Following a recent Board Meeting of the UK Chapter, we are pleased to announce that Russell Penny CPP was elected as Chapter Chair; Darren Carter CPP as Vice Chair; David Marsh CPP as Treasurer and James Morris CPP as Secretary. These positions will run until November 2020, when formal elections will be held to align with ASIS International’s normal procedure. This is the first time in the Chapter’s history that all four Chapter Officers hold ASIS Certifications.
Last Autumn, ASIS International, as part of its evolution, reduced the amount of time Chapter Officers can serve to six years. At that time, our two Vice Chairs, Graham Bassett and Mike Hurst CPP were in their tenth year, but to allow for a smooth transition, their terms of office were extended into 2020.
With the transition in place, Graham and Mike will step down as Chapter Officers following the ASIS UK Spring Seminar on March 17th. Both will remain as Directors of ASIS UK Chapter 208 (the limited liability company by guarantee) until their terms of office expire at the end of 2020.
During Mike and Graham’s tenure the UK chapter has enjoyed unprecedented growth and development. The Chapter’s membership has increased by almost a quarter (it is at an all-time high), income from sponsors has increased tenfold, we have hosted the European Conference twice, in 2012 and 2016, our Newsletter has won multiple awards and the chapters standing within the international security profession has never been higher. Graham and Mike have fostered stronger relationships/friendships for the UK Chapter (even with Brexit!) serving on the European Conference Programme Committee and European Advisory Council from 2011 – 2019 and more recently on the European Governance Workstream which will define the future structure of ASIS Europe.
Amongst other ASIS activities, Graham is the current Assistant Regional Vice President for Region 9a and Mike is Secretary of the ASIS Professional Development Council. In 2018 Graham and Mike were joint recipients of the Chapters’ Mervyn David Award and in 2016 Mike was presented with the ASIS International President’s Award of Merit. 2020 is also Graham’s 25th year as an ASIS UK Chapter member.
Both have been recognised by their peers in the IFSEC Global Influencers ‘Security Thought Leadership’ category for their overall contribution to the profession. They are also both Ambassadors for veterans’ mental health charity PTSD Resolution for which, via ASIS UK and their other activities, they have raised both awareness and money to treat those affected by this condition.
Graham and Mike have devoted countless volunteer hours to ASIS UK and they will continue to do so, but in less demanding roles.
I am personally grateful for all their efforts, their friendship and promises to continue to support us moving forward. ASIS International President Godfried Hendriks CPP and CEO Peter O’Neil add their thanks for their extraordinary commitment over the last ten years. We look forward to thanking them at our Spring Seminar.
Russell Penny CPP Chairman ASIS UK
