Meet the Judges

David is the Director, Business Assurance, Quality and Systems for BAM UK&I. He has over 30 years' experience delivering complex construction projects across all industry sectors. He is a Trustee and Fellow of the Chartered Quality Institute, a Chartered Waste Manager, Fellow of the Institute of Collaborative Working, a Chartered Environmentalist and a Director of the Lean Construction Institute UK. He sits on a number of industry committees and has spoken at numerous events on subjects such as Lean construction, error avoidance, the future of quality management, competency and collaboration. He won International Quality Professional of the year in 2020.

Lilly’s career in quality began as a Technical Apprentice with Leonardo UK. Over the 6.5 years she spent with Leonardo, her career went from strength to strength as she progressed to a Project Assurance Engineer. Aside from her day-to-day role, Lilly is a passionate advocate for the profession - encouraging and inspiring the next generation to actively choose a career in quality. Lilly recently joined Red Bull Advanced Technologies as a Supplier Quality Engineer and won the International Quality Award for Emerging Talent in 2024.

Karine is a Chartered Member of the CQI, and has an established track record of shaping strategies and driving improvements at operational and enterprise levels. Karine has improved quality capabilities and systems to achieve delivery excellence in the nuclear sector. Her academic background in maths, statistics and business management has provided the foundation for a successful 30-year career in quality management. Advancing into strategic roles has given her the opportunity to create a strong culture and increase the value of quality.

Karine is the lead for the CQI Nuclear Network and a member of IOSH and WiN. She is passionate about promoting diversity and helping quality professionals unlock their potential.

Victoria is the Head of Change & Transformation with leading temporary works specialist Mabey Hire. A Chartered Quality Professional, Fellow of the CQI and Lean Practitioner with over 16 years of experience in construction and engineering, Victoria works alongside all levels of leadership to help make change happen, resulting in better business performance. She uses quality tools to define, ideate, plan, engage, implement and communicate transformation projects, coaching managers through each stage of the project to achieve business improvement goals. Victoria has experience in process optimisation, digitisation and automation in the construction environment and at organisational level.

Kevin Newey (CQP FCQI) is an experienced semiconductor engineering leader, business transformation, governance, and assurance professional. Known for driving Innovation, Delivery, and Cross-Functional Execution at Scale, Kevin has over 25 years' experience in Artificial Intelligence, deep tech, software, semiconductor, and pharmaceutical industries. He is passionate about the potential for technology to make the world a better, fairer place for everyone.

Gerhard is an award-winning Strategic Portfolio Execution Director and Quality Assurance Specialist in multiple sectors including Construction, Mining, Finance and Healthcare. With more than 20 Years of experience on Mega Project Initiatives in England, Wales, Scotland and South Africa, he is able to leverage multiple dimensional approaches to transform business ideas into business assets.

For the last 8 Years Gerhard has successfully Directed the Group’s Digitisation Strategy Execution inclusive of 140 Projects and the Implementation of CareOn, a world class bespoke Electronic Medical Records System across the entire group of hospitals. CareOn and Netcare won the Digital Innovation award at the CQI International Quality Awards 2024 and Gerhard was Quality Professional of the Year in 2025."

Kate is the founder of Capella and Managing Partner at PMI, a multi-award-winning provider specialising in performance improvement consultancy, training and apprenticeships. Underpinned by a background in supply chain development for the automotive industry, she has experience across a broad range of public, private and voluntary sectors as a trainer, coach and consultant. Kate provided technical input for the Trailblazer Groups responsible for authoring the suite of Apprenticeship standards for Quality and Improvement. She led the implementation of ISO 9001:2015 and Cyber Essentials Plus certification for Capella and a successful Ofsted inspection. She has sponsored a range of strategic integration projects including Quality Management Systems, Content, and Quality of Education.

Kate is passionate about learning and driving excellence, always seeking opportunities to improve and promote quality. She supports the CQI through sharing experience and best practice, including a webinar with fellow Award judges on what makes a strong submission, and mentoring others through the CQI platform.

Denis is a Fellow of the Chartered Quality Institute (FCQI) and has been a CQI member since 1997. He holds a PhD in Quality Management and is also a Fellow of ASQ. Denis is an ASQ Certified Manager of Quality/Organizational Excellence, Certified Quality Auditor, and Six Sigma Black Belt, and has received the ASQ Feigenbaum, Edwards, and Lancaster Medals. He is a Lean Practitioner and a Lead Auditor for ISO 9001, ISO 14001, and ISO 45001.

With over 25 years of experience as a practicing Quality Manager, Denis has also contributed extensively to international quality assessment and recognition programmes. He has served as an Assessor for the EFQM Quality Award in Northern Ireland and the U.S. Baldrige Quality Award, a Lead Judge for the Baldrige-based National Housing Quality Award, and a Judge for the ASQ International Team Excellence Awards. Denis was also a Visiting Assistant Professor of Quality at the University of Wisconsin, USA. Based on his extensive assessor and judging experience, the Quality Organisation of the Year category aligns closely with his expertise.

