“Our aim is to encourage the advancement of women involved in all aspects of the security industry through the exchange of information and cultivation of productive relationships”.
The security profession, in all its forms, has traditionally been male dominated with very few women in the arena. The perception that careers in security are not open to women, coupled with an evident lack of diversity has not provided the best platform to encourage women to enter the profession (particularly those who do not have a Police or Military background) or promote the profiles of the few women that are in the industry.
Despite the increase in numbers over the last decade (likely due to the post 9/11 security industry evolution and the introduction of formal and academic qualifications in the various disciplines), the female to male ratio remains vastly disproportionate and as a result there is very little support for women in the industry. As a result the concept of the Women’s Security Society (WSS) has been created with its main objective being to act as an inspiring networking forum for women working in the Security Industry.
WSS Objectives:
- To share knowledge, provide support and encourage the empowerment and success of women in the security industry.
- To reach out to women in the security industry through networking events and a web based forum.
- To remain exclusive to women specifically working or studying in a security related or management specialist security discipline.
- To remain a non-profit organisation, seeking funding through sponsorship and assistance from amiable members.
- To be open to women across all security disciplines regardless of their experience, position or industry.
[Image above of WSS Board Members at Soft Lanch event, 26th February 2013]
About the board
Co-founder: Charlie Timblin
Charlie served within the British Army’s Intelligence Corps before moving to the private sector. She has accrued 20 years experience of managing risk within the military, transportation, government, private events (London 2012 Olympics) and finance (banking) sector. Charlie has focused on the IT and Physical Security risk specialisms within these sectors. In her current role Charlie is responsible for managing the risk and control environment for Global Wholesale Banking Technology and Operations, for a large US finance organisation with an EMEA remit.
A keen champion of diversity in all its forms, Charlie feels that ‘difference’ is a true value within any team or organization, with demonstrable benefits. She is passionate about the need to learn and develop via academic study or by professional experience. Charlie believes networking can be an effective mechanism for industry professionals to discuss, debate and identify best practice and to stay abreast of new and innovative approaches within the risk and control environment. She was a judge for the 2013 Risk Management Awards, is married and has a six year old daughter. Charlie is currently self studying her CRISC, is PRiNCE 2 qualified, a Change Management Practitioner has studied COBIT and Management of Risk and is scheduled to study her MSc in Risk with the University of Portsmouth in Sep 2014.
Co-founder: Jane Wainwright
Jane served 12 years in the British Army (Intelligence Corps) serving in posts across most of the security and intelligence disciplines, before leaving the services to join the UKBA led eBoders programme working with Raytheon Systems Ltd where she was responsible for Operational Security on the programme. In 2009 Jane moved to the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games where she assumed the post of Head of Corporate Security – responsible for Information Security, Personnel Security, Data Protection and Security Training and Awareness.
Post London 2012, Jane moved to the Film and Media Group NBCUniversal where she was the European Security Director before joining PwC where she is currently a Senior Manager in the Information Security practice.
Jane studied Security and Risk Management with Leicester University and brings a broad range of experience to the WSS from her years in the Army, the commercial sector and 12 years of being a full time mum and wife. Jane has a natural passion and flare for security and relishes the opportunity to be a part of people’s careers and personal development in the sector.
Co-founder: Sarah Harvie
Sarah has been a security professional for 9 years and has experience of implementing Security and Risk Management into start-up companies and projects. Sarah has delivered security into a Multi Million MoD PFI Project in the South West before being recruited by the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games. There she delivered ‘Insider’ risk mitigation against counter terrorism and organised crime and was the personnel security advisor before transitioning into Games Intelligence. After such a rewarding role, Sarah is now delivering Information Security into a new large scale Defence project in the North West.
Sarah has a particular expertise in Personnel Security, Site Security and is currently focussing on Information Security, she has a passion for policy and governance and enjoyes nothing more finding resolutions to security issues. Sarah finds the diversity and challenges a career in security provides extremely rewarding and is a keen advocate for other professionals trying to progress within the security industry.
Co-founder: Katie Barber
Katie is an articulate, business minded security professional with a strong background in education, awareness and training. Beginning her trade at a small security consultancy, managing the implementation of security awareness campaigns into large blue-chip businesses and public sector organisations, she moved to the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2011. There she was responsible for the design and development of an ongoing programme of security awareness to more than 200,000 members of workforce.
Following the successful delivery of the Olympic and Paralympic Games, Katie moved to the Post Office Ltd, where she is currently a Senior Security Programme Manager, responsible for all aspects of security education across the business. With a firm knowledge of physical and information security, counter-terrorism, security operations and health and safety, she brings to the society a creative flair and determination to create a unique forum that will stand the test of time.
