The panel of independent experts from across the New Zealand security industry has concluded its judging – which means it’s time to reveal the finalists of the first-ever New Zealand Outstanding Security Performance Awards (OSPAs).

The 2022  New Zealand OSPAs has attracted an excellent number of quality submissions in its first year and the judging panel faced a challenging task narrowing down the entries to select only the very best.

Commenting on the awards, founder of the OSPAs Professor Martin Gill said: “We are delighted by the response we have received.  And all those that have made it to the finalists list should be very proud, as only those that reach a score threshold go forward to the next phase of the competition.”

The 2022 finalists are:

Outstanding In-House Security Manager/Director
Rehan du Toit – Auckland University of Technology
Dean Kidd – Auckland Unlimited
Brent Mirfin – Evotek Technologies

Outstanding Contract Security Manager/Director
Gareth Bacon – FIRST Security Guard Services
Nathan Cray – Global Security Solutions
Stu Leith – Platform 4 Group
Pete Mason – Optic Security Group
Dion Neill – Protective Services (acquired by Platform 4 Group)
James Ngatai-Blyth – First Contact

Outstanding Contract Security Company (Guarding)
First Contact
FIRST Security Guard Services
Platform 4 Group
SLS Retail Theft Control

Outstanding Security Consultant
Lee Ashton – Optic Security Group
Nick Gibbs – FIRST Security Guard Services
Jo Lloyd – Straif Security Specialists
Dion Neill
Lincoln Potter
Ashley Quensell – Platform 4 Group

Outstanding New Security Product
WelfareFirst™ – FIRST Security Guard Services
My Vaccine Pass – Gallagher

Outstanding Security Partnership
Evotek Technologies and Visual Networks
Focus Digital Security Solutions & NZ Police
The Precinct Security Model created by Alan Young

Outstanding Security Officer
Jodi Lomax – Bank of New Zealand
Sione Tusini-Rex – Platform 4 Group

Outstanding Female Security Professional
Tracey Gattsche – Optic Security Group
Zoe Grant – First Contact
Jill Priest – FIRST Security Guard Services
Ravina Ram – Matrix Security Group
Sherilyn Tasker – Gallagher
Trish Thompson – Gallagher
Karen Timpson – Bank of New Zealand
Jennie Vickers – ZeopardLaw and Consultant to Fortinet

Outstanding Young Security Professional
Stella Donachie – Red Badge Group
Pascale Howell – Gallagher
Soul Lauvi-Johnson – Optic Security Group
Kyle Nu’uali’itia – Evotek Technologies