This year’s installment of IFSEC International took the volume of business achieved to another level with the introduction of the high value buyer programme. Run in partnership with Newbridge Events, the programme connected IFSEC’s premier partners, the leaders in security technology, with organisations looking to source technology. Coupled with the high value buyer programme was the launch of a meeting service which allowed visitors and exhibitors to pre-book meetings ahead of their visit. Over 1,000 meetings were set up before Protection & Management Series even began, showing the movement toward a meeting centric exhibition.
Borders & Infrastructure Expo
A key addition for 2017 was the introduction of Borders & Infrastructure Expo. This exciting addition featured an expert panel debate on the importance of community engagement to prevent the ‘ripple effect’ of terrorism. Stephen Mackenzie, director of Mackenzie Risk Management said “With the rise in recent terrorist events we’re working to get better information out into the public domain, but we’re playing catch-up.”
The event also struck a more poignant note as calls were made for building regulations to be reassessed as part of the inquiry into the Grenfell tower fire. In an emotional debate, which began with a one-minute silence to commemorate the victims, Dennis Davis of the Fire Sector Federation (FSF) said the industry was ‘creating the legacy for the next 50 years’ following the Grenfell tower fire.
Gerry Dunphy, Brand Director for IFSEC International, commented “Every year, IFSEC International proves itself to be the leading show for security professionals. With the introduction of Borders & Infrastructure Expo we’ve taken this to the next level and are reflecting the challenges the industry faces. Even more is planned for next year so stay tuned”.
Speakers
The Inspirational Speaker series returned as double Olympic gold medallist, Dame Kelly Holmes; Falklands War veteran, Simon Weston CBE and world-renowned rugby referee, Nigel Owens MBE took to the stage. But the biggest crowd of the show was reserved for rock star physicist, Professor Brian Cox who took a packed the audience on a whistle-stop tour of the theories of the universe, including Einstein’s theory of relativity, and how that grew out of his own thinking on gravity and light.
