Unveiling the 2025 Security Innovation Honors
Security Innovator Awards Recognise Pioneers in the Security Industry
The Security Innovator Awards, an annual industry-wide recognition program, honours individuals who have made significant contributions to the security industry. These innovative minds have devised new technologies, stepped up during crises, and made a positive impact on the community and the industry.
This year's group of Security Innovators is diverse and experienced, with nominees coming from various roles such as CEOs, software developers, front-line installers, consultants, and more. The nomination process is 100% peer-nominated, ensuring that the chosen individuals have truly made an impact in the field.
Among the nominees are Matt Tengwall, Senior Vice President & Global General Manager, Fraud & Security Solutions at Verint Systems, nominated by Greg Skarvelis for his leadership in helping financial institutions evolve their approach to security. Ryan McElderry, SVP of Operations at Pro-Vigil, was nominated by Jeremy White for his leadership in building one of the most scalable, efficient, and accurate remote video monitoring (RVM) operations in the industry.
Other notable nominees include Don Morron, Founder and CEO of HighlandTech, recognised for his focus on Agentic AI and its potential to save integrators and manufacturers time and money. Ignacio Vilches Rojo, Principal Software Architect at Teledyne FLIR, was nominated for his establishment as the foremost authority on the FLIR Nexus product, bridging the gap between its extraordinary capabilities and the professionals who rely on thermal security solutions.
The Security Innovator Awards also recognise individuals who have made long careers of innovation, such as Dick Soloway, Vice President of the AI/Machine Learning Lab at HID Global, nominated for his leadership in shaping the landscape of biometric and AI-driven security solutions over the past three decades.
This year's awards also celebrate groundbreaking innovations, such as Matt Isgur's creation of DEFENDER, a cloud-based SaaS physical security operations management platform. Other innovative technologies include the Brinks Home Account Value Calculator (AVC), developed by William Niles, CEO of Brinks Home, which simplifies and accelerates the buying and selling of alarm accounts.
The Security Innovator Awards are a testament to the innovative spirit within the security industry, recognising those who are pushing the boundaries of what is possible and advancing security technology and industry standards. The winners will be announced in the coming months, and the industry eagerly awaits the recognition of these pioneers.
- Don Morron, founder and CEO of HighlandTech, is nominated for his focus on Agentic AI, a technology that has the potential to save integrators and manufacturers time and money in the manufacturing industry.
- The Security Innovator Awards recognise Ignacio Vilches Rojo, Principal Software Architect at Teledyne FLIR, as the foremost authority on the FLIR Nexus product, bridging the gap between its extraordinary capabilities and the professionals who rely on thermal security solutions in the general-news and education-and-self-development sectors.
- In the finance industry, Matt Tengwall, Senior Vice President & Global General Manager, Fraud & Security Solutions at Verint Systems, is nominated for his leadership in helping financial institutions evolve their approach to security.
- Ryan McElderry, SVP of Operations at Pro-Vigil, is recognised for his leadership in building one of the most scalable, efficient, and accurate remote video monitoring (RVM) operations in the physical security systems industry.
- The Security Innovator Awards also celebrate groundbreaking innovations, such as Matt Isgur's DEFENDER, a cloud-based SaaS physical security operations management platform, and the Brinks Home Account Value Calculator (AVC) developed by William Niles, CEO of Brinks Home, which simplifies and accelerates the buying and selling of alarm accounts in the sports and technology sectors.
