The Security Institute is proud to announce that the 2025 Odette Hallowes Award has been conferred upon the National Protective Security Authority (NPSA) in recognition of its sustained and significant contribution to the safety, security and prosperity of our nation.
This announcement is made today on the 28th of April, a date which marks the birthday anniversary of Odette Hallowes GC Légion d’honneur. Also known as Odette Sansom and Odette Churchill, Hallowes’ exemplary service during the Second World War remains a lasting testament to individual courage, resilience and tenacity in the face of impossible odds.
Odette Hallowes served as an agent in the British Special Operations Executive (SOE), a covert organisation tasked to carry out espionage, sabotage, and the support of resistance movements in occupied Europe. Her work played a vital role in the success of Allied operations, and she became the most highly decorated spy of the conflict ,the first woman to receive the St. George Cross, and was also awarded the Légion d’honneur by the French government for her remarkable service.
Following a period of brutal captivity in Ravensbrück Concentration Camp, Odette survived the war and returned to the UK, where she was reunited with her family and went on to dedicate herself to charitable and commemorative causes in the post-war years.
To honour her enduring legacy, The Security Institute recognises an individual or team whose work to protect national security is carried out largely behind the scenes—often unseen, but deeply impactful. The Odette Hallowes Award is a mark of distinction reserved for those who exemplify the values of quiet dedication, spirit and service to others.
This year’s recipient, the National Protective Security Authority, is commended for its vital work in safeguarding the UK’s people, institutions, and infrastructure from a broad range of evolving threats.
The NPSA is part of MI5 and its mission is to make the UK less vulnerable and more resilient to national security threats. It is the National Technical Authority for physical and personnel protective security, and its expertise lies in countering terrorism and state threats. Working with partners, the NPSA develops and communicates protective security measures for a range of sectors including government, CNI, wider industry, business and academia. Its training, guidance and advice are derived from its long-standing and extensive research and development programmes, and shaped by MI5’s expert understanding of the threat.
In keeping with the spirit of the award, the NPSA’s efforts are frequently delivered without public recognition, yet remain critical to national safety and security.
Prof. Simon Hepburn, CEO of The Security Institute, had this to say: “We at The Security Institute are especially pleased to be able to present this award to the NPSA, whose tireless efforts, although unseen, do not go unnoticed. They continue to embody the spirit of Odette Hallowes, and so this couldn’t be a more fitting tribute to their crucial work.”
The Security Institute extends its sincere appreciation to NPSA for its continued service and commitment.
