exercise led by Ian Higgins, the Executive Representative for the Midlands Region. The full title of the association has been dropped and the group is known as AUCSO. AUCSO launched their new website after a nine month project led by Colin Holland, the Executive Representative for the London Region; the group’s webmaster is Elizabeth Palicza, London South Bank University’s Security and Reception Services Manager. And at an AUCSO gala dinner during the conference, Bernadette Duncan MBE of City University, London, received an award for her long service to AUCSO as a past Chair and Vice-Chair; and Alfred Feichtinger who recently retired from the University of Zurich, received a Fellowship Award. Durham University is due to host AUCSO’s conference next year, from April 9 to 12.
