Axis Communications co-founder and dormakaba relationship manager Yazmina Rawji is set to receive recognition at ISC East 2025 awards ceremony.
Image courtesy of Security Industry Association
Security professionals will gather in New York City next fall as ISC East hosts the SIA Celebrates & Honors awards ceremony on Nov. 19, 2025. That evening, the Security Industry Association will present its two premier honors to leading figures whose work has shaped the industry.
The George Lippert Memorial Award, bestowed each year by SIA, recognizes “a distinguished individual for long-term, selfless service to the security industry and to SIA.” The SIA Progress Award, sponsored by the Women in Security Forum community, goes to those who forge new opportunities and support networks for women across the sector. These two accolades reflect SIA’s aim to honor both decades of service and efforts to strengthen diversity and inclusion within the field.
Martin Gren, who co-founded Axis Communications and serves as chairman of Axis Communications AB, will be the recipient of the George Lippert Memorial Award. Over a span of more than twenty years, he has helped shape the network video business and now sits on the boards of Proact, a pan-European storage specialist; LumenRadio, a professional lighting technology firm; and Harald Lunden holding, an investment company focused on growth markets.
In 1996, Gren led the team that introduced the world’s first network camera, a development that laid the groundwork for IP-based surveillance. He was inducted into the Security Industry Hall of Fame by Security Sales & Integration in 2014. A steadfast advocate for SIA, he has spoken at multiple association events, including the Securing New Ground conference.
“I am honored to receive the George Lippert Memorial Award,” says Gren. “I share this recognition with my colleagues at Axis who work every day toward our vision of making the world a smarter, safer place. Axis is proud of its strong, long-standing partnership with SIA and we look forward to continuing to support, strengthen and grow the community that drives our industry forward.”
The award honors the legacy of George R. Lippert, who dedicated more than twenty years to promoting SIA’s mission and guiding policy development. Nominees are judged on their long-term commitment to SIA and the security sector, the measurable impact of their efforts, and the integrity, leadership and diplomacy they display.
Image courtesy of Security Industry Association
Rawji will accept the SIA Progress Award in recognition of her role as relationship manager for dormakaba’s access automation solutions. In that capacity, she drives customer acquisition, business development and market expansion for both dormakaba USA, Inc. and Alvarado dormakaba Group, ensuring that entrance control products reach new channels and applications.
Prior to moving into the security space, she served as international market development director for a voice-over-IP startup, where she focused on establishing partnerships and expanding into new markets. Rawji has worked alongside speakers and trainers such as Tony Robbins, Les Brown and Dr. Brian Weiss, helping deliver high-impact programs around the globe.
Within both security and manufacturing circles, Rawji holds several leadership posts. She sits on the Steering Committee for SIA’s Women in Security Forum and co-chairs its AmbassadHER subcommittee; she chairs the dormakaba Women’s Network Americas; she contributes to the Women in Manufacturing California steering committee; and she is part of the Security LeadHER planning committee. A member of a Lean In Circle, she also presents at industry gatherings and workshops.
Her list of honors includes placement on the WISF Power 100 list for 2024 and 2025, along with SIA’s Sandy Jones Volunteer of the Year Award for 2025. She volunteers with the South Asian Helpline and Referral Agency and with OneLegacy, the region’s organ and tissue donation network.
“Being selected for the SIA Progress Award is a profound honor,” says Rawji. “This recognition is not mine alone; it reflects the work of those who paved the way before me, my mentors and managers who have guided me and the colleagues and cheerleaders who supported me along the way.
“Advancing women in the security industry is not just important; it’s essential for innovation, growth and the future of our field. This award is a celebration of how far we’ve come and a reminder of the work that still lies ahead. I remain committed to opening doors, mentoring others and ensuring every woman has the opportunity to lead and thrive. I am humbled, honored and most grateful for this recognition,” she says.
Alongside Rawji’s recognition, the association will present a first-ever honorary Progress Award to security industry veteran Sandra Jones. Jones created SIA’s New Products and Solutions Awards, co-founded and produced the Securing New Ground conference and served two terms as SIA president, joining an exclusive group of six industry leaders to hold an honorary membership.
