ASIS News: Middle East Conference and IE Business School
ASIS Middle East 2014 Draws Record Attendance
ASIS International held its 5th Annual Middle East Security Conference and Exhibition February 16-18 at the InterContinental Dubai Festival City, United Arab Emirates (UAE). The conference took place under the patronage of Sultan Bin Saeed Al Mansoori, UAE minister of economy, and under the honorary chairmanship of Lieutenant General Dhahi Khalfan Tamim, deputy chair of police and public security. The event gathered a record attendance of 566 senior security professionals from 32 countries.
On Sunday, February 16, the program started with a workshop on security risks in emerging markets, followed by a welcome drink in the exhibition area. On February 17, Abdulla Sultan Alfan Alshamsi, UAE assistant undersecretary for industrial affairs, opened the conference and exhibition on behalf of the Emirates’ minister of economy. The opening took place in the presence of Major General Khamis Mattar Al Mazeina, general commander of the Dubai Police, who attended on behalf of the honorary chair of the conference, Lieutenant General Dhahi Khalfan Tamim, deputy chair of police and general security.
The conference continued with the keynote presentation by Abdulrahman Wuhaib, senior vice president, downstream, Saudi Aramco, who spoke about the mitigation of 21st century threats for resilience and continuity.
On the second day, Dr. Martin Gill, UK criminologist and managing director of Perpetuity Research and Consultancy International made a keynote presentation explaining how offenders beat security measures.
The conference was closed by Dr. Leonard Yong, senior consultant of EuroMa-Tech Training and Management Consultancy who spoke about the application of emotional excellence at the workplace.
The conference also featured 33 high-level educational sessions provided by speakers who included Alanood Alrabiah, business analyst, Saudi Aramco (Saudi Arabia), who spoke on “Bringing the Organization into the Security Continuity Mindset.” Torsten Wolf, group head of crime and fraud prevention of Zurich Insurance Company (Switzerland), made a presentation titled “A Framework For Managing Crime and Fraud.”
Dominique Woloch, regional security director of Sanofi (UAE), discussed “Counterfeit Medicines, a New Threat for Generations.” Lieutenant Commander Peter Harriman of the Royal Navy of Great Britain, spoke on marine trade operations; and Simon Howse, director of security, Middle East and Africa, Marriott International (UAE), presented a crisis management case study.
In addition, sessions designed especially for chief security officers (CSOs) were organized by the CSO Roundtable, which is the ASIS forum for the most senior security professionals from the largest and most influential organizations in the world.
The event also featured an exhibition in which 45 sponsors, exhibitors, media, and supporting organizations presented their products and services to security professionals.
Effective Management for Security Professionals
ASIS International will once again partner with Madrid-based IE Business School, one of Europe’s leading business educational institutes, to deliver Effective Management for Security Professionals. This four-day, executive education program has been customized to introduce mid-to-senior-level security practitioners to the dynamics of business fundamentals.
“The understanding of the bigger corporate picture, and hence the business’s security and risk management requirements, is key to implementing and managing an effective corporate security strategy, as well as earning the long-term support of senior management,” states program graduate Michael Otto, corporate security officer, Novartis International AG. “The program and attendees’ discussions provide guidance, as well as suggestions as to how best to achieve this objective.”
Program participants will develop a strategic understanding of the role of security management as an enabler of business success and acquire the knowledge and skills needed to present a sound business case for their security initiatives.
The program will take place June 3-6, on the IE Business School campus.
