The Security Industry Federation are proud to announce that Executive Board member Dr Orlando Mardner is the winner of the DEI Champion of the Year award 2025 from International Security Buyer Magazine.

This recognition highlights Dr Mardner’s longstanding commitment to fair representation, minority worker advocacy, and the advancement of structured professional pathways for Black, Asian, and minority ethnic security professionals across the UK.

We are also delighted to announce that Dr Mardner now steps into his new role as Head of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion at SIF, where he will begin leading the development of a modern, scalable, and reform-driven DEI framework for the Federation.
Dr Mardner will be responsible for pioneering the foundations of:

A national DEI standards structure,

Equitable workforce policy,

Fair-access qualification and progression routes,

and

A sector-wide DEI auditing model designed to expose barriers and accelerate minority advancement.

This appointment marks the beginning of a strategic DEI transformation inside SIF one focused on strengthening progression within the private security sector, improving conditions for under-represented workers, and ensuring minority security professionals have clear, visible, and protected pathways into leadership and higher-skilled roles.
This award reinforces SIF’s long-term commitment to driving meaningful change, protecting frontline staff, and modernising the industry through evidence-led reform and collective action.

SIF congratulates Dr Mardner on this achievement and looks forward to the impact his leadership will bring as the organisation accelerates DEI-driven transformation throughout 2026 and beyond.