The second annual New Zealand Outstanding Security Performance Awards (OSPAs) event took place at the at the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron on Friday 14 April 2023.
More than one hundred security professionals gathered at the 2023 OSPAs to celebrate the very best from across the sector with dinner and a presentation event. This year’s event again combined with the ASIS International New Zealand Chapter’s Annual Certification Dinner.
“It was an honour to be in Auckland to host the awards celebration to acknowledge and recognise the fantastic work that is taking place within the security industry,” said OSPAs founder Professor Martin Gill, “and all those that were nominated should feel very proud.”
Professor Gill, who presided over the event, had arrived in Auckland earlier in the week to oversee final preparations and to meet with a range of security sector stakeholders and partnering organisations, including New Zealand Security Association CEO Gary Morrison and members of ASIS International New Zealand Chapter’s executive committee.
Security industry luminary Bruce Couper reprised his role as event MC, delivering an exceptional evening at the home of the America’s Cup.
In addition to an address by Professor Gill, the audience heard from ASIS New Zealand Chapter Chair Johannes Janse van Rensburg CPP, ASIS NZ Certification Liaison Rehan du Toit CPP PSP, and OSPAs sponsor Team Software’s Sean Woo.
“A heart felt congratulations to all of the category finalists and winners. All of whom have evidenced outstanding characteristics in their disciplines,” said OSPAs judging panel member Andrew Thorburn via a LinkedIn post. “I look forward to a broadened Sy practitioner format next year and engaging deeper with those sectors.”
The event saw the awarding of winners across nine OSPAs categories (OSPAs winners’ summaries listed below and on the OSPAs website) and recognition of ASIS International certification holders and recent Associate Protection Professional certificants Stephen Hamilton APP and Nicholas Dynon APP. The awarding of David Horsburgh CPP PSP PCI with the OSPA for Lifetime Achievement was met with a standing ovation.
In its winners announcement, the OSPAs organisers thanked all those who helped to make the event a success including: all the supporting associations and judges; sponsors: TEAM Software by WorkWave (headline sponsor); Edith Cowan University (trophies and certificates); Beca (drinks reception); Avidity Recruitment Consultancy, Guardhouse, and Optic Security Group (award categories); and media partners – International Security Journal and New Zealand Security Magazine.
2023 New Zealand OSPA Award Winners
Outstanding Contract Security Manager/Director
Winner: Nathan Cray – Global Security Solutions
Nathan has been employed with Global Security since joining the business in 2019. He quickly demonstrated his industrious leadership skills, whilst possessing a stalwart commitment to clients, and after a series of promotions is their General Manager of Operations. He has been the key driver of improvements across the business, in the space of operational delivery, human resources and health and safety and has led the businesses successful response to COVID19 and the Auckland floods.
Judges said that Nathan has an impressive stand out range of qualities which made he well deserving of this award.
Finalists:
Nathan Cray – Global Security Solutions
Su Kaur – FIRST Security
Dion Neill – The Neill Group (TNG)
Allan Wharerau – P4G Security
Outstanding Contract Security Company (Guarding)
Winner: FIRST Security
FIRST Security directly employs 1,800 security personnel across 28 branch offices, 220 patrol vehicles, and hundreds of client sites throughout Aotearoa New Zealand. FIRST Security is a values-driven organisation which has striven to exhibit the highest levels of leadership in the safety, security and care of employees and the communities they serve. In the past 12 months, FIRST has strived to set standards within the guarding sector via its approaches to sustainability, technological innovation, and staff welfare.
In addition, joining supplier diversity intermediary, Amotai and Diversity Works NZ, FIRST has invested in the development of new consumer-facing services and technologies, including the Responda App.
Judges were impressed with FIRST’s display of excellence within the organisation and commented that the evidence presented of independent third-party audits provides reassurance that leadership has developed and has implemented a formula for employee and customer success.
Finalists:
FIRST Security
Global Security Solutions
Red Badge Group
Outstanding Security Consultant
Winner: Lee Ashton – Optic Security Group
As Optic’s Senior Design Architect, Lee delivers security risk advisory and design services via diverse and complex projects. Over the past 12 months Lee has provided security risk consultancy services, including site security risk, threat, and read teaming assessments, to a range of nationally significant clients in critical infrastructure sectors. He has also led integrated system design work and consultancy services for a long list of new clients, including KiwiRail, InterIslander, Kraft Heinz (a unique trans-Tasman solution encompassing multiple sites across New Zealand and Australia), and Auckland’s Spark Arena, to name just a few.
Judges said that Lee had consistently evidenced attributes of an outstanding security consultant and the multiple references from clients and colleagues demonstrates he is worthy of this award.
Finalists:
Lee Ashton – Optic Security Group
Beca Applied Technologies Security and Risk Consultancy Team
Dion Neill – The Neill Group (TNG)
P4G Events Security Consultants Team
Outstanding New Security Product
Winner: Responda – FIRST Security
Responda is a mobile app enabling property owners to book a rapid response security patrol to check on their site directly from their mobile phone. Think Uber – but for a security patrol request. The Responda app is free to download from the Apple App Store or Google Play. Whether there’s a potential break-in, suspicious activity or an alarm has been activated, Responda security officers deploy 24/7 to check a customer’s property is safe and secure, and to report their observations back to the client.
