Security firm receives diversity award from UEL’s Noon Centre

A security company has won the 2016 Noon Centre for Equality and Diversity in Business ‘Impact Award’ for its efforts to train and promote native Iraqis within the firm’s management ranks.

Dan Gawn, business development manager of TA’AZ Security 141, was praised for establishing ‘The Future Leaders’ Programme’, which equips Iraqis to take on management and leadership roles in Iraq alongside the company’s diverse management team.

TA’AZ Security 141 provides professional high-level security services to corporate clients in Iraq, with particular emphasis on oil sites and ‘close person’ protection. 

Commenting on the award, Mr Gawn said: “TA'AZ Security 141 is very excited to have been recognised and acknowledged for the work we have been doing to promote diversity.

“The ability to have diversity with Iraqi and non-Western staff in positions of responsibility and authority is because TA’AZ has taken the time and used resources to train and lead these people. We are proud to be an Iraqi company that is helping  develop Iraq as a nation.”

The programme has been running since last year and has already trained 36 people – “and many more to go,” said Mr Gawn.

Collecting the award in Mr Gawn’s absence was Andy Roberts, logistics and fleet manger with TA’AZ Security 141. He explained that when the company first went to Iraq, it was clear they needed to have fully-trained Iraqi employees at every level, who could bridge the language and cultural gap between the company, its clients and local communities. 

The awards ceremony was part of the Noon Centre’s annual Global Equality and Diversity conference held at the London Marriott Hotel West India Quay.

The Noon Centre, which is based at the University of East London (UEL), was founded by the late Lord Gulem Noon, who was Chancellor of UEL from 2013 until his death in October 2015.

A range of high-profile speakers attended, including Shabir Randeree, UEL’s recently inaugurated Chancellor, Lord Kamlesh Patel, UEL’s director of strategic partnerships, Jay Jadeja, CEO of Football for Peace, and Jo Swinson, the former Liberal Democrat MP.

Attendees from government offices, universities, professional institutes and the public sector had the chance to hear several keynote presentations and attend a range of seminars on how to better understand and develop diversity and inclusion practice in the workplace. 

Several speakers, including Professor Nora Ann Colton, UEL’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), and David Robinson, partner at Holman Fenwick Willan LLP, paid warm tribute to Lord Noon.

Mr Robinson, who is a trustee of The Noon Memorial Legacy Trust, recounted that Lord Noon would always try to help people, both in his professional and personal life – even paying the salaries of his 250 employees out of his own pocket after his Indian cuisine factory burnt down in 1994.