A leading security sector educator
A leading security sector educator
FIRST Security’s Auckland-based National Training Manager Yvonne Bruce has recently been selected by an international judging panel as a Finalist in the inaugural professional awards for women in New Zealand’s security sector.
FIRST Security is extremely excited that National Training Manager Yvonne Bruce was recently named a Finalist in the inaugural Women in Security Awards Aotearoa!
The new awards programme, an initiative of the Women in Security & Resilience Alliance (WISECRA), ASIS New Zealand, the New Zealand Security Association (NZSA), and the New Zealand Security Magazine, was established to recognise women who have advanced the New Zealand security industry.
The awards attracted nominations in seven categories from across physical and information security occupations and from both the private and public sectors.
As FIRST Security’s Training Manager, Yvonne has established and driven our personal development, skills, and numeracy and literacy programme to achieve positive outcomes for staff. In addition to establishing a clear career path for all employees, Yvonne has developed responsive training solutions in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Not only have FIRST employees benefitted from Yvonne’s work to raise their level of professionalism, many have also benefitted in terms of basic life skills, such as numeracy and literacy, that many of us take for granted,” said FIRST’s Chief Operations Officer Steve Sullivan. “She has played a key role in literally transforming lives.”
Yvonne has instigated and championed literacy and numeracy training within the organisation, making up to 100 spots available via Upskills, the government nominated supplier.
“This has provided the staff who have completed the courses with new life skills, more confidence in their roles, and the pathway to advancement in their careers within the business and beyond,” observed Steve. “The impact of this goes well beyond many employees’ work life and into their lives outside of work.”
As has been the case for businesses across New Zealand, responding to COVID-19 has presented new challenges for FIRST. In the training area, Yvonne has worked tirelessly to devise and deliver new supporting programmes that are agile to respond to the changing environment.
“As part of FIRST’s Crisis Management Team, Yvonne kept the Group up to date with notable trends in compliance, follow up areas for action, and advice of future programs relevant to us being an essential service provider,” Steve said.
Yvonne is an advocate within the broader security industry for best practice training. Through her membership of the New Zealand Security Association’s Training Special Interest Group and relationships with training organisations she influences industry practice in order to achieve the best training outcomes.
“Yvonne develops bespoke courses that often need to be written from scratch, with little material other than a legislated, client, or government requirement,” said Steve. “We rely on Yvonne’s industry knowledge, life experience and ability to translate information into meaningful learning outcomes for our people.”
Yvonne holds a Bachelor of Business Studies specialising in HR Management, a Diploma in Psychology, a Graduate Diploma in Human Resource Management, a National Certificate in Adult Literacy and Numeracy Education, and a long list of other qualifications.
Prior to joining FIRST in 2018, Yvonne held senior HR positions in a range of private and community sector organisations.
We salute Yvonne, her achievements, and her continuing role as an example of professionalism and excellence to others.
