Rachael Shattock, Group Event Director at Nineteen Group, provides an overview of the 2024 edition of International Security Expo (ISE).  

What can visitors expect from International Security Expo 2024?   

This year’s International Security Expo (ISE) is set to be bigger and better than ever when it returns to Olympia Events in London on 24-25 September 2024.  

Over 10,000 global security professionals will attend, representing sectors including critical national infrastructure, transportation, stadiums, public and private sectors, law enforcement, defence and those working on homeland and international security.  

A packed exhibition floor will provide visitors the chance to meet with an exceptional range of security manufacturers and suppliers.  

We will be delivering an even more informative content programme and visitors will find many opportunities to network.  

One of the most exciting additions this year is the new Live Immersive Demonstrator, produced in partnership with CrisisCast.  

This Demonstrator will showcase the practical applications of our exhibitors’ products in simulated real-life environments, including aviation and sporting event security scenarios.  

Within the Government Zone, Border Force returns and will be showing how they detect concealment, whilst their dog team will be providing demonstrations.  

British Transport Police will also be running demonstrations in the zone with their Special Response Unit and Firearms teams. In the Counter Threat Pavilion there will be exciting counter explosive ordnance and CBRN demo’s.  

The LPCB Live Testing Lab returns, with more companies than ever wanting to have their products tested live in front of attendees.  

What themes will be explored by speakers at this year’s conferences?   

Building further on the event’s reputation for delivering exceptional content, visitors can expect to hear from some fantastic speakers. The Global Counter Terror & Security Summit will focus on key policy updates with the heads of important UK Government departments and agencies providing updates.   

A key subject will be Martyn’s Law. With the new Government’s commitment to deliver the legislation and its inclusion in this Parliament’s king’s speech, visitors will get to hear from the Homeland Security Group who have drafted the legislation, and from NaCTSO (National Counter Terrorism Security Office) who will be implementing it.   

As ever we will be exploring the latest threats affecting homeland and international security, including talks exploring the conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle Eastern, whilst the popular Realities of Terror theme returns with both Figen Murray OBE and Travis Frain OBE providing the invaluable victim’s perspective.  

We’re delighted to have Phil Douglas, Director General of Border Force, speaking about the future of UK border security.  

On the International Security & Resilience Conference, essential topics covered will include everything from aviation security to HVM, diversity in the industry to protecting women from violence. 

Fay Tennet, Deputy Director of Security Liaison for The Royal Household will be asking if you’re prepared for the worst, talking about the terrorist attack outside Parliament in 2017. Whilst Sgt. George Vit from South Brunswick Township Police Department will discuss technology in Law Enforcement in the US, and how British companies should do business with the over 17,000 police departments in the US.  

Across both the Summit and the Conference, all the content is CPD-certified and it is accessible to everyone attending the event, free of charge.  

Can you explain more about the types of products on show at the event?  

The continuing importance of innovation within the security sector means the exhibition floor will be the place to be if you want to discover the latest products and solutions that are coming to market.  

The over 300 global exhibiting brands cover the entire spectrum of the sector, with products on display including hostile vehicle mitigation, perimeter protection, access control & biometrics, intruder detection / monitoring, communication, drone & counter drone, IT / command & control, CCTV & surveillance, training, CBRN and blast protection.  

In order to further highlight the huge amount of innovation found throughout the event, we have launched an Innovation Award and Innovation Trail.  

Visitors will be able to follow the Trail around the exhibition floor to see each of the exhibitors and products shortlisted for the Award and the winner will be announced at our Networking Drinks Reception.  

How has the show developed in recent years?  

We are constantly looking at ways to keep the show exciting and relevant to the industry. This year both our International Delegations Programme and International Hosted Buyer Programme will be better than ever, as we host security buyers from overseas and ensure they get to meet the exhibitors and people they need too.  

The introduction of the new Live Immersive Demonstrator this year will offer something new for attendees. Plus the number of partners we work with continues to grow, with many key media titles and associations on the exhibition floor.  

We continue to receive exceptional support from UK Government and this year is no different. The Government Zone is packed with all the key departments and agencies, and this year there will be 20 represented.  

ISE has become as an essential event to speak at for those running these departments, whilst for the last three years the UK Security Minister has delivered a keynote, highlighting ISE’s importance as a conduit to reaching the industry.  

At the start of the year, we were thrilled to announce that Angela Essel (former head of JSaRC and now Senior Account Director MoD HQ at Thales UK), had taken over from Admiral Lord West as Chair of the event.  

Essel has done a fantastic job over the last few months of helping steer the event, as well as our 70-strong Advisory Council, to ensure this year’s International Security Expo is the best yet.    

The development of International Cyber Expo has been exciting to watch. It has rapidly expanded since its launch just a few years ago and is already known as one of the premier cyber security events.  

What networking opportunities will be available for visitors and exhibitors?  

ISE brings together the global security community with visitors coming from all corners of the world. With thousands of global visitors already registered to attend and counting, there’s no better event to attend this year to allow you to catch-up with industry colleagues and make the many important new connections that we all know are essential.  

Central to this is our free Networking Drinks Reception, taking place at the end of the first day of the event (Tuesday 24^th September).  

All visitors and exhibitors are invited to join us for free drinks, musical entertainment and to find out who the winner of the inaugural Innovation Award is.  

Networking opportunities aren’t limited to the Drinks Reception – as throughout both days of the event there’ll be endless opportunities to meet up and connect with so many members of the industry. 

 How can people register for this year’s event?  

International Security Expo is free to attend – just register for your pass via the following link and we hope to see you this September:  https://www.internationalsecurityexpo.com/isj   

This article was originally published in the August Edition of Security Journal UK. To read your FREE digital edition, click here.