Staff Spotlight – Joseph Dowrick

Introduction
We met with Joseph (Joe) just prior to his trip to remote Queensland (Weipa) where he was about to conduct an audit for a port facility.

What is your professional background?
I spent 38 years in the NZ Army prior to retiring in Brisbane at the end of a posting here. My wife is from Brisbane originally.
The focus for the latter part of my Army life was planning and international engagement – disaster relief, humanitarian assistance focused on planning and operations in the Pacific. The last 2 years in the Brisbane HQ was solidly international plans, for example planning for the deployment of a mixed Australian / NZ helicopter unit to PNG to support their elections   .

I started working in security at the Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast doing workforce preparation and venue supervision.
I then worked at the Brisbane Cruise Terminal doing screening, asset protection and the full range of security services. This all changed when COVID arrived; no cruise ships, no work.

I did some odd jobs: State election, assistance with queue control (COVID physical separation) at banks and supermarkets. One day I got sick of being rammed by shopping trolleys and I contacted Tad (CPA long term security legend) and he said he could get me some work on the wharf at Port of Brisbane.

That turned into my current role.

Where are you working now?
I am currently a Senior Consultant for iSafe (Corporate Protection advisory business). How I got here, after about 18 months working on the wharf, I applied for a job as a Supervisor and Tony Harman (iSafe Manager and then acting Security Manager) saw my CV and he brought me in for an interview. Tony thought with my CV I would be a better fit for iSafe than for security.

What other Corporate Protection sites have you worked?
No other sites worked but in my role I have visited Gladstone (GLNG), QAL, Graincorp and IXOM. I have run PFSO courses in Gladstone, Port Bonython (Whyalla, SA) and Brisbane. I have also visited every wharf in Brisbane, or most of them. Other advisory assignments have taken me to Port Adelaide and all the regional SA ports.

What are your primary responsibilities?
I write Maritime Security Plans and Security Risk Assessments for clients, and I conduct external audits and exercises for them as well as running PFSO courses.

What do you find most challenging or fulfilling in your role?
Bureaucrats! Seriously, the most challenging part is ensuring what we do meets the client’s requirements and meets the security regulations, the Act and regulator expectations. One of the emerging parts of the job is the Security of Critical Infrastructure (SOCI) act which has all the usual security risk requirements (personal and physical) but is also bringing in additional risks: cyber, natural hazards and supply chain.

As this is an emerging area, the requirement is challenging, for example how supply chains are defined. There are challenges with how we define risk with aging infrastructure, how do we replace or repair and find spare parts for things that may no longer made but may be vital for the operation.

I am really enjoying the role.

And what do you do in your spare time?
I have a small brown dog. I have attached a photo of Bella, she is a Lagotto Romagnolo, it is an Italian breed, a water dog from the
Emilia-Romagna region in Italy. If we ever have a bring your dog to work day Bella is coming.
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As usual, we want to hear what Joe’s manager, Tony Harman says.

So Joe, what would your manager say?
I hope Tony will be quite enthusiastic about me, he lets me deal with some of the more difficult personalities!

Manager comment
Joe makes a very significant contribution to the success of iSafe and Corporate Protection more broadly. He has played a key role in reestablishing our reputation as Australia’s leading maritime security consultancy and the expansion of iSafe’s client base and services. Joe’s wealth of knowledge across many subjects and practical experience working as a security screener and Maritime Security Guard is highly regarded and respected by our clients. Joe is a great role model for what it means to be CPAFIT.