Gallagher leader named to 2026 Women in Security list

Gallagher Security marketing director Melissa Vidakovic has been named to the Security Industry Association's 2026 Women in Security Forum Power 100 list.

The annual list recognises women in the security sector for leadership and work supporting diversity, equity and inclusion. The Women in Security Forum is part of SIA, a US-based trade association for security companies and professionals.

Vidakovic leads marketing for Gallagher Security across the Americas. Gallagher said the recognition reflects her influence on culture, people and leadership in the sector.

Industry recognition

The Power 100 highlights impact across the security industry, including efforts to expand participation and representation. Gallagher said Vidakovic has pushed for communication that emphasises people and outcomes, rather than purely technical messaging.

Marketing has taken on a broader role across security and technology suppliers as buying groups widen and product decisions involve more functions. That shift has increased scrutiny of how companies explain risk, safety and operational requirements to customers and partners.

Gallagher said Vidakovic has encouraged closer collaboration between marketing teams across partner organisations, reducing siloed work and extending relationships into wider alignment beyond marketing.

Vidakovic linked her approach to the human consequences of security work and to leadership practices inside companies.

"Security is ultimately about protecting people," said Melissa Vidakovic, Director of Marketing - the Americas, Gallagher Security. "That should extend beyond the solutions we build to how we lead, how we communicate, and how we create space for others to grow. When we humanize what we do, we open the door for more people to see themselves in this industry."

Workplace focus

Gallagher also pointed to her internal work with staff, including mentoring early-career professionals and focusing on issues that affect retention, particularly for women and younger workers.

Security companies continue to face recruitment pressure as demand rises across physical security, systems integration and related services. The sector has also seen greater attention on workplace flexibility and clearer progression paths as firms compete for talent.

Gallagher said Vidakovic has advocated for workplace norms that better reflect the needs of working parents, early-career staff and employees navigating life transitions, framing the work as part of a broader push for inclusion in a historically male-dominated sector.

Gallagher also cited her involvement in a fundraising initiative during GSX 2025, a major industry event. The company said it supported the Breast Cancer Research Foundation and raised more than $7,000.

Vidakovic described progress as building individual confidence and participation, rather than relying on high-profile interventions.

"If I've helped even a few people feel more confident stepping forward, getting involved, or staying in this industry," said Vidakovic. "Then that's what matters most. Progress doesn't have to be loud to be powerful."

Company context

Gallagher Security sells integrated security products and services. It operates internationally across government and commercial markets, and says its customers include organisations in government, military, commercial, industrial, healthcare, transport and education, as well as small businesses, across 140 countries.

Recognition for individual leaders has become a regular feature of the industry's efforts to broaden its talent pipeline, particularly in roles often viewed as technical or operational. Vendor groups and trade bodies increasingly use awards and lists to highlight leaders working on representation, mentorship and cultural change.

Matt Butts, Executive Vice President - the Americas at Gallagher, said Vidakovic's approach is collaborative and focused on lifting others.

"Melissa doesn't push change top-down, she pulls people up with her," said Butts. "She cares deeply about the future of this industry and the people who will lead it. Her ability to connect strategy with people has strengthened our organization and influenced how we engage across the Americas. This recognition from SIA is incredibly well deserved."

Gallagher said Vidakovic's Power 100 recognition sits alongside ongoing work across the company's Americas business and partner network.