Christine Murphy Peck, Chief Global Learning Officer at ASIS International highlights what not to miss at GSX 2024, taking place 23 – 25 September in Orlando, Florida.

Can you tell me about yourself and your role at ASIS?

As Chief Global Learning Officer, I lead a team of 28 professionals driving knowledge and learning initiatives for our more than 34,600-member organization.

In my role, I oversee GSX and all in-person events, sales and business development, editorial and content development and all related digital collateral, online and in-person learning, certification management, standards and guidelines.

I’ve been with ASIS full-time since November 2021 having served in a consulting capacity from July 2016 to December 2017.

What can attendees expect from GSX this year?

Over 16,000 attendees from 95 countries and 470 exhibitors.

The program schedule encompasses more than 200 sessions in a variety of topical formats during the event: pre-conference workshops, keynote sessions, plenary sessions, classroom sessions and interactive learning sessions on the exhibition show floor.

These sessions address vital issues in the security profession on topics including but not limited to: school security and safety, digital transformation, AI, cyber and information security, critical infrastructure, physical and operational security, civil unrest and risk management, as well as numerous sessions focused on professional development for security professionals: mentorship and building a roadmap for a successful security career and executive presence.

We also have a series of Game Changer sessions, or plenary sessions, focused on resilience, trust and the role of security in global crises.

The exhibition show floor features four learning stages: the Career HQ includes sessions focused on personal and professional development in addition to providing resume and career coaching sessions; the Cybersecurity Pavilion features content delivered by cyber leaders to help anticipate, approach and avoid cyber-threats and investigations; the Resilience Zone is new this year and includes sessions on enterprise security risk management (ESRM), digital transformation, insider threats and data protection and privacy to help organizations adapt in the face of adversity; the X Stage content is focused more deeply on navigating the intersection of the human, cyber and physical security realms to include retail crime, AI and securing critical infrastructure.

Other features of our exhibit floor include the ASIS Hub, where attendees can get all the latest information on ASIS programs including Certification, Standards & Guidelines, the ASIS Foundation, ASIS certificate courses and of course, ASIS Membership.

Members from our 34 Subject Area Communities use the Hub as a place to meet and connect during the show.

The ASIS store is directly across from the ASIS Hub, which offers a chance to purchase the most recent books, study materials and resources.

The Headshot Lounge is open to all and for a donation to the ASIS Foundation, attendees receive a headshot and a special collectable GSX -themed pin.

Finally, our keynote presentations during each General Session will be exceptional.

23 September: Strategic Security Diplomacy: Charting Paths in a Rapidly Changing World

Former Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin will share insights on navigating major geopolitical events during her tenure, including Finland’s accession to NATO after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

She’ll discuss strategies for strengthening democratic alliances and resilience amidst an evolving global landscape. 

24 September: Taking a Human-Centered Approach To AI: The Opportunities and Risks

As an AI pioneer, AI entrepreneur and investor in Blue Tulip Ventures, Dr Rana el Kaliouby will explore the opportunities and risks AI presents.

She’ll also discuss the technologies that can transform business productivity and innovation while emphasizing the crucial roles of data privacy, guarding against misinformation and tackling algorithmic bias and transparency issues.

25 September: Leadership and Accountability When It Matters

Commander Kirk Lippold will share his experience and leadership through a harrowing terrorist attack.

He’ll highlight the principle of integrity and how it aligns with personal accountability, empowerment and effective leadership during crises while providing essential guidance for any organization facing challenges.  

To facilitate our keynote journey, we’ve brought on Charity Blackwell, an extremely talented and rising young spoken word artist from Washington, DC.

Blackwell served as our closing keynote speaker for the inaugural Security LeadHER 2023 in Nashville and brought the house down!

In addition to the conference’s primary programming, GSX 2024 will feature multiple pre-conference events on Saturday and Sunday, including two-day workshops on facility security design and ESRM, APP, CPP and PSP certification reviews and Secure Horizons: An Immersive Experience for Senior Security Executives.

Sunday’s pre-conference programming will include workshops on ESRM and stakeholder communication, ASIS Volunteers’ Day and the ASIS Awards of Excellence and the Outstanding Security Performance Awards (OSPAs). 

This hallowed convergence offers a singular opportunity to elevate their professional mastery to unprecedented heights, with the potential to accrue up to 22 CPEs.

What are some of the main themes the event will highlight?

The theme for GSX 2024 is “Taking Security Higher,” which includes a focus on elevating skills and abilities, as well as the security profession itself and creating a more resilient global society.

The world is not getting any less risky and as such security is a growing industry and that growth is represented on the trade show floor.

We aim to provide the latest in solutions, thought leadership and professional development.

At GSX our attendees don’t just see tomorrow’s advanced security solutions – they experience them at interactive demos and hands-on displays.

Is there anything new for GSX this year?

On the exhibition show floor, the Resilience Zone is new this year and includes sessions on ESRM, digital transformation, insider threats and data protection and privacy to help organizations adapt in the face of adversity. 

Also new this year is the GSX Security Sync Up – our featured networking area where attendees can take time out of their GSX Exhibit Hall experience to re-charge themselves and their devices and re-connect with other GSX attendees and exhibitors.

We also have several “In Conjunction With” ICW events this year.

These are events associated with or deemed “in conjunction with” Global Security Exchange (GSX).

The ICW events can share the GSX branding in their advertising and promotion.

Why is it important for the industry to come together in person?

As threats continue to escalate across both the physical and digital domains, the world’s top security professionals must come together where they can immerse themselves in a nexus of timely insights, forecasting the ominous trends that loom on the horizon and uncovering the battle-proven best practices to combat the ever-evolving risks that threaten enterprises across the realms of security risk management, digital transformation, data sanctity and beyond.

Attending GSX will equip our attendees with advanced skills to combat emerging security threats head-on, allowing you to build a robust and resilient security posture for your organization through continuous learning and knowledge sharing. 

What are you personally most excited about for GSX?

For me, it’s the high quality of the education, the volume of information, new technology, skill building and connections that are made during the event.

The convergence of new technologies with current skills, seeing old friends re-connect, watching the light bulbs as attendees are presented with new concepts and insights and seeing the ways in which they can put them to use immediately in their organizations make it so valuable.

I also enjoy the buzz and hum of the exhibit show floor, the hands-on learning and the sense that at every moment throughout the event, the attendees are gathered there to do important work.

They’re having fun and they’re seeing old – and meeting new – friends.

Ultimately, they’re attending with purpose, to learn from each other, on the show floor and in the classroom so they can go back home as even stronger security management professionals.

Any other comments?

For nearly 70 years, GSX has set the standard for security excellence.

This is where the global security community comes together to ascend as leaders and build a more secure world.

Register now

To register for GSX at a discounted rate, use PROMO code 24Partner11 for $75 off all-access. Click here to register.

This article was originally published in the September edition of Security Journal Americas. To read your FREE digital edition, click here.