SIA names Martha Entwistle as 2023 SIA Progress Award honoree

SILVER SPRING, Md.—The Security Industry Association (SIA) has named former Security Systems News (SSN) Editor Martha Entwistle as the 2023 recipient of the SIA Progress Award, an honor presented by SIA’s Women in Security Forum (WISF) celebrating individuals who pave the way to success for women in the security industry.

Entwistle will be presented with the award on Wednesday, Nov. 15, during the 2023 SIA Honors Night reception.

Entwistle is senior manager, corporate communications for Eagle Eye Networks, where she leads global communications and public relations strategy and execution for the organization. She has worked in the security industry since 2005, first as a business journalist and more recently as a strategic communications and media relations professional for global security companies. Entwistle spent more than a decade reporting and writing about security industry business trends, mergers and acquisitions and technology as editor of Security Systems News (SSN). At SSN, she also directed two security technology conferences, TechSec Solutions and Cloud+. 

“Promoting diversity and equity in the workplace is not only the right thing to do – it’s a business success strategy, and it’s essential to the future growth and prosperity of the security industry,” said Entwistle. “Working with industry colleagues, SIA staff and the many, many talented newcomers to the security industry on WISF initiatives is a pleasure and a privilege, and I am deeply honored to receive the 2023 Progress Award.”

Entwistle wrote SSN’s first “Women in Security” special report in 2010, which subsequently became an annual issue, and launched a series of stories on “Women in Security Technology” about women who work in technology-specific roles. She was named to the 2022 SIA Women in Security Forum Power 100, and in 2013 she was honored by the Women’s Security Council as a Woman of the Year. She serves on the SIA WISF Steering Committee and is chair of the WISF Scholarship Committee.

“Martha has been a long-term contributor to the Security Industry Association and has exemplified loyalty, commitment and dedication to the organization,” said Ken Francis, president of Eagle Eye Networks. “Serving as the communications powerhouse at Eagle Eye Networks, Martha has a crystal-clear view of the industry with a unique wealth of history in both media and tech roles.”

SIA’s Progress Award recognizes SIA members who have shown excellence in their advancement of opportunities and success for women in the security industry. Each year’s recipient is determined based on their contributions to fostering women in the industry, promotion of women’s professional growth through mentorship and/or sponsorship, recognitions and awards for related activities and demonstration of the highest levels of professionalism and integrity in the security industry.

“SIA is proud to honor Martha Entwistle with the 2023 SIA Progress Award,” said SIA CEO Don Erickson. “Martha is an inspiring security industry leader who has been an invaluable advocate and supporter of WISF in its efforts to foster the advancement of women and promote diversity, equity, innovation and inclusion in our industry, and her dedication and commitment to WISF’s scholarship program have made a tremendous impact in furthering educational and career development opportunities for a wide spectrum of students and emerging leaders in security.”

SIA’s Women in Security Forum works to engage all security professionals to promote, recruit and cultivate the leadership of women for a more inclusive and diversified industry. Participation in the SIA Women in Security Forum is open to all SIA members; learn more and get involved.

SIA Honors Night is a dinner, networking and awards reception held concurrently with ISC East, the Northeast’s leading security and public safety event hosted in collaboration with premier sponsor SIA. This annual event honors exceptional members of the security industry for their leadership, commitment and service to the industry and benefits the work of the Foundation for Advancing Security Talent (FAST).

New in 2023, SIA Honors Night brings together and connects up-and-coming security talent with established industry luminaries for an evening of celebration and supporting the future of the security industry.

At SIA Honors Night 2023, in addition to benefiting FAST’s efforts and presenting the Insightful Practitioner Award, SIA will present industry leaders with the George R. Lippert Memorial Award and the Insightful Practitioner Award.

SIA Honors Night 2023 will be held Nov. 15 at HK Hall in New York City; learn more and register to attend here.