In the tenth instalment of the ISJ Leaders in Security Podcast, James Thorpe – Editor of International Security Journal – is joined by Andy Palmer, Enterprise Data & Cloud Solutions Group – UK Channel Lead, Seagate Technology and Rob Lay, Product Manager, Secure Logiq.

In this discussion, James, Andy and Rob explore the role data storage plays in the development and operation of AI systems. As the foundation for data accessibility and quality, storage infrastructure directly shapes AI performance and trustworthiness.

With a career spanning over 25 years in technology sales, marketing and channel development, Andy has cultivated extensive experience across various European markets, having lived and worked in Paris, Munich and the UK. Since joining Seagate in 2013, Andy has been instrumental in developing partnerships with leading system developers and integrators.

Rob specialises in high-performance hardware solutions for surveillance and AI applications, bridging the gap between server and workstation hardware and video analytics. He’s passionate about harnessing AI tools to drive innovation and enhance operational efficiency.

In the ninth instalment of the ISJ Leaders in Security Podcast, James Thorpe – Editor of International Security Journal – is joined by Andy Edwards, VP of Strategic Development for GardaWorld Security’s Critical Infrastructure & Government Services division.

Andy is a veteran of the Royal Marines and Special Boat Service. He transitioned into the private sector as a security consultant for various blue-chip companies, news networks and International Development Agencies.

As Vice President of Strategic Development at GardaWorld Security, Andy continues to leverage his experience in high-stakes environments, bringing insights and leadership to the forefront of the company's global initiatives.

In this discussion, James and Andy explore the real-world challenges of providing protection and stability in some of the world’s most volatile environments. In environments where governance is weak, regulatory enforcement is inconsistent and the traditional "rulebook" no longer applies, maintaining security – and doing so responsibly – is both a challenge and an obligation.

From adhering to international standards and prioritising human rights, to deploying defensive, community-sensitive protective services, GardaWorld Security has built a reputation for delivering security solutions that are not just effective – but ethical and sustainable.

In the eighth instalment of the ISJ Leaders in Security Podcast, James Thorpe, Editor of International Security Journal speaks with Luqi Shen, Senior Content Marketing Specialist, Hikvision.

Luqi has a 15-year professional background in marketing, including five years spent at technology companies in the UK. She joined Hikvision in 2021 and has since led extensive research and the creation of content on technology and market trends.

In her current role, she is responsible for content research, planning and creation, developing engaging and informative materials that resonate with target audience’s needs.

In this discussion, James and Luqi discuss Hikvision’s ‘Top 5 trends for the AIoT industry in 2025’, exploring why the company is emphasising this over traditional security narratives in 2025. They also chat through real world use cases and explore the role AIoT plays in promoting sustainability and resource efficiency.

In the seventh instalment of the ISJ Leaders in Security Podcast, James Thorpe, Editor of International Security Journal speaks with Artem Sherman, Division Head, Security & Investigations at Resolver and Tim Wenzel, Associate Managing Director, ESRM at Kroll.

From enhancing incident management to streamlining tedious tasks, James, Artem and Tim discuss the benefits and strategies for successfully adopting AI and automation technologies. They also focus on the evolving roles of security leaders, the balance between automation and human expertise and how teams can ensure that these tools are effective and transparent.

Artem has an 18-year background in Security, 12 of which he spent at TJX Canada, where he headed up Technology, Analytics and Centralised Investigations. In his current role, Artem is focused on providing security leaders with incident, investigations and threat solutions.

Tim is a leader in the Enterprise Security Risk Management practice. He leverages more than 20 years of security risk management and protective strategy experience in assisting fortune companies, ultra-high net worth families and government agencies with organisational design.

In the sixth instalment of the ISJ Leaders in Security Podcast, James Thorpe, Editor of International Security Journal catches up with Kate Clark and Olof Sandberg from Gunnebo Safe Storage, a globally recognised provider on a mission to protect valuable items from burglary, fire and explosion.

During this discussion, Kate and Olof provide us with an insight into Gunnebo Safe Storage and its position within the security and safe storage industry whilst explaining how it balances the demands of sustainability and high security. Both speakers also tell us more about the company’s Origo solution and why it represents such a pivotal development.

Kate heads up Innovation and R&D and Global Locking Solutions and is an experienced management professional with extensive European and Global market experience developing products and new business across a spectrum of channels and geographies.

Olof is the Global Product Manager for Locking Solutions at Gunnebo Safe Storage. With over a decade of experience in the security industry, Olof has honed his expertise in both B2B and B2C product development across various sectors, managing top global solutions.

In the fourth instalment of the ISJ Leaders in Security Podcast, James Thorpe, Editor of International Security Journal, chats standards (such as LPS1175), compliance and high security with Ian Hoey, Divisional Sales & Marketing Director, Meesons, John Gregory, Senior Business Manager – CNI & Special Projects, Meesons and Richard Flint, Technical and Commercial Lead for Physical Security, BRE Group.

Ian supports Meesons on a divisional level, providing his expertise across all subsidiaries, including the UK, Gulf and Europe, focusing on building strategies for Meesons to drive business growth. John has been working for Meesons since 2008 and is highly experienced, specialising in critical national infrastructure and government. Richard is one of the UK’s leading experts in physical security standards. He has over 23 years’ experience in testing and certification of security products at the Loss Prevention Certification Board (LPCB).

In this discussion, James learns more about how Meesons embraces security standards and integrates them within business operations, what challenges high security buildings typically encounter and how BRE Group collaborates with industry stakeholders to promote awareness and the understanding of standards.

In the fourth instalment of the ISJ Leaders in Security Podcast, International Security Journal Editor, James Thorpe, is joined by Danny Garrido, President of Traka Americas, a part of the ASSA ABLOY Group.

Having worked in the industry for over 20 years, Danny has unique perspectives and vast knowledge, which spans both domestic and emerging markets globally. With responsibility overseeing strategic partnerships, operational efficiencies, product integrations and new business development, his leadership has led to high impact growth across multiple sectors for many years. Danny joined Traka in 2013 and has since helped hundreds of companies secure, manage and audit keys and assets at thousands of locations worldwide.

In this valuable discussion, James finds out more about how Traka develops products to meet changing customer requirements and how it is continuing to strengthen its presence in sectors such as corrections, law enforcement, gaming, hospitality and schools. Moreover, Danny highlights the importance of employing the right people to ensure consistent growth and success.

In the third instalment of the ISJ Leaders in Security Podcast, James Thorpe, Editor of International Security Journal, discusses the transition from analogue sensors to digital technologies and the importance of taking a multi-layered approach with Rick Wakeham, Senior Technology Consultant and Mark Cosgrave, Divisional Director Western Europe, OPTEX Security EMEA.

OPTEX is a leading manufacturer of detection systems and a global solutions provider across multiple sectors and industries. The EMEA division has two headquarters in Europe, each dedicated to a specific business domain – Security and Entrance. The company strives to be number one in these respective specialist markets by focusing on a strong customer-oriented strategy.

In this discussion, Rick and Mark tell James more about the history of OPTEX and highlight the different technologies the company offers in both the security and intrusion detection space. Moreover, both experts highlight the importance of taking a holistic approach to educating and supporting people in the industry whilst shedding light on what OPTEX’s plans are for the future.