Risk Assessor

Putting yourself into the mind of a criminal might not be the normal prerequisite for a career but for Brendan Paterson it is a vital part of his role. He is the group risk and investigations manager for security company, Shodan.

The former private eye says it’s his job to evaluate the security risks for his clients which include the nursery chain, Flower Power.

“I will turn up to our client’s place of work and figure out how vulnerable it is to attack or theft by thinking of how the criminals think,” Paterson says.
“We also review a lot of different case studies of how things have happened in the past. You are trying to use what is happening in the past and what is happening in the present to prevent or reduce what could happen in the future.”
Paterson also holds investigations of internal matters for firms.

The 34-year-old’s interest in the industry was sparked when he started working as a security guard.

“I did it to make some money while I was paying my way through an economics degree,” he says. “I figured out I didn’t like macro-economics, theories and cost curves, and that I liked this more. I also had a brief experience with the Army Reserve and worked with a lot of people who were ex-military and also ex-police. Dad was a policeman.

“And because I had a tertiary education I got into the management side of it, and then into the risk management side of things. Since September 11 risk management is a new catchcry.”

Paterson says working one’s way up through the ranks is the best method to get experience in the industry. Risk courses can also help people to keep abreast of the issues.

Working as a junior consultant under an expert team will also help recruits to hone their skills.

“Like any trade you have got to have the apprentice and you have go to have the tradesman. The better they are the more receptive you are,” he says.
Excellent written skills are also a must. “At the end of the day you have to provide a report.

You might know everything but if you can’t put it down on paper then it is useless,” he says. Paterson says the security industry has gone through a raft of changes over recent years and there are lots of opportunities in the industry.

How to be … a risk assessor
A consultant needs a minimum of five years’ experience and must also be a licensed security guard. For information phone TAFE on 131 601 or contact a registered training organisation.