Judith is a Programme Director with over 25 years’ experience in various industry sectors including infrastructure, defence, nuclear, heavy and light rail, highways, transportation, construction, utilities, local authority, and consultancy. She was awarded Quality Professional of the Year 2024. Having sat on several steering groups, Judith has provided industry improvements and advice to central government policy. She also has a proven track record in QHSE management both as stand-alone and integrated disciplines. Judith is an EFQM Master Practitioner and has led assessment teams through the BQF awards. As a registered lead auditor across QHSE disciplines, Judith was also a technical reviewer whilst at LRQA, providing assurance for quality of service provision to UKAS as well as a registered team member for high risk projects for Infrastructure Projects Authority.

Natalie is Head of Quality for a Facilities Management company working on the biggest Ministry of Defence private finance initiative (MOD PFI) within the UK. She has over fifteen years’ experience in the quality profession, including time spent on a government project working for a leading telecoms company where she implemented a management system and embedded the culture of quality within the organisation. Natalie has had a number of volunteer roles with the CQI including Chair of the Next Generation Network and Thames Valley Branch and is aformer member of the Board of Trustees. Natalie was a judge for the Emerging Talent category since the awards inception, and this year assumes the role of Head Judge for the Developing Quality Talent category. Natalie remains a strong advocate for the profession's future.

Suzanne is a Senior Quality Professional, with world-wide recognition for excellence in problem solving, quality management and implementation of change. Zero-defect thinking within aerospace is her current focus, supporting businesses in this quest through training and consultancy. Suzanne is an active volunteer with the CQI and also a STEM Ambassador.

With over 22 years of experience in quality leadership, Govind has driven QHSE and quality excellence across major LNG, oil, and energy megaprojects worldwide. His expertise lies in strengthening quality governance, certification readiness, welding integrity, and integrated management systems in high-risk environments. Holding a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering and master’s degrees in Quality Management and Industrial Safety Engineering, he brings deep technical and strategic insight to quality transformation. He is a Fellow of the Chartered Quality Institute (CQP FCQI), a member of the ASQ, and an IRCA Principal QMS Auditor, and is recognised for advancing QA/QC innovation and fostering continuous quality improvement across complex projects.

Colin is a dynamic and accomplished leader with more than three decades of corporate and international experience across diverse market sectors. A qualified engineer he has built a reputation for driving performance, resolving complex challenges, and consistently exceeding organizational targets in the fields of Quality, Excellence, HSE and Risk.

He is a Fellow of the CQI, and a long serving Chairman for both the North of Scotland Network and Scottish Regional Steering Committee before moving to Hong Kong and a previous International Quality Awards Judge. Colin continues to champion both Quality and the CQI, bringing a real passion for assurance, excellence and mentoring.

Angelique is a quality professional with more than 20 years’ experience delivering business improvement and transformation while fostering culture change with infectious drive and enthusiasm. She advocates a Gemba Walks approach to implementing quality improvement across business. In this way, she successfully makes people at all levels work closely and collaboratively to improve processes, create novel visual solutions, and ultimately shift mindsets on how to approach quality: “doing the right work, and doing the work right”. Angelique was the winner of the CQI Quality Professional of the Year Award in 2019 and she is excited to be a returning judge for the 2025 International Quality Awards.

William is a Senior Quality Leader for a global satellite company, where he is responsible for designing and deploying integrated management systems. He has over 18 years’ experience in the quality profession and has worked across four different industry sectors from pharmaceutical, oil and gas, to nuclear fusion and laterally communications. William is the Chair of the Audit Special Interest Group (SIG), a committee member of his local Thames Valley branch and an active member on the Content Advisory Panel.

Martin is Executive Chair at Catalyst Consulting. He has worked with organisations of all sizes and sectors in quality and change management. He is co-author of the popular books Lean Six Sigma for Dummies and Lean Six Sigma for Leaders, and is an active practitioner, trainer and coach. Past roles include Head of Quality at BT, a member of LRQA's General Technical Committee; a Trustee of Lloyd's Register; and a member of BQF's Executive Committee. In his earlier career, he held senior management roles in communications systems, software and systems development. Martin is passionate about quality, believing these awards are an ideal way to spread the word about the application of quality methods more widely and recognise the success of professionals in the field.

Nina Abbassi; B.Sc. Hons, CQP, FCQI, IRCA Certified Principal Auditor; founder and Director of Abbassi Ltd since 1993; is a Consultant, Trainer and Auditor. She brings over 3 decades of innovative and result-driven expertise in business quality, performance improvement, social responsibility, and sustainable development across various industries. Her voluntary contributions include serving on the CQI Board of Trustees, judge at the International Quality Awards, expert member on several British and International Standard committees, including the ISO Working Group WG29 for the revision of ISO 9001:2015; representing the CQI.

Sherif Nasser is a globally recognised Quality Management Expert, CQI Fellow, and EFQM Certified Assessor. With over two decades of experience in multinational organisations, he has advanced from Quality Engineer to Business Risk Director, delivering strategies that drive sustainable performance. A judge for the CQI Quality Team Award and a frequent keynote speaker in the USA, UK, UAE, and KSA, Sherif has trained and mentored thousands of professionals worldwide. He is the founder of Construction Excellence Institute to empower the next generation of quality leaders.