Chairman: Sue Seaby
Sue is a 30 year+ Corporate Security Professional, who has worked in the fields of Aviation, Finance, and Telecommunications at various levels of management. Sue was actively involved in investigating or managing teams during the Lockerbie air disaster, 9/11 and 7/7 incidents.
She is a trained and qualified Crisis Management Leader, Hostage Negotiator, Change Management Practitioner, Bomb Threat Assessor and Behaviour Profiling Specialist.
Currently the Vice President & Global Head – Corporate Security & Safety Programs for Aon Service Corporation, Sue is one of the most qualified and respected women in the global security industry.
Sue is a Freeman and Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Security Professionals. She won the end user category in the 2012 inaugural ‘Women in Security’ Awards
Board Member: Suzanne Rodway (Data Privacy)
Suzanne is currently Group Head of Privacy for the Royal Bank of Scotland Group, with responsibility for oversight of the organisation’s compliance with data privacy, bank secrecy and freedom of information laws, worldwide.
She trained with global law firm Linklaters, where after completing a number of years in the Technology, Media & Telecoms practice, moved to an in-house to advise the firm on its own privacy and information risk management issues.
With the experience gained in this role Suzanne then undertook a secondment to Barclays as their interim head of data protection. She joined Barclays permanently in December 2006 as their Privacy Director within the Legal & Compliance team. For the last 2 years of her role at Barclays she was also Chair of the British Banker’s Association Data Protection Advisory Panel. Most recently Suzanne was the Chief Privacy Officer at NBCUniversal.
Suzanne presents and writes frequently on privacy issues and is on the editorial board of the Privacy & Data Protection Journal.
In 2009, under Suzanne’s leadership Barclays were awarded a Privacy Innovation award by the International Association of Privacy Professionals.
Board Member: Rowena Fell (Security Intelligence)
Rowena is the Security Intelligence champion for the Women’s Security Society and brings eighteen years’ direct experience to the forum. She holds full membership of the Security Institute and the Worshipful Company of Security Professionals and is a keen networker.
Having begun her career with the British Army, Rowena has successfully transitioned to a senior position in the private sector, having held positions with a law enforcement agency, a security consultancy, as well as an investment bank. Having also worked with pharmaceutical organisations, leading broadcast and media organisations, information technology companies, Tier One consultancies and defence contractors, Rowena is well placed to provide guidance to women seeking opportunities in these business streams from a security intelligence perspective, regardless of sector.
Rowena will complete a Masters degree in Security & Intelligence Studies in 2013 and the ASIS Certified Protection Professional course; promoting the need to complement academic learning with vocational understanding.
Board Member: Letitia Emeana (Physical Security)
Letitia is a Physical Security Professional with eight years experience within the financial sector in the City of London. Letitia is employed by Lloyds Banking Group and primarily based in and around London.
Letitia specialises in Physical and People Security with expertise in new building security systems design, system specification, project management, supplier management, physical security risk assessments and is in regular contact with CPNI and local police forces. Letitia has a raft of contacts throughout the industry and was invited to be the Physical Security Specialist Board Member of the WSS.
Letitia has the worldwide recognised ASIS Physical Security Professional qualification which sets her apart from her peers.
Board member: Dr Noémie Bouhana (Academia)
Dr Bouhana is a tenured faculty member at University College London, Department of Security and Crime Science, where she directs the Master in Countering Organised Crime and Terrorism and leads the Counter-Terrorism Research Group. Her main research interest centres on processes of terrorist propensity development (radicalisation). She has received funding from the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl), Ministry of Defence, the UK Home Office, the European Community (EC), the Combatting Terrorism Technical Support Office (CTTSO), the UCL Faculty of Engineering, the Engineering and Physical Science Research Council (EPSRC), and the Economic and Social Science Research Council (ESRC). Dr Bouhana graduated from the Institute of Political Science in Lyon, France. She holds a Maîtrise in Political Science from the Université Jean Moulin Lyon III, and an MPhil and PhD in Criminology from the University of Cambridge, where she attended Trinity Hall.
Board Member: Brian Higgins (Public Services)
Brian is currently Project Manager for the Cyber Security Challenge UK Education Programme.The Challenge runs national online competitions and raises awareness of cyber learning opportunities and careers. It is designed to excite, inspire and help talented people, of any age, to follow a career in cyber security. In March 2013 the Cabinet Office asked the Challenge to formulate a programme for Secondary Schools and Brian was recruited to manage the project.
From 2008 – 2013 he was an Officer of the Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA) where he spent time attached to the UK Financial Intelligence Unit, the Communications Data Unit, and 2 years in what is now the National Cyber Crime Unit.
Brian was appointed to the Magistrates Bench in 2005 and is responsible for hearing Adult Court cases of all types, Crown Court Appeals and out-of-hours emergency Search Warrant applications. He is a specialist-trained Domestic Violence Justice and an accredited Restorative Justice facilitator.
