Converged SIG
Bringing security disciplines together
Since founding Toro Solutions in 2015, we’ve advocated for a more joined-up approach to security, recognising that cyber, physical and personnel security are connected and that treating them separately can leave organisations exposed. That’s why we helped establish The Security Institute’s Converged Security Special Interest Group (SIG).
Co-chaired by Liv Harris of Toro Solutions alongside fellow security professionals, the SIG brings together practitioners from across the profession to share experience, challenge thinking and explore how convergence can work in practice.
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Why we established the SIG
At Toro Solutions, we’ve been advocating for converged security since we founded the business in 2015.
The thinking has always been straightforward. Cyber, physical and personnel security risks overlap, so the teams responsible for managing them need to be properly connected. But agreeing with that in principle and making it work inside a real organisation are two different things.
Over the last few years, we’ve seen the conversation shift. There’s greater recognition of the need for convergence, but the challenge for many organisations is understanding what a more joined-up approach actually looks like in practice.
That’s why we’ve helped establish the Converged Security Special Interest Group through The Security Institute.
We wanted to create a place where security professionals from different disciplines could compare notes, share experiences and talk openly about what works, what doesn’t and what’s realistic.
Together, our aim is to support an open, practitioner-led forum where members can learn from one another and help move converged security forward across the industry.
Our IT Managed Services team works alongside penetration testers, incident responders, security consultants and compliance specialists. This means clients can address day-to-day technology requirements while also improving security controls, managing risk and preparing for incidents.
The result is a managed service that supports users and systems while giving leadership teams greater confidence in how the technology environment is controlled.
What we're doing
The SIG provides a forum for members to explore the issues affecting security professionals and the organisations they work with.
Through webinars, events and discussions, we’re bringing together people with different backgrounds and experiences to look at the challenges that don’t fit neatly into one security discipline.
We want to hear what’s happening in practice. Where are organisations making progress? Where are the gaps? What can we learn from real incidents and the experiences of people working across different sectors?
We’re also interested in what convergence means for the future of the security profession. As risks become more interconnected, what knowledge and skills will security leaders need? How can we help people develop a better understanding of disciplines outside their own?The intention is to keep discussions grounded in real experience and give members ideas they can take back to their own organisations.
Who is the SIG for?
The Converged Security SIG welcomes anyone with an interest in how physical, cyber and personnel security can work more effectively together.
That includes professionals working in:
- Physical and corporate security
- Cyber security and information security
- Personnel security and insider risk
- Security operations and control rooms
- Risk management and organisational resilience
- Business continuity and crisis management
- Critical national infrastructure and operational technology
- Security consultancy and advisory services
We also welcome academics, researchers, students and those at an earlier stage in their security careers who want to broaden their understanding of the profession.
You don’t need to work across all three disciplines to contribute. In fact, part of the reason we established the group was to encourage people to look beyond their own areas of expertise and understand how their work connects with others.
Whether you’re responsible for security across an entire organisation or specialise in one particular area, we’d welcome your involvement.
Meet the SIG co-chairs
The Converged Security SIG is co-chaired by security professionals from across the industry, bringing different backgrounds, experiences and perspectives to the group.
SIG Leads
Liv Harris
Co-Chair
With over 18 years’ experience in marketing, communications and client engagement, Liv Harris is Client Services Director at Toro Solutions, where she leads marketing, communications and partnerships across the security profession.
Liv leads Toro’s thought leadership programme, overseeing articles, events, webinars and industry discussions spanning cyber, physical and personnel security, resilience and risk management. Her role brings her into regular conversation with security leaders and specialists across these disciplines.
She has a particular interest in breaking down the traditional separation between physical, cyber and personnel security. As Co-Chair of the Converged Security SIG, Liv helps bring different perspectives together and keeps discussions focused on practical challenges facing the profession.
Garry Bergin CSyP FSyI
Co-Chair
Chief Security Officer and Director of Client Solutions at Manguard Plus, with more than 27 years across strategic security, operations, consultancy and training. He advises critical national infrastructure, multinational, data centre and government clients, holds Chartered Security Professional and Fellow status, and is a doctoral researcher examining close protection training and licensure.
He was named Outstanding Security Consultant at the 2026 Irish OSPAs. His focus for the SIG is evidence-led convergence: using documented incidents to show where physical, cyber and personnel controls fail together, and what practitioners should do differently as a result.
Maria House
Co-Chair
Security Controller with around 11 years’ experience in the defence industry sector. Maria works with ISAC, UKSV, IVCO, NPSA to ensure compliance with relevant requirements. Maria’s role includes the setting up of Policies and ensuring employees adhere to them. She advises the Board on external stakeholder procedures and policies that require adherence to (eg, ISNs, FSNs and DefStans (DefStan 05-138 Cyber Security)).
Cyber, physical and personnel security requirements are embedded within the procedures, showing the importance of convergence of these sectors. Maria is a member of the DISA. She has completed “Applying Security Controls within Defence Industry” training and is shortly starting her Diploma in Security Management. Maria also enjoys attending seminars to keep her knowledge up to date.
Adam Macrae
Co-Chair
Adam Macrae is a Senior Protective Security Advisor and UK Security Officer for McKinsey & Co., specialising in developing and implementing converged security strategies across personnel, physical, technical and cyber security.
With extensive experience across defence, national security, civil nuclear, finance and oil and gas, Adam has advised senior leaders and managed security solutions for organisations including the UK Ministry of Defence, Boeing Defence and BAE Systems.
His expertise spans national and international security frameworks, risk management and threat intelligence. He is an advocate for a joined-up approach to security, bringing together different disciplines to protect critical assets and information and address complex security threats.
Converged Security Special Interest Group
Get involved
The Converged Security SIG is open to Security Institute members with an interest in how physical, cyber and personnel security can work more effectively together.
If you’d like to join the group, contribute to a discussion or hear about upcoming activities, we’d be pleased to have you involved.
The Converged Security SIG is a Special Interest Group of The Security Institute, supported by Toro Solutions and co-chaired by professionals from across the security industry.
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