Chris Lawton is the recipient of the Security Industry Leadership Award (2015) and brings over 45 years of experience across public safety, policing, military service, and the security sector. As Executive Chairman, Chris leads the Security Institute of New Zealand, a role that combines Chairman and Chief Executive for simplicity and effectiveness.

Background

  • 20 years in the New Zealand Police – investigations, bomb squad, armed offenders squad, weapons and tactics training, specialist search operations, police negotiation team, and frontline duties
  • Territorial Force Commissioned Officer, New Zealand Defence Force
  • Deputy Chief of Security, United Nations East Timor – helped coordinate the safe evacuation of thousands during the 2000 crisis
  • Chairman, Community Patrols of New Zealand (CPNZ)
  • Deputy Chairman, Crowded Places Community Advisory Group (CPCAG)
  • Secretary, Crowded Places Security Advisory Group (CPSAG)

Security Industry

Since leaving the Police in 2000, Chris has operated as a licensed Security Consultant and Professional Investigator. He has worked internationally across Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Australia, Brazil, Greece, Indonesia, and Thailand – providing protection for high-net-worth individuals and families, superyachts, boards of directors, and heads of state.
Chris is co-owner and director of C4 Group Limited, New Zealand’s leading security training provider, which holds NZQA’s highest rating (Category 1 – Highly Confident). He is also Director of The Phoenix Academy, an NZQA accredited training centre.

Community Leadership

As Chairman of Community Patrols of New Zealand (CPNZ), Chris leads the country’s premier volunteer crime prevention organisation – over 4,500 volunteers across 165+ communities. He manages three staff at Police National Headquarters and oversees more than $500,000 in government funding for community safety initiatives.

Past and current affiliations

ASIS International (NZ Chapter)
NZ Institute of Professional Investigators (NZIPI)
World Association of Detectives (WAD)
Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE)
Anti-Terrorism Accreditation Board (ATAB)
Institute of Directors (NZ)
CPTED NZ

Education

Awarded the Diploma in Policing from the NZ Police, Diploma in Security Management, Security and emergency management studies at the Scarman Centre (UK) and Massey University (NZ).

Current studies include

Public Safety and Policing Degree with the Charles Sturt University, Australia.