Women in Security
Security LeadHER draws 500 attendees to Minneapolis event
June 26, 2026SSN Staff
MINNEAPOLIS—Security LeadHER, presented by ASIS International and the Security Industry Association (SIA), brought approximately 500 security professionals to Minneapolis June 15–16, with attendance up about 10% compared with 2025.
The event, focused on advancing women in the security industry, drew participants from 40 states and 11 countries.
“The conversations, mentorship, sponsorship and meaningful connections fostered this week are not only...
2026 Security LeadHER program to advance, connect and empower women in security
May 8, 2026SSN Staff
ALEXANDRIA, Va., and SILVER SPRING, Md.—ASIS International and the Security Industry Association (SIA) have announced the 2026 agenda and speaker lineup for Security LeadHER, a special event dedicated to advancing, connecting and empowering women in the security profession.
The fourth annual Security LeadHER conference will be held Monday, June 15–Tuesday, June 16, 2026, at the Hilton Minneapolis in Minneapolis, Minn.
“This year’s Security LeadHER...
SIA names 2026 Women in Security Forum Power 100 honorees
March 9, 2026SSN Staff
SILVER SPRING, Md.—The Security Industry Association (SIA) has announced the 2026 honorees for the SIA Women in Security Forum (WISF) Power 100.
This initiative, presented by the SIA Women in Security Forum, honors 100 women in the security industry each year whose outstanding accomplishments and success stories are breaking barriers, redefining the faces of leadership and showcasing the innovative contributions women bring to the industry.
The 2026 WISF Power 100...
SSN, SIA WISF team up again to spotlight women driving security forward
December 8, 2025SSN Staff
YARMOUTH, Maine, and SILVER SPRING, Md.—Security Systems News (SSN) and the Security Industry Association’s Women in Security Forum (WISF) are joining forces once again in 2026 to celebrate the women shaping the future of security.
Through its yearlong profile series, SSN will spotlight leaders whose innovation, resilience, and vision are driving progress and diversity across the industry.
SSN and SIA WISF began the partnership in 2021 and in 2022, expanded coverage beyond...
SIA opens call for nominations for 2026 Women in Security Forum Power 100
December 1, 2025SSN Staff
SILVER SPRING, Md.—The Security Industry Association (SIA) has opened the call for nominations for the 2026 SIA Women in Security Forum (WISF) Power 100.
Now in its fifth year, this annual initiative, presented by the SIA Women in Security Forum community, honors 100 women in the security industry whose outstanding accomplishments and success stories are breaking barriers, redefining the faces of leadership and showcasing the innovative contributions women bring...
Lauren Van Metre leads WIIS into a new security era
October 13, 2025Cory Harris, Editor
WASHINGTON—When Lauren Van Metre recently became president and CEO of Women in International Security (WIIS) in July, she brought decades of experience navigating the evolving global security landscape.
Van Metre’s career began at the Pentagon and the State Department in the 1990s, a time of shifting geopolitical dynamics.
“I started my career at the Pentagon and at the State Department, working in an era in the '90s where we were dismantling a sort of...
“If we truly want new talent, we must look beyond conventional pipelines,” says Elli Reges
September 29, 2025Kenneth Z. Chutchian, Contributing Editor
SILVER SPRING, Md.—As the security industry continues to engage in open and honest conversations about diversity, it’s equally important to examine education and experience preferences as part of that dialogue, says Elli Reges, Ph.D., director of learning and development for the Security Industry Association (SIA).
Reges notes that many roles within the security field don’t require a college degree, and there are ample opportunities for individuals who have gained skills through...
Women in Security Profile: ‘It is about real influence’
September 3, 2025Kenneth Z. Chutchian, Contributing Editor
NEW YORK—The security industry must ensure that diverse voices have genuine power in decision-making, says Denise Niles, vice president of business development at Advanced Electronic Solutions (AES).
“It is about creating not just seats at the table, but real influence,” she said. “We need to be intentional about who we are developing, promoting and empowering, especially in leadership. That means investing in mentorship, creating hiring pipelines, and rethinking...
Women in Security Profile: ‘Inclusiveness is no longer an afterthought for this industry, but a must,’ says Tiffany Renz
July 2, 2025Kenneth Z. Chutchian, Contributing Editor
LANCASTER, Pa.—Tiffany Renz truly believes the security industry has turned a corner when it comes to addressing diversity.
“My opinion is that the industry as a whole is finally doing a better job addressing diversity, especially these last few years,” says Renz, North American director of sales for HID’s Secure Issuance FARGO division. “Having been in it for 16-plus years, I see the changes that have been happening, and it could not make me happier.”
Renz...
Security LeadHER 2025 fosters growth, engagement, community for women in security
June 11, 2025SSN Staff
ALEXANDRIA, Va., and SILVER SPRING, Md.—ASIS International and the Security Industry Association (SIA) have closed out a successful third annual Security LeadHER conference, a unique event dedicated to advancing, connecting and empowering women in the security profession.
The sold-out event was held June 9-10 in Detroit, gathering approximately 450 security professionals from across the United States and internationally.
Security LeadHER 2025 grew from the outstanding success of the 2023...