PEOPLE PROFILE: TIM CLARKE
At MiX, we are so proud to work with great people who have delivered some brilliant projects. And as part of our series introducing some of our team, we are featuring one of our Physical Security Consultants next – Tim Clarke.
Tim joined the Physical Security team at MiX in August last year. He is currently working on a range of exciting Cat A and Cat B projects for clients, including a motorsport organisation, a large Swiss multinational investment bank, a financial services company, and a leading London law firm.
Tell us a bit about what keeps you so busy at MiX:
As a Physical Security consultant, it’s my responsibility to work with the client to understand their security aspirations and to design a system that delivers what they are after.
How did you find yourself in the industry?
I came into the career as a telecoms apprentice and worked my way up to a technical project manager before moving into the role of Team Leader for AV, Passive Infrastructure, and Physical Security. I was then offered a client-facing position that involved heading up the Physical Security team. Having been responsible for design, a consultancy role was the next logical step.
What changes have you seen in the industry in relation to Physical Security technology?
The technology is ever-changing. Currently, there is a big focus on using mobile phones and other touchless technology, cloud-based systems, and video analytics to provide a wide range of data for decision making.
What do you think the biggest challenges are for a Physical Security consultant?
We need to take a wider number of factors into consideration when it comes to design—for example, the location of the building and how that will affect our design for intruder detection. We also need to work closely with the architect to try and meet the clients’ security needs while trying to maintain the desired aesthetics – it can be a challenge, particularly as there is always an additional cost to consider!
We have the additional challenge of working with the landlords on projects and trying to deliver what our clients what within the constraints of the existing building systems. There is also a greater focus on integration with SMART technology now.
What kind of skills do you need to have to succeed in a role like this?
You need to be able to work with people. Collaboration is the key to success on any project, and as a physical security consultant, you interface with a number of stakeholders, including landlords, end-user clients, and the rest of the design team.
Spill the beans; what do you like about working at MiX?
There is genuinely a family feel within the MiX team. There is a camaraderie and a fantastic support network to draw on, but each consultant is still trusted to get on with their job! It’s also great that we are often appointed on the Passive IT Infrastructure and AV workstreams together with Physical Security workstream, so there is a lot of working together across disciplines internally.
With such a busy day job, what do you do to unwind and relax?
We live in Hastings, and I have two girls; we spend a lot of time going swimming and getting out and about.
