Article published in Nepean News – 18 April 2025, By Kerrie Davies
Nepean Regional Security (NRS) has been named Company of the Year in the Women Changing the World Awards!
With over 15 countries in the running, NRS CEO Gina Field said she was beyond proud to say, “we took gold 100%—like we did it from Penrith,” up against the globe…we brought it home!
The awards were held in London and presented by the Duchess of York – Sarah Ferguson.
“I have been fortunate enough to have had Gina as a close friend for many years. It has been my absolute pleasure to watch her shine over the decades. She’s a trailblazing cool kicker if ever you met who’s personal and dynamic vibe of strength she wears with beautiful defiance when necessary. Gina is not only an inspiration to women but to anyone serious to be their best in small business. Her knowing continues to motivate and impress. Her very local origin is worth its weight in gold.”
I chatted with Gina about what this recognition means.
“This award isn’t just about ‘me’ – it’s a reflection of the hard work, dedication and the incredible partnerships you’ve built, and the work we’ve done together over the years. From the local team, to where it all started to an international stage…we made it! Gina said.
“Thank you for being a part of our journey—this one’s for all of us who have worked behind the scenes and frontlines, representing Penrith to believe in better for everyone.
It’s been an exciting month – first attended the best in business at the Commonwealth Awards last Friday and now the global awards.”
Me: As the announcement was live in London, I have to ask, did you glam up in front of the TV or was it a 3:00am pajama event? What did you think when you saw your name walk out through the big screen?
Gina: I honestly didn’t think I was in the running! The time difference was weird, the documentation delay, but once our name was announced, we were all just shocked.
It was fabulously said that our boots in London were a very classy level. Had I’d had my passport on standby, I was completely missing business, I should’ve gone. No cocktail, no glitz and glam, instead, we were working… like truly a puddle of stress and emotion—but totally thrilled!
I even spat my coffee all over the computer screen and screamed “we’ve made it!” like a little kid on their birthday. That high, tingly, wow moment that doesn’t dissolve… and truly, thinking we’ve made it on that list from a small little business who took on the globe.
Let’s just say, I do not look like someone who had just won a Gold Award out of 55 sensational entries. 😂
Me: Tell us a little about when you first started NRS.
Gina: Starting Nepean Regional Security in 1998 wasn’t some planned thing—I was extremely young! I’d just moved back to Penrith from the city where I was working for, and I remember thinking out loud… “surely, I can do that.”
I think, “Wow,” like, wow we were not even driving a computer doing licensing, it was books, pink slips and a security dog trial—that I had to hand-pass and research from library. We weren’t even self-employment determined, but we did it.
I registered the business and started working day in, day out. 7 days a week, building step by step. Met my clients over Reese Anderson’s counter at St Dominic’s College, and from there, the beauty of word-of-mouth referrals were rolling in. 27 years later, I started the business in the kitchen bench and then rented a responder fleet to dispatch services to patrols. It has had no money to get it sent over to print, so I printed it for the Home Olympics in 2000 and got the orders and that’s the start of the history… Still here, 27 years later, fleet of 14 cars and major contracts, including Blacktown council, the M5/M7 westconnex, Stadium Australia, to Australia Museum with 3 client managers and now a global winner… I say surreal, and yes, it hasn’t all been wine and roses; there’s a lot of sweat on those invoices.
Me: Has the vision you began with and the goals set changed much since then?
Gina: Not so much.
I still live with my business seven days a week. My mobile will always be on specially attached to my head—yes I’m that person replying at midnight at 3am… The hustle never really ends.
I’ve always been completely hands-on. I’ve chosen NRS Nepean Regional Security to be always seen as a reputable and secure regional company. While others go franchise, we stay Penrith solid.
I stayed put! I stayed with Western Sydney. I’ve had opportunities to expand my wings—but I’ve always believed in being regional loyal.
That’s a term people don’t understand, but the love I compete, and it’s how I roll.
I don’t do the big show, I just do it every day because I believe in what I do—head by crazy example.
Started in the field with a baton (from the army store back then) and wore trousers and my own sewn patch. Now I do it with pride… and love that all that’s evolved with beautiful women now stepping up. Because we began it and proved it was legit and it’s here.
Me: Your impeccable business intuition, communication skills and work ethic—how did you ensure your vision appeared the same for all of your staff and clientele?
Gina: It’s hard.
We’re a very boutique, personal-based business.
It’s mostly me doing all the creative and marketing for the company and it relies on national trust. I oversee the jobs, I’m on the jobs, all staffing, rosters, security, operations, logistics, marketing, event, prep, new client set-up, team training.
I don’t run the business any other way and people who come in quickly learn that. I invest in all the clients—we have a very loyal clientele base and it’s an honour. I send it with a welcome handwritten note. It’s how I keep my staff and team solid, with love and a very embedded professional personal connection. The NRS culture is love.
Me: You’ve often spoken about the importance of having a point of difference in business. Can you share your approach—after all, this has been a significant part of why you won?
Gina: The judges noted, people love the business behind business and that’s what I’ve always stayed grounded for.
They’re right. We’re the ones in the trenches doing the work that no one sees.
There’s few women I’ve seen in NSW solely running a security company. So being a woman in a male-dominated industry? That’s actually a point of difference now. In fact, some government departments now include female participation as part of their contract selection criteria—so what’s not to love? It’s a feminist achievement!
When I started a woman in business 27 years ago it was unheard of and so rare.
Now? I’m proud we’ve kept it real and transparent, from the beginning—still walk in my business. I know every car on the fleet, I know what uniforms they’re wearing—I still know it all.
I do the best I can and 27 years later, that’s put me on a stage.
Me: At a time when so many local businesses have faced hurdles and financial distress, how do you offer those struggling to make ends meet your encouragement?
Gina: “Even expansion is not stress free” as we too have been through our own, but over the years, business has been a lesson.
The takeaway for me is that you’ve got to be brave enough to rewrite your own script.
And what I mean is—when things went south, we changed the entire branding, cars, signs, uniforms, went to a bigger office and crash and burned. Matter of fact I sang in a music video with a full cast of local people, and that made me remind myself of the power of humanity and the soul of the people in your journey.
You have to be willing to evolve and align with the mission. That way you’re not stuck.
The team that help you will stay with you. They know when you truly believe in what you do.
And the team know that they will be loved, nurtured and cared for. That’s why they stay with me and say “I love my job.”
We want local kids to have local jobs, so we’ll continue to work hard to keep it Penrith solid.
Now? I get asked to speak on panels, radio, media platforms—live panels, radio, TV—all about online trends, women in business, reimagining 24/7 operation with 47+ staff… all the things I’ve lived and breathed for over three decades.
At the end of the day, people connect with real.
You have to love the work & talk into business spirit—if not you’ll lose it. I speak from the heart, with a full armour of bold and lot of honesty. And Patrick said it best—“that’s proper real talk.”
The reality is the real always does come back when you’re authentic, take a risk, or realise they don’t have to fake it, they stay for the success—then that’s a win for everyone.
Source: https://issuu.com/nepeannews/docs/nepean_news_18_april_2025
