AUS Branch - Member of the Year

Australasian Branch President, Mark Pollard, presents Katie Scott her 2019 Member of the Year Award, April 1st, 2019, Sydney.

Katie is an experienced Strategic Advisor with a demonstrated history of working in the law enforcement industry. Skilled in Human Resources, Legal Advice, Civil Litigation, project management, Time Management, and Legal Research. Strong business development professional with a LLB and BComm focused in Law and Commerce from Deakin University.

Katie is a relatively new member having only joined the Association in early 2017. But since that time she has been actively involved in IAATI and is using IAATI’s network and resources where possible.

Katie was a member of the Organising Committee for the 2017 National Vehicle Crime Conference jointed hosted by IAATI / National Motor Vehicle Theft Reduction Council and Victoria Police. This conference was tremendously successful in bringing a diverse group of stakeholders together to discuss a range of issues affecting vehicle crime. Later that year Katie attended the 2017 International Seminar in Cape Town, South Africa, where she took advantage of the networking opportunities to establish contacts with a number of important experts from around the world. She presented at our 2019 Australasian Seminar in Sydney – where she will be presented on some exciting work VicPol is doing with VicRoads to enable and link electronic vehicle identification with license plate cameras. Katie will also be presenting at IAATI’s 2019 International Vehicle Crime Conference and Expo in Glasgow later this year.

Most importantly Katie has been the driving force behind the development of Victoria Police’s Vehicle Crime Strategy. In mid 2015 and throughout 2016 Victoria experienced a sharp increase in the level of vehicle theft across the state. The increase coincided with some changes around the handling of bail, particularly for juveniles; with a perception about the way Police were managing high speed pursuits; and an intensive media coverage of the so called Apex Gang.  As political pressure mounted to deal with the spiralling increase in vehicle thefts and car-jacking’s, Assistant Commissioner Bob Hill was tasked with developing VicPol’s response. While the issue had officially been handed to Assistant Commissioner to resolve, like all good Executives, much of the hard work in developing a multi-faceted response and ensuring it was implemented fell to Katie who is the Strategic Adviser to Assistant Commissioner Hill.

It was this responsibility that brought IAATI to the Katie’s attention, particularly through her involving in the planning and organising of the jointly hosted Vehicle Crime Conference in Melbourne in 2017.

As mentioned above Katie is making extensive use of her local, national and international IAATI contacts to help her in her work. In particular she is using IAATI’s Auto Theft Prevention Authority Committee to communicate and exchange ideas and information with those IAATI members responsible for ATPA’s through North America and equivalent organisations all around the world.
Katie has embraced the benefits of IAATI and become an active member. She has taken full advantage of each of these opportunities and developed an extensive network of contacts around the world that she utilises in improve the outcomes for Victoria Police and Victoria’s citizens.

2018 Member of the Year

Det. Senior Constable Catherine Horton was one of the principal investigators for Operation Kilo Zurich which won IAATI’s International Award of Merit in 2015 and winner of the Australasian Branch Investigation of the year award in the same year.

Cathy has been heavily involved in the planning and organisation of this year’s seminar including liaising with various Caterpillar contacts in the USA, Melbourne and Brisbane. She has coordinated all arrangements for the activities on day 3 of the 2018 seminar including the site visits to Caterpillar’s distribution centre and to Hastings Deering facilities, the transportation and all catering during the day.

Cathy has actively promoted the seminar throughout the Queensland Police Service and to various organisations in Queensland. The result of Cathy’s work and dedication the 2018 IAATI Australian Branch Awards Committee gratefully received her nomination and willingly awarded her Member of the Year 2018.

Cathy Horton accepting her award from President Mark Pollard and International President JD Hough

2017 Member of the Year

2017 Member of the Year, Jim Manser (left), receiving his award from Australasian Branch President Mark Pollard

2015 Member of the Year

Emily has  been a member of the Australasian Branch of IAATI since 2004 and a member of the Branch Committee since 2008. In 2014 she stepped up to take on the role of Vice President and also enthusiastically volunteered to take on one of the biggest challenges a member can do - volunteer to be the chair the Onsite Seminar Committee for our Annual Seminar. 

As a committee member and Vice President Emily has been assisted in the coordination  and running of past seminars and been responsible managing our Branch Awards program.

Emily fought hard during committee discussions to win the right for Perth to host the 2015 Seminar and has continued to work hard to ensure the 2015 seminar is a success.  Part of the reason for convincing the Committee they should take the gamble and hold our first ever Annual seminar is Perth, was her previous successes in coordinating two smaller IAATI training days in Perth in 2009 and 2010.

Emily was not happy in just securing the rights to host the seminar in Perth, but she wanted to make it a great seminar and was insistent that we should include in the program some hands on, small group workshops.  As you know this has been achieved and we are looking forward to a really informative and interesting day on Wednesday 25 March. 

