Gallagher Security (Europe) Ltd - Experts & Thought Leaders

Serving a large geographical area of the North Island of New Zealand, the Waikato District Health Board (Waikato DHB) provides hospital and community-based health services to a population of nearly 400,000 people. With a wide range of security needs that include protecting staff and patients, securing high-risk facilities, restricting unauthorised access to medication and medical equipment, and streamlining contractor and car park management, Waikato DHB required a security solution that could be applied to both high and low security areas. The system al so needed to provide a comprehensive audit trail and detailed reporting, to identify access movements by employees and help meet legal requirements around the safe and secure storage of medication and equipment. Gallagher single access card control system Gallagher’s access control solution for Waikato DHB utilises a single access-card system that simply and instantly updates access permissions Gallagher’s access control solution for Waikato DHB utilises a single access-card system that simply and instantly updates access permissions, as well as streamlining car parking services. Where high-level security is needed, Gallagher’s system offers Waikato DHB the ability to lock-down areas of the hospital when required, isolating areas and restricting access. Gallagher’s Command Centre Mobile application also delivers duress notifications from buttons located around the hospital directly to a guard's mobile device. Electronic Tag Boards allow contractors to easily sign on and off of the site, ensuring Waikato DHB meets health and safety requirements. In an environment where access profiles change on a daily basis as staff move between different departments, Gallagher’s access control system and Command Centre central management platform ensure staff can approach doors with the confidence that they can enter or leave areas as necessary. The access card system has also reduced the risks associated with handling keys, along with providing detailed reports to meet comprehensive auditing requirements, saving time and cost. 'Security Ward Standard' Waikato DHB's experience with Gallagher products ultimately led them to develop a 'Security Ward Standard' detailing the minimum-security equipment required for new buildings, greatly reducing time spent producing specification documents and gathering approvals. As Waikato DHB's security requirements continue to evolve, Gallagher’s systems provide future-proofing with a software maintenance agreement ensuring they operate the very latest software available. Fast facts about the project Industry: Healthcare Business type: Hospital Number of employees: 6,500 Site Size: 18 hectares with 176,000 sq.metres of buildings Number of doors: Over 730 access-controlled doors; 40 alarmed and monitored refrigerators/freezers; 15 carpark barrier arms; 1 gate. Gallagher solutions and technology utilised: Command Centre Controller 6000 T-Series readers Tag Boards Car park Management

The University of Birmingham educates over 30,000 students, with more than 6,000 doors providing access to student accommodation. Gallagher’s integrated access control solution is responsible for providing operational continuity and creating a safe and secure environment for students. Access management system The University recently completed its new state-of-the-art student accommodation development, Chamberlain, which consists of a 19-storey tower and three low-rise blocks. An essential requirement was an integrated access control system, reducing the need for keys. Timothy Owen, General Manager of Student Accommodation at the University says, “We wanted to move away from using keys as students are prone to losing them and trying to manage thousands of locks and associated keys was a constant administration and financial drain.” We need to maintain control over access to our buildings, while ensuring a duty of care to our residents and staff" In order to minimise the complexity of managing a new system, the University required a solution that integrated with, or was an extension of, their existing campus access control and accommodation management systems. “We need to maintain control over access to our buildings, while ensuring a duty of care to our residents and staff so that they can go about their business as required,” says Timothy. “Fundamentally, we needed a system that gives both us and our resident’s confidence in the security of the accommodation.” Adaptable access solutions A large and complex estate with buildings of different construction and age, the University needed a solution that was flexible enough to accommodate their unique requirements. Gallagher Command Centre, together with the Aperio® wireless locking technology by ASSA ABLOY Access Control, was selected as the University’s preferred choice, meeting their security needs in a cost-effective way while still delivering to the overall specification. Timothy says, “The completion of our new state of the art Chamberlain development was extremely close to the date of the first student arrival, so the team had to be dedicated and work flexibly to ensure it was ready in time – which it was.” Improved student experience The Gallagher Command Centre integration allows for the access key and student ID to be combined in to one card, offering a number of benefits to both students and staff. The student ID and accommodation key is encoded on to one card, so it can be posted out in advance and access to the room automatically granted" Previously the accommodation arrival process required students to arrive at the University with their contracts and queue up so that a member of staff could sign them in manually and hand them the keys to their accommodation. From there students could head to their room. “Arrivals is always a busy time but with the help of the Gallagher solution we’ve not only improved the student experience but also the administration process,” says Timothy. “Now the student ID and accommodation key is encoded on to one card, so it can be posted out in advance and access to the room automatically granted via the accommodation management system. Students no longer need to queue for keys, can get to their rooms instantly, and spend more time enjoying their arrival experience.” Monitoring access cards The simple act of swiping an access card automatically checks the student in and a report can be generated to show who has arrived and who hasn’t, allowing staff to follow up accordingly. If the room is no longer required it can be quickly and easily re-allocated to another student, resulting in improved occupancy rates. Using Gallagher Command Centre together with the University’s accommodation management system allows staff to check on the well-being of students by monitoring the use of their access card. The University also houses students under the age of 18, and one of the safeguarding requirements is that the University can monitor their whereabouts on a daily basis. Timothy adds, “This can be difficult to achieve with many students to track, but Gallagher Command Centre can easily confirm the time and location of our resident’s last door access, providing peace of mind that students who may be uncontactable are in fact on site.” Replacing keys with a combined access and student ID card has reduced our operational costs" Creating business value University staff are also seeing positive improvements since the installation of the new system – particularly at the start of the year. The arrivals process is now less congested and more relaxed. The team have far fewer issues than with physical keys, enabling them to spend more time on the overall student experience. Since the installation of the first 800 bedrooms at Chamberlain, the University has already extended the system by a further 900 at Mason, with plans in place for an additional 1500 bedrooms this summer. Enduring partnerships “Replacing keys with a combined access and student ID card has reduced our operational costs as we now have far fewer keys to purchase and store,” explains Timothy. “The student experience has improved, and staff are now free to deal with urgent matters and offer a more personal service. We can easily create reports to help us audit access and have generally provided a much more modern and secure place to live and work.” “The University has worked with 2020 Vision Systems for some time on CCTV and access control systems, so when they won the tender to provide and install the Gallagher and Aperio® systems we had every confidence that they would be able to deliver. The completion of our new state of the art Chamberlain development was extremely close to the date of the first student occupation and so the team had to be dedicated and work flexibly to ensure it was ready in time – which it was.”

