The Security Industry Association (SIA) has named industry veteran Edwina (Eddie) Reynolds – president and CEO of Iluminar Inc. – as the 2018 recipient of the inaugural SIA Progress Award, an honour presented by SIA’s Women in Security Forum celebrating individuals who pave the way to success for women in the security industry. The award will be presented to Reynolds during SIA Honors Night on Wednesday, Nov. 14, in New York City.
Reynolds has been the founder and CEO of multiple established CCTV lighting companies. She began her security career as an account executive for U.K. integrator Chubb Fire & Security in the mid-1990s and went on to work for Pinkerton Security, Rainbow CCTV and Sony. From 2005 to 2008, Reynolds was the U.S. partner for a U.K.-based CCTV lighting company, and she founded Iluminar in 2009.
Reynolds has led Iluminar to develop award-winning solutions and be the lighting solution partner for several market leaders. In 2018, she was appointed to the SIA Executive Council, where she works with other security leaders to launch initiatives that support the growth and advancement of the security industry at large.
Advocating equality and diversity in the industry
Reynolds has been a longtime supporter of initiatives to support the advancement of women and overall diversity in the security and technology industries
Reynolds has been a longtime supporter of initiatives to support the advancement of women and overall diversity in the security and technology industries. As part of these efforts, she travelled to the University of Arkansas on behalf of the International Organisation of Black Security Executives in early 2018 to speak to students about career development skills and job opportunities within the industry.
“I am truly humbled to be the first recipient of the SIA Progress Award, and I want to thank SIA for this incredible honour,” said Reynolds. “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 more equality and more diversity across the field. As influencers, leaders and companies across the security industry have a greater focus on the advancement of women, I believe we can truly empower women to be leaders and agents of change in their respective fields and shift the narrative in our industry.”
Speech by Reynolds at ISC West 2019
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 – coming up April 10-12 in Las Vegas, Nevada. She also featured in Security Technology Executive and Security Systems News’ 2016 features on women in security.
SIA’s Women in Security Forum is designed to support the participation of women in the security industry
“SIA is proud to present Eddie Reynolds with the first-ever SIA Progress Award for serving as a longtime advocate and role model for women in the security industry,” said Don Erickson, SIA’s CEO. “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.”
SIA’s Women in Security Forum is designed to support the participation of women in the security industry. Through programs like the Progress Award, thought leadership opportunities, professional development offerings and networking events, the forum engages both men and women who share this goal.
Different awards at the SIA Honors Night
SIA’s Progress Award recognises SIA members who have shown excellence in their advancement of opportunities and success for women in the security industry. Each year’s recipient will be determined based on their contributions to advancing women in the industry, promotion of women’s professional growth through mentorship and/or sponsorship, recognitions and awards for related activities and demonstration of the highest levels of professionalism and integrity in the security industry.
SIA Honors Night features a gala dinner reception, an awards ceremony recognising industry leaders and engaging entertainmentSIA Honors Night – held each year concurrently with ISC East, New York City’s biggest security products trade show – features a gala dinner reception, an awards ceremony recognising industry leaders and engaging entertainment.
In addition to presenting the SIA Progress Award, SIA will honour industry leaders at Honors Night 2018 with the George R. Lippert Memorial Award, the Insightful Practitioner Award, the Jay Hauhn Excellence in Partnerships Award and the Women in Biometrics Award co-founded by SIA and SecureIDNews and co-presented with sponsors FindBiometrics, IDEMIA and SIA’s Women in Security Forum.
SIA will also honour the 2018 recipients of the SIA RISE Scholarship and the inaugural Denis R. Hebert Identity Management Scholarship.