As part of the work organising the seminar Emily has:

• Coordinated a team of team of local colleagues to assist with the seminar.
• Personally visited a numerous hotels and venues, a job which was much harder this year as she also had to source two venues.  One for the classrooms sessions but also identify suitable venues for the Wednesday workshops. 
• Been responsible for liaising will the vast majority of speakers and the vast majority of the sponsors, including doing the hard work of contacting a number of potential sponsors.
• Actively promoted the seminar to the locals companies and tried to attract local non-members to attend their first ever IAATI seminar.

Emily is also being the true host offering to take our International President Heidi Jordan sightseeing after the seminar.

She is also willing to support IAATI wherever she can.  Not only has she been a regular attendee and a financial sponsor of this and past IAATI seminars, but she has supported her staff and colleagues to actively participate in the Association including attending seminars, the IAATI Certification Program and the Awards program.

She has achieved all of this while juggling the responsibilities of running her own business and a team of staff,  as well as the responsibilities of being a first time mother of a young son.

Emily Linke with IAATI’s International President Heidi Jordan

2014 Member of the Year

Mark Pollard (left) receives his 2014 Member of the Year Award from John O'Byrne.

Australasian Branch 2013 Member of the Year - Paul Thomas (right) with his wife Kathryn and Branch President Mark Bennedick

2013 Member of the Year

The decision of naming the winner for the Individual Member of the Year award is normally not an easy one, however the winner of this years Individual Member of the Year award was an easy
call. In what was a complete surprise to the winner himself, the Individual Member of the Year was announced as Mr Paul Thomas of the Comprehensive Auto-Theft Research System (CARS) and
IAATI Australasian Branch Life Member, Past President and current committee member. Paul has been tireless in his efforts over the past year to advancing and improving the Australasian branch,
and generous beyond a fault with the time he has committed to the association.

Amongst other contributions, Paul has been a driving force in bringing IAATI Australasian branch into the modern age - updating the VIN from its traditional magazine format to a handheld device
friendly format, and developing our website to make it easy for us to reach our members and stakeholders.

Australasian Branch President Mark Bennedick with Kathryn and Paul Thomas

2012 Member of the Year Chris Loane (right) receiving his award from NSW Police Deputy Commissioner Nick Kaldas.

2012 Member of the Year

The Individual Member award goes to an active member of the IAATI Australasian Branch who has made an outstanding contribution to IAATI, and to the fight against Auto Crime. This year, we were honoured to have NSW Police Service Deputy Commissioner Nick Kaldas present the award to Mr Chris Loane, of Suncorp Metway Insurance.

Chris Loane was nominated for his demonstrated commitment to promoting education and awareness in the field of motor vehicle theft investigation, his dedication to achieving best-practice standards in his own role as the Motor Investigations Manager for Suncorp Metway, and the embodiment of the values of the IAATI branch in our common goal, the fight against auto crime. The winner of this year’s award for Member of the Year Member, which was  announced at the Presentation dinner on 12 March 2012, was endorsed by a panel of three judges: Laurie Ratz (Special
Risks Manager Insurance Council of Australia & Insurance Fraud Bureau of Australia); Ray Carroll (Executive Director National Motor Vehicle Theft Reduction Council); and Dennis Connor (Immediate Past President IAATI Australasian Branch).

2012 Member of the Year Chris Loane (right) receiving his award from NSW Police Deputy Commissioner, Nick Kaldas.

2011 Member of the Year 

Winner: Det. Acting Senior Sergeant Peter Ziser, Queensland Police.

This award is designed to recognise the work of an individual member who through their dedication and involvement, have helped in the development, growth or professionalism of IAATI within the Australasian Branch or at the international level. This year’s recipient has been a devoted member and supporter of IAATI having been a member since 2008. Peter has continually contributed to the IAATI conferences and has been a presenter at a number of seminars and facilitated members from his own team to present at Australasian Branch Seminars when he has not been available.

Peter’s attitude and application towards IAATI coupled with his ability to utilise IAATI members to assist him in his daily occupation endorses the foundations of our branch. More recently, Peter has involved the Australasian Branch of IAATI in a new marine crime initiative taken up by Queensland Police.

Det. Acting Senior Sergeant Peter Ziser addressed delegates at the awards dinner after receiving his 2011 Member of the Year
award.

2010 Member of the Year 

Winner: Detective Senior Constables Brett Florence from Victoria Police.

This award is designed to recognise the work of an individual member, who through their dedication and involvement, has helped in the development, growth or professionalism of IAATI within the Australasian Branch or at the international level.

This year’s recipient has been a devoted member and supporter of IAATI.  He continually contributes a significant amount of work towards the organisation of conferences by presenting, assisting or promoting IAATI. 

He assisted the branch at the 2009 Auckland and Western Australian conferences and has again had a key role in facilitating presentation at the 2010 Brisbane training seminar.  His attitude and application towards IAATI coupled with his ability to utilise IAATI members to assist him in his daily occupation only endorses the foundations of why our branch exists.  Like all organisations IAATI Australasia has rules, processes and procedures, however, it is the things that cannot be captured in writing that create an organisation’s DNA. 

