Canadian Security Magazine

ASIS Women in Security event highlights leadership roles

Neil Sutton   

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The Toronto Chapter of ASIS International held its annual Women In Security Symposium last week, showcasing three female speakers with diverse points of view on professional security.

Susan Munn, executive security consultant with CompassQ, program advisor at the Telfer Centre for Leadership, University of Ottawa, and a former RCMP officer, spoke about “Lessons from the Business of Security.” Munn’s presentation included wisdom from RCMP experiences, creating mature and fully realized security programs, recognizing “apathy and arrogance” in security postures, and key areas where women have demonstrated strength and leadership in security roles.

Munn was followed by Carmela Demkiw, senior director, security services for Rogers Communications, who came to private security after a career as a police officer. Demkiw shared how far female roles and recognition have come in policing since her early days of service and also how she has learned to successfully navigate corporate environments in her professional security career. Demkiw advised security managers to “drop the secrecy” and share information with the C-suite as part of a broader strategy to become an essentlal part of the business conversation and contribute to the organization’s goals.

The final speaker of the day was Colleen Brydon, a leadership and executive coach with CBW Associates. Brydon offered her advice on developing leadership capabilities, mapping personal goals with those of the organization, and creating powerful and useful business relationships.

The Women in Security meeting closed with ASIS Toronto’s AGM and board elections. Re-elected were Jason Caissie, chapter chair; Michael Brzozowski, vice-chair; and Joey Bourgoin, secretary. The newly elected treasurer is Kristina Dudumas.

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