The 21st Century Security Executive Masterclass

Security leadership has evolved. Today’s leaders are expected not just to manage incidents, but to influence strategy, communicate risk in business terms and support organisational growth.

Our 21st Century Security Executive Masterclass is a practical, high-impact, three-day programme designed to give experienced professionals the tools, frameworks and confidence to make that step into true executive leadership. Participants will discover how to:

• Influence at board level with clarity and authority
• Translate risk into business impact that drives decisions
• Align security with strategy and organisational priorities
• Strengthen credibility with senior stakeholders
• Apply practical frameworks you can use immediately

The programme is grounded in the ASIS International Senior Security Executive Standard, the ASIS Risk Assessment Standard and the ASIS Enterprise Security Risk Management Guidelines, with protective security and resilience content aligned to ISO 22301, ISO 22320 and ISO 22342.

It also introduces the Adversarial Risk Management (ARM) framework. This approach challenges traditional risk models and helps senior security leaders think more clearly about threats in a way that a standard risk register cannot.

Who it's for

• Senior Security Managers moving into executive roles
• Security Directors and Heads of Security who want more influence at board level
• Experienced risk and resilience practitioners who want to shape strategy, not just carry it out
• Professionals holding or preparing for CPP, PSP, CSyP or equivalent credentials who are ready for the next step

Every organisation has a duty to protect its people, assets and information. This programme asks a simple question:

“If you are accountable at board level, can you explain that responsibility in the language the board understands?”

Modules

Each module uses real-world scenarios, case studies and group exercises. Delegates work through practical challenges, make decisions and present to a simulated board, testing their thinking with peer feedback.

1. The Strategic Role of the SSE – Understand and assess where security sits within your organisation and where it should sit. Develop a clear, one-page brief for discussion with their own board.
2. From Strategy to Security Outcomes – Turn business priorities into defined SMART security objectives and structured programmes with defined scope, ownership and stakeholders to build the cross-functional engagement plan needed to make it stick.
3. Leading Security Teams – Explore practical approaches to building, developing and managing a multi-disciplinary security function.
4. Effective Communication for Security Leaders – Learn how to communicate key messages to different audiences such as boards, operational teams and external stakeholders, and confidently respond to challenge.

What you'll gain

• A repositioning brief for your own organisation's governance structure
• A tested security programme design, with a stakeholder engagement plan, built from your own scenario
• Practical coaching and performance tools for leading a multi-disciplinary team
• Experience presenting, adapting messages and dealing with challenge from different audiences
• A personal action plan to immediately apply into your role
• 20 ASIS CPE credits toward your CPP or PSP recertification

Facilitation

The programme is co-facilitated by experienced practitioners who have led security functions at executive level.

Bruce Braes (CPP, PSP, CSyP, CRISC, FSyI, FISRM)
Masterclass Leader and Principal at RSES (Register of Security Engineers and Specialists), with a focus on translating security risk into board-level decision-making.

Dave Dodge (CPP, PCI, PSP, F.ISRM, FSyI)
Founder of Dave Dodge Associates, with more than 50 years' experience as an international security strategist across multiple sectors and territories.

Mike O'Neill (CPP, PSP, CSyP, FSyI)
Managing Director of Optimal Risk Group, former Parachute Regiment officer, and security consultant to senior leadership teams for more than 40 years.

Locations & Dates

Singapore: 7-9 November, 2026  
Dubai: 9-11 January, 2027 
Liverpool: 28 February-2 March, 2027
Accra, Ghana: 17-19 July, 2027
Orlando, Florida: 17-19 September, 2027
New Delhi, India: 11-13 October, 2027
New York: 31 October-2 November, 2027

Please contact us for details, or email us directly on training@optimalrisk.com