Meet the Team

What does a typical day in your working life entail?

I am Senior Director, Service Delivery, in Canada, but my job title does not tell you the complete story. I am involved in the design, implementation and management of physical and electronic security projects globally, primarily within the transportation, commercial, public-private partnerships (P3 projects) and government sectors, providing security consulting services to create and maintain safe and accessible environments for all.

There is no typical day in my working life. For some people this might cause an element of panic, but for me, I thrive on it: well, I do for the most part.

As an example, as I write this, I am about to board a plane from Thunder Bay, in Northern Ontario, to fly to Sudbury. At these two locations we are working on behalf of the Government of Ontario, completing compliance audits of their building management service provider to ensure they meet the physical security standards and service agreements that are in place between them. Attending client sites is a great way to meet new people and a valuable opportunity to see how the implementation of security practices can differ from one organization to another.

My work travel often takes me across the province of Ontario, but I have been fortunate to work outside of Canada too, most recently in the South of Italy on a RHEA-led project supporting the Italian Navy. Their unique requirements were perfectly aligned with the experience of our team here in Canada, who have been working on two similar projects for the Government of Canada. I have also been fortunate to attend various security consulting events and trade shows within the USA and Mexico.

In addition to Italy, my work travels have taken me to Belgium, the Netherlands and back to my original home in the UK, where I have been engaged in several RHEA-led projects. These travels have also given me the opportunity to meet some of our European RHEA colleagues.

The seemingly less glamourous, but completely necessary, day-to-day part of my work involves plenty of meetings. Every day is different, but typical meetings include:

• One-on-one meetings with our service delivery managers
• Project meetings to discuss specific project deliverables, allocation of resources, risks, and other concerns
• Client meetings
• Sales meetings
• Management team/Delivery and Operations meetings.

As you can see, there are often a lot of meetings! Luckily, most of them are good fun and there are smiles and laughs along the way.

What do you enjoy most about your job?

I am fortunate that my role within RHEA is incredibly varied and flexible, and this is what I enjoy most about it.

I have always had the mantra of not asking someone to carry out a task that I would not do myself, and so far my role still allows me to do this. I am always engaged in several projects at the same time, so there is never an opportunity to be bored: the days are often over before I even realise it. I am part of a dynamic, professional and dedicated team, and enjoy working with them on projects where there are opportunities for me to coach and develop their knowledge base. This also provides me with opportunities to learn from them and develop my own skills.

I am excited for the opportunity to bring our subject matter expertise from Canada and contribute to RHEA’s growth within the physical security domain throughout Europe.

What has been the highlight of your career?

I have been fortunate to have been part of high energy teams throughout my career and have many highlights and memorable experiences, both personally and professionally. One of my biggest achievements was in 2012 when I was selected by a panel from Security Director News, a North American security magazine, as one of 20 people under 40 to be recognized for excellence in the security profession.

What tips would you give someone interested in a similar career?

I have 23 years’ experience within the physical security industry and my work ethic, reputation, being in the right place at the right time and knowing the right people have all served me well.

For people looking for employment within this industry today, certification is almost certainly a benefit. The certification leader in our industry is ASIS International, a US organization that offers Certified Protection Professional (CPP), Physical Security Professional (PSP) and Professional Certified Investigator (PCI) training and designations that are recognized worldwide. For newcomers to the industry, they offer the Associate Protection Profession (APP), which provides the first steps into a career in security management. Also, today, colleges and universities offer diploma and degree courses in security and emergency management, and infrastructure protection, among others.

Memberships of various security associations, such as ASIS International and the Security Industry Association (SIA), provide excellent opportunities for networking, learning and career development.

Other than certification and experience, having a willingness to learn and adapt to change is vital because technologies in our industry are forever changing, and so it is important to stay up to date and current.

Be a good communicator; communication is not just about how you talk but, more importantly, how you listen. When we sit with clients, we are considered to be the experts, but we must listen and understand the client’s requirements to ensure that we provide them with the most appropriate solution. These sometimes complex solutions do not always present themselves right away, and so you have to able to think outside the box and come up with strategic options, while educating and informing clients at the same time.

How do you wind down after a typical day?

Living in Ottawa, my family and I are supporters of Atletico Ottawa, a local football (soccer) team and we try and get to as many of their games each season as we can. Other than that, throughout summer I can be found outside in my backyard cleaning or simply enjoying my pool with my family, or just relaxing in the sun. In the winter, we can be found in our hot tub instead.

I have two children, and I love spending time with my youngest, my 10-year-old son, playing video games, in particular FIFA (a football game). I do not beat him often, but when I do, my wife can tell who won as one of us gets very grumpy.

I am also an avid Formula 1 fan. When possible, I try to attend races in Montreal where I have been both a spectator and volunteer on many occasions. Having been born in England, I have been a lifelong McLaren team fan, and when it comes to drivers… well there is only one guy to truly follow, and that is my fellow Brit, Lewis Hamilton. I have been a fan of his since he first joined McLaren in 2007, prior to his long-term world dominance.