A Mallow woman who works in the security industry was the first female to sit and pass an inaugural International security exam held in this country. Shenan O ‘Mahony sat the IFPO CPO® (Certified Protection Officer) exam, facilitated by Manguard Plus, Ireland’s largest privately owned security company in the country. The 41 year old who has worked in the industry for the past two decades said she was delighted to have successfully completed and passed the exam.
Speaking at the presentation of certificates, Shenan said, “This exam was definitely tough and is recognised as a very difficult exam, so to pass it is a huge professional milestone for me. I am over the moon.”
She said that she believes the mindset around jobs prospects in the security industry is changing, and that it is now very definitely seen as a real career option across the board, for both men and women alike.
“Only 6% of women work in the Irish security industry but I do believe the mindset is definitely changing. Women now see that there are more opportunities for professional advancement in security. They recognise it as a real career as opposed to a job. I love working in the area, I am eating the books and studying as much as I can. It is a fascinating and fast moving industry, there is so much to learn. It is an industry that definitely offers rewards and flexibility and I am so glad it is my chosen field”.
Speaking at the event Leo Harris, Chief Operations Officer with Manguard Plus said, “The security industry is now a highly regulated and professional industry, and continuous assessment is just one of the methods we all employ to ensure that the most exacting standards are adhered to”.
“Security is such a fast-paced industry, demanding a unique skill set and stringent adherence to industry protocols and professional benchmarking as determined by examination is key to ensuring professionalism”.