Darlene Winston

   Steering Committe, iLead Security Industry Mentoring Program

The Award recognises Darlene’s voluntary commitment and leadership over many years to ilead, the not-for-profit, goodwill, talent and mentoring exchange specific to the security sector and across many of its disciplines.

Darlene joined the industry on a six-month contract in 2007 with SNP Security.  Since then, she’s moved through a number of roles, both within the sector and elsewhere. 

This award is not for her professional endeavours and success, and nor is it for her activity raising money and awareness for a range of charities, the award is for her service in ilead.

The concept of some type of industry mentoring program started in 2012 in conversations between Paul Maihi (then Westpac’s CSO), Ron Elliott (then Sydney Airport’s head of Aviation Services), and Tom Roche (then SNP Security’s CEO).

Their motive was to keep good young security professionals in the industry, with leadership development opportunities possibly not available in their workplaces.  Their method was to introduce high potential mentees to industry leader mentors who could provide leadership, direction and insight.  The focus was to be on enhancing skills, boosting confidence, and expanding mentees’ professional networks while improving their engagement, helping keep them in the industry, and facilitating knowledge transfer.

ilead commenced in early 2013 and ran first until 2017, led by Darlene with passion, expertise and commitment.  It was supported in its first iteration by SNP and Westpac, giving Darlene time and such important capabilities as the Hogan Personality Inventory profiling to match mentees optimally with mentors. 

There was a hiatus from 2017 until 2024 when a steering committee formed comprising Paul Maihi and Tom Roche again, alongside John Yates (of Scentre Group) and Darlene herself, who by then had left the Security sector professionally but clearly remained committed to its people. 

Her employer made it clear that ilead could only be managed in Darlene’s own time, and without financial support.  She powered on in her own time, making up for the lack of financial support by applying even further personal effort to engaging, understanding, matching and guiding mentees and mentors along their six-month programs as well as coaching and supporting mentees further along their professional journeys.

There have been over 120 mentees in the program, all matched with an equal number of mentors, and a number of them is present here tonight.  They include Christina Rose of Qantas, to whom the foundation awards an honourable mention for her leadership and support over 9 days in a dangerous offshore environment.

In addition to the mentoring relationships there have been quarterly events with guest speakers (covering topics such as leadership, business ethics and coaching) and six-monthly graduation events, and Darlene’s consistent guidance, coaching and oversight.

The ASMF wishes to recognise Darlene Winston, and has pleasure in awarding her the Australian Security Medal.