STAFF
GARY MORRISON
CEO
Gary Morrison has spent most of his working career in the security industry.
A qualified accountant by trade, Gary joined Armourguard Security as a junior accountant and during his 20 plus years with the company progressed through a number of roles including Group Accountant, Company Secretary and Cash Services Manager before being appointed General Manager for New Zealand and Fiji. During this time Gary led the company through significant growth and was recognised on several occasions as one of the parent company (Tyco International) outstanding leaders.
On leaving Armourguard, Gary established Icon Security Group, which over a ten year period became New Zealand’s leading privately owned security operator and featured in the reality TV series, Noise Control.
Having sold Icon Security in 2013, Gary spent sometime providing specialised consulting services before accepting the position of CEO for the New Zealand Security Association. The association provides representation for the New Zealand security industry and it’s members provide some 80% plus of industry revenues and employees.
TACIA STRAWBRIDGE
Finance + Operations Manager
Lucy Nichols
Membership and Content Manager
Lucy has 20 years of experience working in senior marketing communications and client development roles for global professional services and membership organisations.
She loves building strong relationships with people and designing communications and events programmes that tell their stories and address their needs.
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DON MACKINNON
Independent Chairperson
Don Mackinnon is one of New Zealand’s leading employment lawyers and is a very experienced company director, particularly in the sport and the not-for-profit sectors.
He is currently Chair of Super Rugby club The Blues and also Chairs the Sport Integrity Commission (formerly Drug Free Sport NZ) and the Integrity Vetting Panel for World Athletics. Don has previously served as a director of NZ Cricket (and Chair of its High-Performance Committee), Sport NZ, High Performance Sport NZ, was Chair of Netball NZ, and chaired the Sport and Recreation Integrity Working Group. He’s also held several commercial directorships.
He has previously acted for several companies in the security industry and has worked with a number of private investigators. He has detailed experience working with Central and Local Government and was made a Companion the New Zealand Order of Merit (CMNZ) for his services to sport governance in NZ.
BRETT WILSON
Deputy Chairperson
ALISON KINGDON
Alison brings over 20 years of experience in the security industry to her role as Country General Manager for ADT. Starting her career at ADT in a temp assignment as a receptionist, Alison has demonstrated exceptional growth and versatility, having held various positions in sales, account management, and operations management. Her comprehensive understanding of the industry and her strategic leadership have been instrumental in driving ADT’s success. Alison has also previously served in a Pacific role, providing her with valuable insights into the Australian market.
Alison is deeply passionate about developing talent within the industry. She is committed to lifting the profile of the electronic security sector and raising industry standards. Through mentorship and professional development initiatives, Alison strives to empower the next generation of security professionals, ensuring a robust and innovative future for the industry.
ANDY GOLLINGS
Andy Gollings is a seasoned security professional with over 30 years of experience at Red Badge Group, where he currently serves as Executive Director and Shareholder. While serving in the NZ Air Force, Andy joined the security industry as a casual event security officer in 1994. Since then he has held various key roles in the business from operations manager to CEO, demonstrating his deep understanding of security operations from the ground up. As Executive Director, Andy focuses on strategic impact and service capability development, supporting Red Badge to understand and exceed our customers’ expectations across diverse sectors such as retail, tertiary, healthcare, government, and events and venues. His influence extends beyond Red Badge, serving on the Board of the NZ Security Association, Vice-Chair of ASIS NZ, chairing the NZSA Special Interest Group for Training and Career Development, and is an active participant in the Retail Security Leaders forum. His leadership and expertise significantly benefit both the security industry and the diverse sectors Red Badge serves.
DAMIEN HEGLEY
With nearly 30 years in the security industry, Damien brings unmatched expertise and a deep understanding of every corner of the field. His career began as a fire technician with Wormald, before expanding into monitoring and guarding roles at Armourguard. He went on to hold management and monitoring positions at Chubb and Signature, and later spent a decade in wholesaling with National Fire & Security and Intek Security Group.
Damien’s journey didn’t stop there—he honed his technical skills as an alarm technician and elevated his leadership as Technical Manager at Simply Security. This breadth of experience, from hands-on technical work to high-level management, equips Damien to expertly lead Alarm Watch as General Manager. He is passionate about supporting both the Alarm Watch team, its bureau partners and the security industry with the knowledge, guidance, and leadership needed to succeed.
Jonathan Howe
Jonathan has held senior positions within the security sector within government and the private sector in the UK, Australia, and New Zealand. In New Zealand he has held senior roles including, Chief Security Officer for New Zealand Parliament and Director of National Security Operations for the Ministry of Justice in NZ. Jonathan currently works as the Business Director for Beca Security and Risk. Jonathan has a long history in designing security solutions, conducting security investigations, negotiation, threat, and risk assessment and how to mitigate security risks through proportionate, effective protective security solutions. He prides himself in demystifying security and intelligence for clients as he works in partnership with them to shape pragmatic solutions to their problems. In recent years Jonathan has been a member of the Institute of Directors.
