Event programme

Daniel has over 20 years of industry experience, beginning in aerospace and automotive manufacturing and later spanning testing, inspection, certification, and compliance. He brings a practical, risk focused perspective to auditing and supply chain assurance. As Commercial Manager at BSI, Daniel works closely with organizations across sectors to understand how Internal and Supplier Audits operate in real world supply chain environments. His experience offers clear insight into where traditional pass/fail audit models fall short, and how more intentional, risk based approaches can deliver meaningful data, drive performance improvement, and strengthen organizational resilience.

Gautham is the CEO and co-founder of Calibre, an AI tech startup focused on accelerating audit workflows using AI. An ex-Palantir Forward Deployed Engineer, he led AI deployments across 20+ industries including medical device certification, NHS healthcare and human trafficking detection. He holds a Master's in Mathematics and Computer Science with peer-reviewed publications in machine learning.

Dimitar Yotov is a Lead Auditor at Calibre, where he is building AI-assisted tools designed to work alongside auditors. With 10+ years in management systems certification, including roles as ISO 27001 Scheme Manager and Scheme Lead for ISO 42001. His focus is on where AI adds value in an audit and where human judgement remains non-negotiable. At Quality Live 2026 he's excited to share how AI is changing the auditor's role and will demonstrate this with actionable prompts/examples.

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.

Chris Achillea is a senior QSHE leader with extensive experience across governance, risk, audit, and organisational resilience in complex, multinational environments. He brings a practical, people centred approach to leadership, with a strong track record in driving cultural transformation and repositioning quality and safety functions as true business partners. A Chartered Fellow of the CQI, IRCA Principal Auditor and Chartered IOSH, he is known for helping organisations move beyond compliance toward high trust, high performing cultures that deliver real-world outcomes.

Mark has been a quality professional with BAE Systems for 40 years, joining as an apprentice and working through the organisation to his current role as Head of Quality for the Rochester facility. BAE Systems Electronic Systems designs and manufactures advanced displays and control systems for both Military and Commercial markets across the world. Mark led the Rochester team to the International Quality Awards Quality Organisation of the Year recognition in 2025.

Stephen began his career in Medical Device Quality Assurance and Regulatory Affairs in 1999. Starting as an internal auditor, he rose through the ranks to become a QA/RA Director, leading international teams and gaining most of his experience within the Cambridge MedTech ecosystem.

Over the years, he has witnessed profound changes in technology, regulation, perception, and practice working with devices ranging from disinfection solutions to surgical robots. He has built and implemented Quality Systems across multiple organisations, often starting from scratch and growing teams from the ground up.

With more than 25 years in the industry spanning both start-ups and multinationals Stephen has seen best practices, learned from failures, and made his own mistakes along the way. He holds a PhD, two MSc degrees, and a BSc, and is a Fellow of the CQI and TOPRA.
Beyond his corporate roles, Stephen has lectured on QA/RA topics at postgraduate level, mentored MedTech students, taken on several volunteering roles, and regularly writes articles for publication.

In 2025, he co-founded Elevate MedTech, an international consultancy specialising in practical Quality and Regulatory solutions for the MedTech industry.

David Bancroft is a QHSE Manager based in Sunderland, with extensive experience in ensuring compliance, aligning business units, and driving operational effectiveness across complex systems. He is highly collaborative, with a strong track record in mentoring teams and individuals to achieve high performance.

He specialises in the development of integrated management systems, risk management, audit processes, and continuous improvement, enabling organisations to maintain high standards and deliver on strategic objectives. David has played a key role in the development of GS-Hydro’s global management systems, streamlining compliance processes and driving measurable improvements.

With over 11 years of experience in Quality Management, complemented by a long history as a field service engineer, David is passionate about the quality profession and is a strong advocate for quality as a cornerstone of organisational success.

In his current role David is responsible for GS-Hydro’s 3 UK locations, as well as locations in The Netherlands and Denmark. David is also responsible for co-ordinating GS-Hydro Global QHSE management system.

Chris has worked in Quality Assurance for over 30 years moving from the standards room to leadership. Over these years Chris has implemented and managed various systems including IATF 16949 , AS 9100C and D and ISO 9001. Working in both the Automotive and Aerospace sectors for small and medium sized businesse.

Leading international teams over multiple locations in addition to being the Solo Quality Manager in several small organisations has given Chris the ability to take the lessons learnt from his career and adapt based on the complexity and needs of the business.

Chris is currently the Solo Quality Manager of a UK leading design and manufacturing organisation supplying UAV / OWE to the defense sector.

Samantha Roberts is Global Accreditation Director at NQA, where she leads global accreditation strategy and oversees the development and maintenance of internationally recognised accreditation programmes across the organisation’s worldwide operations. Samantha works closely with technical, operational and commercial teams to ensure NQA continues to meet the highest standards of compliance, governance and assurance within an evolving global certification landscape.

With extensive experience in accreditation, conformity assessment and standards management, Samantha has played a central role in strengthening NQA’s relationships with accreditation bodies and international stakeholders, while supporting the expansion of accredited services across multiple sectors and regions. She is particularly focused on ensuring that accreditation delivers practical value for organisations, balancing technical integrity with commercial and operational realities.

Known for her collaborative and pragmatic approach, Samantha is passionate about the role accredited certification plays in building trust, supporting continual improvement and helping organisations respond confidently to changing regulatory, quality and sustainability expectations.