Responda is a ground-breaking solution that combines the human-led on-the-ground security patrol infrastructure and experience of FIRST Security with powerful geospatial technologies and a meticulously developed app-based user interface, on-demand booking service and online payment platform.
Judges felt that this product gives home and business owners an alternative to fixed term contracts with services providers and is a great innovation.
Finalists:
SentinX – Crosbies Security
Responda – FIRST Security
Command Centre Web – Gallagher
Outstanding Security Partnership
Winner: IAG, Repairhub and Aotea Security
The partnership formed between IAG Insurance, Repairhub and Aotea Security is a clear demonstration of how three separate entities can work collaboratively and cohesively with each other; drawing on their own specialist skillset to achieve one common purpose, to sustainably keep people information and assets safe and protected. From the early stages of the partnership there was a clear strategy to co-design and delivery a range of benefits to achieve consistency and replication across all Repairhub sites in reaching a standardised operating model.
Judges felt that the nomination reflected a strong commitment from multiple parties collaborating for mutually beneficial outcomes.
Finalists:
IAG, Repairhub and Aotea Security
P4G Security and Parnell Business Association
Red Badge Group and Workforce
Outstanding Security Officer
Winner: Tua Iro – P4G Security
Throughout his career Tua has been nominated internally for numerous awards for his actions and achievements. Most notably he has received the Patrolman of the Month on six occasions. The combination of his strength and gentleness and knowing when to use each skill to get a winning result contributes to his unique skillset. His endless friendly demeanour, his ability to see things others don’t and his memory for people and teamwork are all qualities that make him worthy of this award.
Judges commented that Tua has had a distinguished career as highlighted by colleagues and clients. Years of frontline experience has clearly provided a unique lens to operational engagements resulting in evidenced reduction of crime and increased stakeholder engagement. They also said that Tua’s empathy with the public, staff, police and all-round effectiveness should be commended.
Finalists:
Rudi Botha – Tataki Auckland Unlimited
Tua Iro – P4G Security
Simon Jamieson – Millennium Services Group NZ
Vea Tetevano – FIRST Security
Outstanding Young Security Professional
Winner: Miranda Cannon – Red Badge Group
Miranda’s unique blend of customer service experience, leadership skills, and dedication to her team have made her an asset to the security industry. Her impact has been felt both inside and outside the workplace and has set a high standard for others to follow. With her exceptional performance, it is clear that Miranda has a bright future in the security industry, and her contributions will continue to have a positive impact on the industry for years to come.
Judges said that Miranda has shown her professionalism which has had a huge impact in turning the region around for Red Badge. They also felt that she has had to overcome personal adversity through an unplanned career change and there was evidence to support a seamless transition with value added to business, people and clients.
Finalists:
Miranda Cannon – Red Badge Security
Tipene Henare – Optic Security Group
Siva Kalolo – FIRST Security
Matt Maclean – P4G Security
Outstanding Female Security Professional
Winner: Natasha Pennell – FIRST Security
Natasha Pennell is FIRST Security’s Wellington-based Senior Account Manager. New to the security sector when she joined FIRST in 2018, Natasha has through personal initiative, abundance of enthusiasm, and dogged commitment, made a major impact on the business and on security outcomes for clients in the Wellington and surrounding regions. An excellent communicator, Natasha has a unique and widely recognised ability to ‘reach’ people both in terms of her relationships with individual colleagues and clients which enables her to formulate and deploy the most effective security solutions for her clients.
Judges felt that it was a closely contested category with attributes that are mirrored by other nominees. However, they felt Natasha was exceptional in many areas which made her a great candidate for this award.
Finalists:
Anna Barragan – Global Security Solutions
Ruby Mohuanga – Optic Security Group
Casma Moore – Red Badge Group
Natasha Pennell – FIRST Security
Joanne Ryan-Hotere – Millennium Services Group NZ
Lifetime Achievement
Winner: David Horsburgh
With 21 years of service in the New Zealand Police (including ten years at the rank of Detective Sergeant), Five years of service with the New Zealand Security Intelligence Service as Chief Photographer, and over two-decades of practice as a security consultant and forensic CCTV specialist, David Horsburgh’s professional achievements are unparalleled in this part of the world.
Apart from holding an MSc in Security Management, David is the only person in New Zealand with holding the trifecta of ASIS International Board Certifications – CPP, PSP and PCI. With a string of mentees and a track record of having provided game-changing forensic security evidence in several nationally significant court cases, David’s influence and legacy are unmatched.
Judges said that his influence goes well beyond the security sector, touching the judiciary and justice system, law enforcement, the corrections system, victims of crime, and so on. They felt that he is a true exemplar, and as the only triple crowned ASIS certificant in New Zealand, his mere presence elicits the desire among his sector colleagues to do better, to be better, and to aim higher. They also said few in a lifetime accomplish half of what David has within and for industry and, the wider public. A selfless individual that evidently gives back generously to the sector on multiple stages and represents all that security is defined by.