Gallagher Security is thrilled to celebrate Jeff Ogborn, Senior Solutions Engineer, as a recipient of the 2025 Security Innovator Award, the industry’s only recognition program based entirely on peer nominations.  Jeff’s recognition reflects more than a career milestone - it’s a tribute to years of quiet innovation, deep expertise, and a tireless drive to make security systems smarter, more flexible, and more customer-focused. “I’m genuinely honoured by this nomination,” he says.   Development of Gallagher’s QuickSwitch Recipients are set only by their peers, making the award a meaningful term of industry-wide respect Speaking about one of the most recent examples of his innovative mindset - the development of Gallagher’s QuickSwitch - Jeff continues: “To see something that was literally ‘cooked in the kitchen’ at home make its way into the marketplace - answering one of the industry’s biggest implementation challenges - is incredibly rewarding. It’s proof that practical innovation can start anywhere, and I’m grateful to everyone who believed in the vision and helped bring it to life.”  The Security Innovator Awards shine a spotlight on professionals who are reimagining what’s possible in the field, whether through bold product breakthroughs, hands-on problem solving, or years of thoughtful contribution. Recipients are nominated exclusively by their peers, making the award a meaningful expression of industry-wide respect. Gallagher’s new QuickSwitch module Jeff was nominated by Jeff Fields, Gallagher’s Director of Government Programs – Americas, who highlighted not just Jeff’s technical vision, but his ability to turn that vision into real-world outcomes.  “What sets Jeff apart isn’t just his engineering skill, it’s the way he sees past obstacles,” said Fields. “Take Gallagher’s new QuickSwitch module. Jeff didn’t just help design it; he saw a long-standing industry pain point and created a tool that flips the problem on its head. That kind of thinking doesn’t come from following trends, it comes from years of listening, building, and solving.”  Transforming a Gallagher disturbance sensor Most of the industry got the complexity of switching legacy access control systems as a given QuickSwitch, launched at ISC West 2025, is a prime example. While most of the industry accepted the complexity of switching legacy access control systems as a given, Jeff engineered a conversion board that enables smooth migration - no costly infrastructure overhaul required. It’s a shift that gives customers more choice and puts long-term value front and center.  But Jeff’s impact extends well beyond one innovation. He’s known for reimagining everyday technology to meet urgent, overlooked challenges, like transforming a Gallagher disturbance sensor into a low-cost solution for catalytic converter theft, helping municipalities and fleet operators protect their assets.  Deep collaboration with development teams Behind the scenes, Jeff is just as influential - refining product functionality and messaging, tailoring technical strategies for critical verticals like government and utilities, and mentoring colleagues with his signature mix of humility and insight: “My team at Gallagher enabled this success through deep collaboration with development teams and leadership engagement, which became one of the program's strongest assets,” he’s quick to add.  This year’s award winners span every corner of the security industry, from developers and consultants to field pioneers and C-suite executives. Jeff is the first Gallagher Security team member to be honoured through this program.  Innovate for recognition “Jeff doesn’t innovate for recognition - he does it because he genuinely cares about solving problems that matter,” added Fields. “This award reflects not just what he’s built, but how he leads. We’re proud to have him on our team.” 

A system's lifecycle is the journey it takes from planning and design through to decommissioning. Considering the entire lifecycle of a system can encourage integrators and end users to embrace higher-quality technologies with an eye toward maximising their value over time rather than focusing on lower-priced equipment. For additional insights, we asked our Expert Panel Roundtable: How does consideration of system lifecycles impact the choice of physical security technologies?

The Internet of Things (IoT) is having a profound impact on businesses across various industries, including security. In physical security as in other business environments, the IoT is changing how systems operate, interact, and create value. In the process, the IoT is driving efficiency, reducing costs, and opening up new avenues for innovation and growth. We asked our Expert Panel Roundtable: How is the Internet of Things (IoT) transforming how security systems are deployed?

The role of audio in physical security is multifaceted and increasingly vital, offering a layer of intelligence and interaction that access control and/or video surveillance alone cannot provide. Sounds provide crucial context to visual events. For instance, someone running might appear suspicious on video, but audio could reveal they are shouting for help, changing the interpretation entirely. Even so, historically speaking, audio has been an underused component in physical security. How is the situation changing? We asked our Expert Panel Roundtable: Is audio an underused component in today’s physical security systems? What obstacles are keeping audio from expanding?