The Security Industry Association (SIA) has named Gabrielle Shea, public policy manager, government relations and public policy at NEC Corporation of America, as the 2021 recipient of the SIA Industry Advocate Award, which recognizes leadership in public policy. Shea will be presented with the award on Sept. 21 at Part 3 of the 2021 SIA GovSummit, SIA’s annual public policy and government security technology conference.

The SIA Industry Advocate Award — formerly the SIA Statesman Award — recognizes SIA member volunteers for their extraordinary contributions of professional time, leadership and resources to position SIA and its members to address the public policy challenges impacting the security industry. Throughout 2020 and 2021, Shea has supported SIA’s government relations efforts to advocate for responsible biometrics technology policy, including assisting with legislative analysis and drafting, contributing to SIA’s state government affairs initiatives and helping to represent SIA in meetings with legislators in state capitals across the United States.

“I am honored to receive the Industry Advocate Award,” Shea said. “Working with SIA and member companies to help develop and support policy initiatives that aim to simultaneously promote security, privacy, other civil rights and civil liberties and racial and broader social justice has truly been, and continues to be, a privilege.”

In her role at NEC Corporation of America, Shea helps develop internal initiatives to promote data privacy, artificial intelligence ethics and broader digital trust and helps manage related external engagements with federal, state and local governments. Shea holds a J.D. from the Marshall-Wythe School of Law at the College of William & Mary and a B.A. in ethics and public policy with a minor in chemistry from Wake Forest University.

“SIA is proud to honor Gabrielle Shea as the 2021 SIA Industry Advocate Award winner — she has been an immense help to our government relations team in efforts to support responsible policy on biometrics technology, leveraging her legal expertise and assisting with strategy development and communications on key issues,” said Jake Parker, senior director of government relations at SIA. “We congratulate Gabrielle on her outstanding leadership and achievements and look forward to continuing to work with her in addressing the most critical issues impacting our members and security and safety overall.”