A Leading Woman in Security
A leading woman in security 
FIRST Security’s Tauranga-based Client Services Manager Jill Priest has been selected as a Finalist in the inaugural professional awards for women in New Zealand’s security sector.
FIRST Security is extremely proud of Customer Services Manager Jill Priest, who has just been announced as a Finalist in the inaugural Women in Security Awards Aotearoa!
This new awards programme, supported by the Women in Security & Resilience Alliance (WISECRA), ASIS New Zealand, 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 cyber security occupations and from both the private and public sectors.
As FIRST Security’s Client Services Manager for the Bay of Plenty, Jill has responsibility for over 70 staff throughout the Bay of Plenty, Coromandel, and the Hawkes Bay and Gisborne areas. It’s a large area of responsibility.
“Jill’s a hard worker and honest as the day is long,” said FIRST’s Wellington-based Senior Account Manager Natasha Pennell. “She is a straight shooter and won’t beat around the bush when it comes to getting the job done. Jill lives and breathes security. She is involved in every aspect of it.”
Jill leads by example and from the front. One minute she’s in the office dealing with a management issue, and the next she’s in a patrol vehicle responding to an alarm or noise control complaint, or rounding up an ‘offender’ on animal control duties.
Jill gives a human face and formidable personality to security, and this combined with a mastery of her trade makes her a truly inspiring leader to her teams of security and regulatory enforcement officers.
According to Natasha, Jill is a leading example of an individual who has excelled in security from the ground up.
Jill started at FIRST Security in 2011 initially as a CCTV Operator before gaining experience as a static guard at Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology. She then went on to learn noise control, animal control, and bylaw enforcement; as well as EMS (which is part of FIRST Security’s justice sector work for monitoring offenders serving home-based sentences and defendants on bail).
Prior to joining FIRST, Jill spent 15 years in the hospitality industry, and was manager of a large hotel complex.
Apart from a New Zealand Certificate in Security Level 2, Jill has gained certifications and internal qualifications associated with the many security roles she has performed as a FIRST Security employee.
Natasha says that Jill’s involvement in setting up new contracts is invaluable from a frontline experience point of view.
“She creates jobs for people that they want to come to – she doesn’t accept work that won’t benefit her staff both physically, emotionally and financially,” continued Natasha. “Always community-minded, Jill’s holistic approach to security and community safety puts people first.”
We salute Jill, her achievements, and her continuing role as an example of professionalism and excellence to others.
