Meet SIA’s New Associate Director of Standards and Technology

Cameron Walker-Miller, the Security Industry Association’s (SIA’s) newest staff member, will lead industry projects that align security technologies with industry best practices, standards and guidelines. Cameron joins SIA from Columbia University, where he served as the assistant director of technology systems for the university’s Office of Public Safety for more than eight years.

SIA: Tell us a little bit about yourself!

Cameron Walker-Miller: I am always excited to learn about new and different ideas or concepts, so, I am absolutely one of those people who prefers to listen to informative podcasts instead of music during most of my long commutes.

SIA: What first got you interested in security and safety?

CWM: From an early age, I was curious about technology related to film and television; not until I recognized parallels between that and the security industry, particularly the shift from analog protocols towards the dominance of digital devices, was my interest piqued. I embraced the world of physical security’s technological revolution.

SIA: Who has influenced you or mentored you – either within the security field or outside?

CWM: Numerous professional mentors spanning a range of disciplines – from a university professor to a retired police officer to a motion picture editor, an electrical engineer and a security technologist – have all been instrumental in shaping my outlook on safety and security. The primary lesson provided from my mentors collectively is that there are numerous paths towards a single goal and to find the best one.

SIA: What’s something most people don’t know about you?

CWM: Very early in my career, I was simultaneously both a teamster and a preschool teacher – seemingly two opposites. Delving deeper, there are links to be found in similar procedures and conventions and the use of technology to solve problems. Personally, discovering those commonalities has afforded me a diverse perspective and has allowed me to approach safety and security from unique angles.

SIA: What advice do you have for young professionals just starting out in the industry?

CWM: With physical security- and safety-related technology appearing more prominently in everyday life, my advice is to young professionals is to realize that they are in the driver’s seat. Change is inevitable. Don’t be afraid to be a part of it and to make it better.

SIA: Are there some projects that you are most excited about working on at SIA?

CWM: The great thing about safety and security technology is that its evolution presents boundless ideas. Considering that, I am particularly excited about my involvement in bolstering SIA’s New Product Showcase, an educational emerging technology webcast series and developing a new video applications showcase.