This year’s winner epitomises the IAATI DNA which is not only about learning and networking but also about giving and sharing where the only personal reward is the development of the Branch and its members.

2010 Member of the Year winner, Det. Sen. Const. Brett Florence, Victoria Police.

2009 Member of the Year

This award designed to recognise the work of an individual member, who through their dedication and involvement, has helped in the development, growth or professionalism of IAATI within the Australasian Branch or at the international level.

This year’s recipient Frank de Jong has been a committee member since 2006. During this period he has continually contributed a significant amount of work towards the organisation of conferences. He is always available to participate in meetings and to assist in whatever action is required. In particular he has been instrumental in assisting with organising this conference and has continually promoted IAATI in New Zealand. He is also qualified Automotive Engineer and has shown initiative in setting up his own company to support insurance companies to recover stolen motor vehicles.

Harry Rakintzis presents the 2009 Member of the Year Award to Frank de Jong.

2008 Member of the Year

Winner:   Detective Inspector Terry Campbell, New South Wales Police Force

Detective Inspector Terry Campbell was a worthy winner of the 2008 Member of the Year Award having played an active role as a member of the Onsite Organising Committee for the 2008 International Training Seminar.

From the moment Terry heard that the Australasian Branch was preparing a bid for the 2008 international conference he offered his services.  During the past 3 years he has secured sponsors, exhibitors, numerous speakers, heavily promoted the conference to ensure maximum number of delegates, and  assisted with much of the behind the scenes planning and administration.   Terry attended the 2007 International Training seminar in Phoenix, Arizona to observe first hand the organisation and resources required to host a intentional seminar as well as help promote Sydney 2008.

During the last 12 months he has worked even harder, giving up excessive hours of his own time to ensure the 2008 International seminar was the both a valuable learning experience for all delegates as well as an enjoyable social experience. During the months leading up to the conference Terry was also one of the first to spring to action whenever required.  Without his assistance and dedication the 2008 International Training seminar would not have been the success it was.

L-R: Australasian Branch President Dennis Connor and Det. Insp Terry Campbell.

2006 IAATI Member Of The Year

Winner of the Award:   Mr. Bob McKay

The 2006 IAATI member of the year is Bob McKay who has worked tirelessly behind the scenes to promote the branch. He has been a member of IAATI for a number of years and joined the Branch committee at the Sydney conference last year.  His contributions since that time include:

• assisting the Executive Director to research possible seminar and accommodation sites in Wellington for this Seminar, also seeking corporate sponsorship for this Seminar;
• contributing 5 articles to the VIN Newsletter;
• promoting IAATI to the New Zealand Institute of Professional Investigators;
• in partnership with John O’Byrne, contributed to the development of the Branch’s  Accreditation program; and
• Volunteers to record minutes at various committee meetings during the year.

These are time consuming tasks, and often there are no-other volunteers. Bob can be counted upon to attend promptly to all committee communications, and is usually the first to respond. He provides positive and constructive comment and performs his duties in a professional manner.

L-R: Lisa Young , Bob McKay, Harry Rakintzis

2005 IAATI Member of the Year  

The Australasian Branch Member of the Year for 2005 was Mr John O’Byrne. John has been a member of the Branch since 1997, and joined the Committee the following year. He was elected as Branch President in 2000, and has worked tirelessly on numerous Training Seminars. 

John is one of less than 10 individuals from outside North America to have been elected to the International IAATI Executive (2003 and 2004), and many of our international colleagues would recognise him from attendance at numerous International Seminars. 

We thank John for his tireless efforts and good humour.

2004 Member of the Year

2004 Member of the Year Keith Schmidt (left) with International President Craig Petterd

2003 Member of the Year, Keith Schmidt (right) receives his trophy from International President Kent Mawyer.

2003 Member of the Year Award

Winner:  Keith Schmidt

Presenting the Award is:  Kent Mawyer, International President of IAATI.

During the past couple of years Keith has contributed above and beyond the expectations of a role as a committee member.

He has undertaken a large amount of work in helping promote IAATI throughout Queensland including assisting in the organising and presentation of mini seminars at the Roma Street Police Station for local members and potential members.

He has assisted Ian Gunthorpe with the development and maintenance of the Australasian Branch web page.

He has recently taken on the role of writing, collecting and coordinating material for inclusion in the Australasian Branch pages of the APB.

He has also taken on board the role of Executive Director for the Branch – a very time consuming and yet vitally important position within the Branch.

Keith can always be relied upon not only to volunteer for jobs, but to meeting those commitments while al the time carrying out his work at a very professional level.

International President Kent Mawyer (left) presents 2003 Member of the Year Winner, Keith Schmidt, with his trophy.

2000 Member of the Year Award

IAATI have also establish an award for member of the year which seeks to recognise the work of individual members who through their dedication and involvement have helped in the development, growth and professionalism of IAATI.  This was awarded to Mr. Ron Scott, Assessing Manager with NRMA Insurance and inaugural branch member, for his dedication and tireless effort to the organisation.