The Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre has been honoured with an award for Australia’s best in-house security team, recognising the elite standards of its specialist services.

Announced last week (4 May) at the Australian Security Industry Association Limited (ASIAL) Awards in Melbourne, the award was judged by a panel of security industry professionals who considered the Centre’s strategic planning, professionalism and innovation.

The award-winning security team at the Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre.

Centre Chief Executive Ton van Amerongen said the award reflected the sophistication of the venue’s security operations.

“The Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre is one of Australia’s most important meeting places and hosts more than a million people a year, including political leaders and other VIPs from around the world,” van Amerongen said. “Our commitment to providing the highest possible standard of security reflects our position on the world stage and it’s an honour to have this acknowledged in such an important national award.”

The Centre maintains an in-house team headed by security manager Johnny Naofal. The division is responsible for high-level security operations, specialised strategies, emergency response plans and medical assistance at levels far beyond the industry standard.

The security team maintains relations with the NSW Police Department, Federal Police and ASIO, with a personnel that swells to more than 100 officers during major events.

The ASIAL award is one of several national accolades given to the Centre in the past year, including four in last month’s Meetings & Events Australia (MEA) National Awards where the Centre was named Australia’s Best Meeting Venue for 500 delegates or more.

The Australian Security Industry Association Limited is the peak national body for the Australian security industry. The Sydney Convention and Exhibtion Centre has been a member of the ASIAL for the past 11 years.