As parent company, Gallagher Group, celebrates 70 years in business, 130 of GSMS' channel partners and guests from 17 countries will converge at head office in Hamilton, New Zealand for five days of conference and activities, courtesy of the group.

GSMS' conference theme - Architecting the Future - encapsulates the bold position GSMS has staked in the security industry. General manager, Curtis Edgecombe, sees the core aim of the conference as strengthening partnerships with channel partners (international distributors and dealers). "Our Channel Partners are an integral part of our path forward and this conference provides a prime opportunity to communicate our vision and the value we will deliver together", comments Edgecombe.

Setting the scene will be leading US security industry commentator Steve Hunt CPP, CISSP. Hunt has been nudging, prodding and sometimes kicking-in-the-seat-of-the-pants the security industry and its colourful personalities since 1998. He has worked in physical security and IT security, and from 1998 to 2005 he headed the security research practices at Giga Information Group and later Forrester Research.

Named a CSO Magazine Compass Award Winner and Security Magazine's "50 most influential" in 2006, Hunt is the Founder and CEO of Hunt Business Intelligence, an industry advisory firm providing insight into trends and best practices will shape the future of technology.

This three day event will also incorporate an overview of the business direction of Gallagher Security Management Systems in the context of the changing nature of the security industry. Curtis Edgecombe will cover how GSMS plans to grow its business through stronger partner relationships and by delivering enhanced value to customers. In addition, roadmaps for Gallagher's core Cardax and PowerFence systems will be presented.

GSMS constantly seeks to align its offering and capabilities with changing market requirements. To this end, it has engaged the expertise of leading external consultants across a range of initiatives. Progress and results of these projects will be delivered to conference delegates:

• Consulting firm Channel Enablers will speak about the value of joint Partner planning and will cover best practice value adding services implementation.

• Frost and Sullivan Research Consultants will deliver the findings from the first stage of GSMS' Global Customer Satisfaction Research Project and explain how this information will be utilised to improve GSMS' service delivery and product offering.

GSMS' regional managers from each market will share their unique challenges and highlights of 2008 as well as future opportunities. Delegates will also be escorted on a site tour around Gallagher Group's extensive manufacturing, electronics and warehousing facilities.

A highlight for Conference delegates will be a gala dinner for the 600 guests invited to celebrate Gallagher Group's 70th Anniversary. Attendees will include the delegates from the Gallagher Security Management Systems and Gallagher Animal Management Systems conferences plus special guests and dignitaries.

"2009 and beyond holds vast opportunities for GSMS and it's an exciting time to be involved in this dynamic business and industry," Edgecombe states. "We're delighted so many of our Channel Partners will be part of this key event, and I'm sure it will prove extremely valuable for all involved".