JP Dignon
JP has been in the New Zealand security industry for 20 years with a background in accounting. He served as a security moderator for the Skills Organisation for a decade, actively contributing to industry standards. Since 2011 JP has owned a company providing security services for government departments, schools, commercial, and residential clients. He is dedicated to upskilling and improving industry standards and creating career paths for employees. He was awarded the overall winner of the NZATD Awards for Workplace Trainer of the Year. Focused on better outcomes for New Zealanders in the industry, he is a passionate advocate for the security sector’s growth and development.
MATT STEVENSON
Matt Stevenson has worked in the security industry for over twenty-five years. Starting out in 1995 as a salesperson in Christchurch, he then established his own security firm which he sold in 2006 to join his father in building HSM Group Holdings Limited. HSM (High Security Management) was established in 1997 delivering a broad range of security services including sales, installation, monitoring (including a Grade A1 monitoring station), guarding, fire protection and compliance to both residential and commercial clients locally and across New Zealand.
Following his father’s retirement, Matt is now the CEO, and sole director/shareholder of HSM, leading a senior management team that is driving the growth and expansion of HSM from new purpose-built premises in Hastings. Matt has been instrumental in developing the company into one of the top security providers that it is today with over 70 staff, with an outstanding reputation in the marketplace. Matt brings energy to the business, with a key focus on ensuring an outstanding customer experience.
NICK GIBBS
Nick has worked in the security industry for more than 25 years, building a career that has taken him from frontline officer to business owner and senior executive. He began as a security officer while completing his university studies, later contracting with Chubb Protective Services, before owning and managing Masterguard Fire & Security Ltd for 12 years, delivering intrusion, access control, and fire protection solutions across Canterbury.
Since joining First Security in 2019, Nick has held several senior leadership roles and is now the Chief Operating Officer, with oversight across the company’s nationwide operations, spanning guarding, electronic security, and monitoring. This role provides him with valuable insight into how security is delivered and the unique challenges across New Zealand, from major metropolitan centres to smaller regional communities.
Nick is passionate about raising professional standards in the industry. He believes in strengthening training and qualifications, greater recognition of security as a career, and ensuring frontline staff are properly supported and valued. With a broad perspective and commitment to positive change, he is dedicated to strengthening capability and credibility across the security sector.
NIK BOEINGHOFF
Nik is Optic Security Group’s Auckland-based New Zealand General Manager and is a highly experienced commercial manager having held senior leadership roles in several large companies prior to joining Optic Security Group in early 2022 including Bosch, Signature Security Group, Bunzl, Sebel and Rentokil Initial.
Passionate about innovation and continuous improvement, Nik is committed to building resilient organisations that grow through empowered teams, operational efficiency, and a sharp focus on customer value.
Nik holds a Bachelor of Business (Marketing) and has spent over two decades in senior management, team development, sales leadership and strategic planning roles, consistently driving growth, improved efficiency, and building high-performing teams.
TERESA SEUX
Teresa is the General Manager Human Resources for the Advanced Group, including Advanced Security. She has significant senior executive experience in human resources management across a diverse range of service industries. These roles include establishing the human resources function as for publicly listed NZX top 50 Arvida Group as General Manager Human Resources for 6 years. Teresa has also led HR within as a number of top tier professional services firms, as well as local government and hospitality. She is a generalist practitioner with depth and breadth of experience across the full range of human resources specialties including organisational development, employment relations and health & safety. A Chartered Member of HRNZ, Teresa is a past President of the Auckland Branch. Teresa is passionate about the power of good people management to unleash the potential within the business, for the benefit of the business as well as those working there.
Joel Walsh
Board Cadet
As Tauranga Regional Manager for Watchdog Security Group, Joel straddles both the management and front line perspective of the industry as he spends a regular amount of time actually working on the front line with his staff. In addition to that Joel, being a Māori in a leadership role, brings a balanced approach to a Te Ao Māori perspective on the industry, mixing his cultural heritage with corporate experience and a sound understanding of the issued faced by his predominantly Māori workforce.
Ruth Tongotongo
Board Cadet
Ruth is a dedicated Pacific leader with a deep passion for her community and a strong commitment to supporting others in every way possible. Although her career in the security industry spans just five years, she has held a variety of roles across the sector, each contributing to her expertise and well-rounded perspective. Currently, Ruth serves as a Security Consultant at Beca Applied Technologies within the Security & Risk Team, where she provides specialist advice and solutions to clients facing complex security challenges. Driven by a desire to foster positive change and promote innovation, Ruth is particularly focused on nurturing the next generation of leaders within the security profession. Her approach combines forward-thinking strategies with practical experience, ensuring that her work delivers meaningful and lasting benefits to both clients and the wider industry. In recognition of her professional achievements and leadership potential, Ruth was recently named Outstanding Young Security Professional at the OSAPS Awards for 2025. She continues to build on this success by actively contributing to sector-wide initiatives aimed at enhancing standards, improving outcomes, and empowering communities throughout New Zealand.