George R. Lippert Memorial Award

Recognizing Leadership Among SIA Volunteers

George R Lippert Memorial Award

About the George R. Lippert Memorial Award

The George R. Lippert Memorial Award, founded in 1989, is named in honor of George R. Lippert, who dedicated more than 20 years of his life to the security industry and SIA. When evaluating candidates nominated for the award, the SIA Lippert Award Committee considers their long-term service to SIA and the security industry, the impact of their efforts on behalf of SIA and the industry, and their integrity, leadership and diplomacy as demonstrated in industry dealings. The Lippert Award is presented at SIA Honors Night.

2025 George R. Lippert Memorial Award Recipient: Martin Gren

SIA has named Martin Gren, co-founder of Axis Communications, as the 2025 recipient of the George R. Lippert Memorial Award.

Dr. Martin Gren is a co-founder of Axis Communications and currently serves as chairman of Axis Communications AB, the world’s leading manufacturer of network cameras. He is also a board member of Proact, a pan-European storage specialist; LumenRadio, a professional lightning company; and Harald Lunden holding, an investment company. As an industry pioneer, Gren led the team who created the world’s first network camera in 1996. In 2015 he received a royal medal for entrepreneurship by the king of Sweden. In 2018, 2017 and 2013 he was named the most influential person in the security industry by Ifsec International. In 2012, Gren was named Security Entrepreneur of the Year by Detektor International, and in 2009 he was elected Entrepreneur of the Year by Ernst & Young in Sweden. In 2014 Gren was inducted into the Security Industry Hall of Fame by Security Sales and Integration magazine. In May 2015, he received an honorary Ph.D. in entrepreneurship from the Lund University of Technology, and in 2019 he was elected a member of the Swedish Royal Science board.

Gren has been a strong advocate of SIA over the course of his over 20-year career in the security industry, and he has spoken at multiple SIA events, including the Securing New Ground conference. He has been an active participant in ISC West and led Axis in maintaining one of the show’s most significant presences. Gren has consistently supported the association’s efforts and encouraged the involvement of his company’s leaders and volunteers—including Scott Dunn, senior director at Axis and the current SIA Board of Directors chair; Americas vice president Fredrik Nilsson, a former SIA Board of Directors member and past Lippert Award recipient; and many others who have made invaluable contributions to SIA, the board and the industry overall.

[View the full announcement.]

Previous Lippert Award Winners

  • 2024: John Nemerofsky
  • 2023: Dan Moceri
  • 2022: Scott Schafer
  • 2021: Lynn de Séve
  • 2020: Denis Hébert
  • 2019: Steve Van Till
  • 2018: Pat Comunale
  • 2017: John Stroia
  • 2016: Fredrik Nilsson
  • 2015: Frank De Fina
  • 2014: Gordon Hope
  • 2013: Ray Dean
  • 2012: Bill Bozeman
  • 2011: Steve Roth
  • 2010: Leo Guthart
  • 2009: Alan Forman
  • 2008: Dean Russo
  • 2007: George Fletcher
  • 2006: Allen Fritts
  • 2005: David Avritt
  • 2004: Marc Mineau
  • 2003: Ken Boyda
  • 2002: Joe Hurst
  • 2001: Bill Moody
  • 2000: Bob Cook
  • 1999: Les Gold
  • 1998: Charles Darsch
  • 1997: Craig Leiser
  • 1996: Susan Whitehurst
  • 1995: Ted Nesse
  • 1994: Albert Janigian
  • 1993: Ron Spiller
  • 1992: Lou Fiore
  • 1991: Sandra Jones
  • 1990: Kit Vail
  • 1989: George Lippert (posthumously)