President and CEO of Iluminar Inc., Edwina (Eddie) Reynolds, has been named the 2018 recipient of the inaugural SIA Progress Award. The award – which will be presented by SIA’s Women in Security Forum on Wednesday 14 November in New York City – is an honour that celebrates individuals who pave the way to success for women in the security industry.
Reynolds has been the founder and CEO of multiple established CCTV lighting companies, starting her career as an account executive for UK integrator Chubb Fire & Security in the mid-1990s. Founding Iluminar in 2009, Reynolds has led the company to develop award-winning solutions and be the lighting partner for several market leaders, before being appointed to the SIA Executive Council in 2018. As a supporter of initiatives that promote the advancement of women and overall diversity in the security and technology industries, she has dedicated most of her career to helping aspiring professionals develop important skills.
Speaking on the announcement, Reynolds said: “I am truly humbled to be the first recipient of the SIA Progress Award, and I want to thank SIA for this incredible honour. I have been working in the security industry for over 25 years, and while challenges still exist, the industry has made a lot of progress, and I am committed to continuing to advocate for equality and diversity across the field.”
Reynolds recently contributed to the first women-authored issue of SIA Technology Insights with an article on the importance of external illumination systems when lighting for video surveillance, and will speak on a women’s panel at ISC West 2019.
Don Erickson, CEO of SIA, commented: “SIA is proud to present Eddie Reynolds with the first-ever SIA Progress Award for serving as a long-time advocate and role model for women in the security industry. Mentorship and thought leadership are critical to helping women grow in this field, and we applaud Eddie for her dedicated involvement in the industry and contributing her expert insight, knowledge and advice.”
