The Judges’ and Readers’ Categories of the International Security Buyer Awards 2025 once again highlighted the extraordinary achievements, creativity, technical skill and innovation thriving within the global security sector.
With so many remarkable entries, selecting this year’s winners proved exceptionally challenging. Today, we proudly celebrate the innovators and visionaries who stood out.
JUDGES’ AWARDS
Security Woman of the Year
The Security Woman of the Year category celebrates women whose leadership, strategic insight and long-standing industry impact continue to push the sector forward. This year’s finalists – Bonnie Butlin (WISERCA), Sarah Armstrong-Smith (UK Government Cyber Advisory Board) and Charlotte Wigg (SGC Security Services) – represent exceptional contributions across cybersecurity, national advisory work and operational excellence. The award ultimately went to Bonnie Butlin, recognising her continued influence as one of the most respected voices in global security intelligence.
DEI Champion of the Year
The DEI Champion of the Year award honours individuals driving genuine progress in diversity, equity and inclusion within their organisations and across the wider security landscape. Finalists Dr. Orlando Mardner (Birmingham Commonwealth Games), Brindha McDonald (Imperial College London) and Kaylea Newlove (IPSA) all showcased transformative initiatives supporting fairer, more inclusive working environments. The category’s winner, Dr. Orlando Mardner, was celebrated for championing DEI at scale and embedding meaningful cultural change.
Rising Star of the Year
Acknowledging fresh talent and the future of the profession, the Rising Star category highlights individuals demonstrating exceptional promise early in their careers. Gabriel Coveney (SecureOne), Saacid Sheikh (CIS Security Ltd) and Victoria Lovberg (Gunnebo Safe Storage) impressed judges with their drive and innovation, with Victoria Lovberg taking the title for her standout contributions to safe-storage security development.
Security Manager of the Year
The Security Manager of the Year award recognises strategic leadership and excellence in managing security operations. Finalists Dr. Orlando Mardner, Paul Chubb (NHS Trust) and Rasheed Alzahrani (King Salman Park Foundation) were praised for delivering high-impact organisational security. The award went to Paul Chubb, whose work in the NHS Trust demonstrated exceptional operational command and public-sector resilience.
Security Officer of the Year
The Security Officer of the Year award honours frontline excellence — the professionalism, vigilance and public-facing skill that underpin the industry. Finalists Abdullah Tanoli (Criterion Hospitality), Luke Overy (Assist Security Group) and Nigel Lanham (SGC Security Services) exemplified outstanding service, with Luke Overy named winner for his exemplary conduct and reliability.
Unsung Hero of the Year
In recognising quiet dedication, the Unsung Hero of the Year category celebrates individuals who make extraordinary contributions behind the scenes. Finalists Abdullah Tanoli and Lisa Ventura (AI and Cyber Security Foundation) were commended for their commitment, with Abdullah Tanoli receiving the award for his consistently impactful and often unacknowledged work.
Software of the Year
Technological advancement was spotlighted through the Software of the Year award, highlighting digital tools reshaping modern security practice. Finalists included Verkada’s History Player Search and Paxton’s Entry App, with Verkada winning for delivering a powerful, intuitive solution that enhances investigative efficiency.
Innovation of the Year
Finally, the Innovation of the Year category celebrated breakthrough ideas driving the industry forward. Hexagon’s HxGN dC3 LiDARVision, Assist Security Group’s One Person One Voice, and Gallagher Security’s QuickSwitch demonstrated vision and ingenuity, but the top honour went to One Person One Voice, applauded for redefining communication and safety in frontline environments.
READERS’ AWARDS
This year’s Reader Awards highlighted the technologies making the most tangible impact on real-world security environments. In Access Control, Gallagher Security’s QuickSwitch was the clear winner, recognised for its ability to streamline credential transitions and simplify system management. The Camera category was led by Rhombus’s R600, praised for its high-performance imaging and reliability in demanding surveillance settings.
For Perimeter Security, Hexagon’s HxGN dC3 LiDARVision stood out as a breakthrough solution, offering advanced LiDAR-driven detection capabilities that enhance accuracy across large or complex sites. Finally, in the Biometric category, Suprema’s Biostation 3 earned top honours, applauded for its next-generation authentication performance and user-centric design. Together, these winners reflect the technologies readers believe are shaping the future of security innovation.
Congratulations to all our finalists and winners.
Your dedication, creativity, and technical expertise continue to elevate the global security landscape. We look forward to celebrating even more breakthroughs in the year ahead.
