Transparency International co-founder Michael Hershman (left) and former US Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security Jane Lute.

By Sports Reporter/Doha

The International Centre for Sport Security (ICSS) yesterday announced that Transparency International co-founder Michael Hershman and former US Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security Jane Lute have been appointed to the ICSS Advisory Board.

Following on from their involvement at last week’s Securing Sport 2014, Hershman and Lute will join some of the world’s top safety, security and integrity experts on the Advisory Board and will contribute to the ICSS’s mission to protect and safeguard sport.

As an internationally recognised expert on matters relating to transparency, accountability, governance, litigation and security, Hershman has been called upon by many governments, multi-national corporations, law firms and international financial institutions, where he advised on matters involving the conduct of senior-level officials and the organisations which they do business with.

Hershman has also advised numerous high-profile organisations in sport on a wide range of issues involving security and integrity including: National Football League (NFL), Major League Baseball (MLB), National Basketball Association (NBA), the organising committees for the 1988 and 2004 Olympic Games and more recently, the FIFA Independent Governance Committee.

Speaking on his appointment to the ICSS Advisory Board, Hershman said, “Sport is now at a crossroads when it comes to protecting itself and independent organisations like the ICSS are crucial in raising awareness and more importantly, driving the agenda to confront trans-national issues like corruption, illegal betting and betting fraud. I look forward to joining the ICSS Advisory Board and playing an active role in bringing governments and organisations in sport closer together to protect major events and safeguard the integrity and credibility of sport.”

A former US Deputy Secretary for Homeland Security between 2009 and 2013, Lute has a distinguished career in peacekeeping, counterterrorism and cybersecurity. At the Department of Homeland Security, Jane oversaw national efforts to prevent terrorism, enhance national security, protecting US borders, as well as administering and enforcing US laws and ensuring the nation’s cybersecurity.

Lute has also served as assistant secretary-general of the United Nations (2003-2009) and has since taken up the position of president and CEO of the Council on CyberSecurity, an international, not-for-profit organisation committed to the security of the open Internet.

“The relationship between sport, technology and social media has never been closer and ensuring that our personal information is safe is now challenging the way major sporting events are now organised,” Lute said. “To join the ICSS Advisory Board and such an esteemed group of international leaders and decision-makers from the world of security and integrity is an exciting opportunity and I look forward to contributing new ideas and new ways that can sport can protect itself.”

“With the ICSS continuing to cement its position as a centre of excellence in sport safety, security and integrity, the addition of two of the world’s most respected voices in the field of security, anti-corruption and cybersecurity underlines the ICSS’s commitment to protecting and safeguarding sport,” ICSS president Mohamed Hanzab said.

“Both Jane and Michael bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to the ICSS Advisory Board and their expertise will be crucial in encouraging governments and sports organisations to apply a more global approach to confronting the many threats now facing the security and integrity of sport.”