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.

"Anything other than an integrated management system is contradictory!" This is my mantra and guides how I try to bring quality to life in organisations where sometimes technology has complicated core business processes. I have extensive business transformation experience having delivered integrated ISO-based management systems and optimisation projects across global and UK Construction, Manufacturing, Telecoms, Food and Biotechnology sectors. I work closely both at board level and operations within both FTSE and privately owned businesses. I lead the CQI Integrated Management Special Network.

Andrew’s first job, as vacation work, was in quality assurance (Bird’s Eye peas) where he learned the value of quality (as well as the cost).

This was reinforced by his time at ICL where he received further training as part of their corporate-wide quality education programme.

Developing defensive AI systems for submarines hammered home the need for products to be fit for purpose – failure meant death for the crew.


Over many subsequent years of project and programme management, where project failure could have catastrophic effects on the business, the need to deliver quality outcomes drove him to develop a quality-focused approach to managing projects, best demonstrated by the complete replacement of NHS Direct’s website with new technology in just 6 months, winning 4 awards (including a Queen’s Award).
He has taught project quality management at several universities and published a successful textbook on the subject.

As a Fellow of the Association for Project Management, he leads the Systems Thinking Interest Network, where he sponsored and contributed to their guide to “Doing the Right Project: Using a Systems Thinking approach to selecting successful projects”. Successful projects must deliver fitness for purpose i.e. quality, something that can be very hard to see at the start.

He is a speaker, mentor and consultant on delivering successful projects.

Vanessa Harwood-Whitcher is the Chief Executive of the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH), the Chartered body for health and safety professionals. Previously to IOSH, she held executive positions as a Director, Chief Operating Officer and Interim CEO.

Vanessa’s career began leading learning and skills initiatives in disadvantaged communities in the UK. Her expertise and motivation lie in empowering adults to thrive in their careers, a specialism that she has focussed on for the last 20 years within the professional body sector.

Working with professions as diverse as teaching, finance, banking, procurement, leadership, IT and health and safety has taken Vanessa all over the globe. She’s designed and led commercial learning programmes for many of the world's biggest organisations, at one time working with around 80% of the FTSE 100. She’s set the occupational standards for several professions and has headed ground-breaking capacity building programmes with governments and NGOs across South Asia and Africa. She’s won accolades and from the Federation of Awarding Bodies, Association Excellence Awards and Memcom for her work in education and membership.

Having gained her first degree in Business Studies and German from Hull University, Vanessa was awarded distinction for her executive MBA from Loughborough University in 2000

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.

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.

Ian has over 30 years quality executive leadership experience in Automotive and Aerospace, including:
• Executive Vice President for Quality, Rolls-Royce Civil Aerospace
• Group Quality Director, Cosworth Technology, High Performance Engines (part of Audi AG)

At Rolls-Royce Ian led the deployment of the Zero Defects Strategy across the global Civil Aerospace Operations and its external supply chain.
He has previously been Chair of the Aero Engine Supplier Quality Group (AESQ) and writing team leader for their AS13100, AS13003 (MSA) and AS13004 (FMEA & Control Plans) quality standards.
Ian obtained an Engineering Doctorate from the University of Warwick in 2005, that focused on supplier selection strategies in the global automotive industry.
Now owner and principal consultant at ZD Insight Consulting Ltd, helping organizations develop and deploy Zero Defect strategies across the aerospace and automotive industry.

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.

Ian is co-founder of DeepFathom, a digital auditing and conformity assessment platform. He specialises in behavioural and systemic approaches to assurance, helping organisations improve risk visibility, strengthen governance, and make better decisions. He supports the CQI Audit Network focusing on the Future of Auditing.

Kish Chandarana CQP MCQI is the Head of Predictive Quality Systems & Excellence at MBDA, leading the practical integration of digital assurance models within complex defence and aerospace operations. He specializes in deploying data analytics and generative AI to design preventative engineering workflows. Previously, Kish contributed directly to the design of BS 202000, the standard governing how organizations manage their internal compliance systems. As a Chartered Quality Professional, he is chairing this session to support the transformation of the standards industry into the digitalisation domain, exploring how legacy compliance frameworks evolve into smart, machine-executable systems.

Julie Gordon is Strategic Initiatives Director at BSI (British Standards Institution), leading innovation and transformation at the intersection of standards, business, and digital infrastructure. She focuses on advancing digitised, machine-readable, user-centric standards to support greater interoperability, traceability, and value creation across global value chains. Working with UK stakeholders, national standards bodies, and international partners, she helps shape emerging direction and turn strategic ambition into practical outcomes. Julie brings extensive experience in digital transformation, change management, and product strategy from senior roles in global publishing and consulting in the information sector.

Simon is Senior Program Operations Manager at SAE ITC responsible for the SAE ITC Digital Standards Alliance, a non-profit consortia of aerospace manufacturers, standards organizations and government agencies intended to accelerate progress in the digital transformation of industry standards.

He has worked in standards for 14 years, as the Director of Product at BSI, the UK’s National Standards Body, and more recently working with ISO, the global standards organization. He has held technology, product, commercial and publishing roles for the last 30 years with BSI, ISO, Wolters Kluwer and others.
His technology and business leadership roles specializing in business analysis, project management, product management and strategic planning provide the experience required to help the DSA community navigate the significant challenges faced by the standardization ecosystem in moving to a digital future.
Simon has led or been involved in digital standard and SMART initiatives since 2016, organizing and participating in conferences, meetings and working groups to progress solutions, increase collaboration and deliver the outcomes that industry urgently needs.

Myles Stevens – Head of Strategic Accounts, DNV Business Assurance UK
Myles is a career commercial lead, specialising in certification and assurance. With a background in Mechanical & Process Engineering, he works closely with major organisations to design and deliver robust external certification programmes that drive both compliance and performance improvement. Myles is also actively involved in blending benchmarking approaches with traditional 3rd party auditing, to help translate insights into measurable business outcomes.

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.

Ewan Cohen is the Co Founder of Q-hub Software, a Compliance Management platform designed to revolutionise the way compliance is maintained across all sectors, through the use of customisation tools and AI.

As a former Head of Quality and 3rd party AEA Aerospace Assessor providing audits for LRQA, and NQA ensuring requirements of Airbus, Rolls-Royce, Boeing and other Aerospace OEMs, not to mention regulatory CAA and EASA requirements Ewan has a wealth of knowledge in the compliance and regulatory expectations of modern organisations.

Together with his Co-Founder - Ethan Brice - Ewan is now helping companies navigate and benefit from AI and digitisation.

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.

In her career spanning over two decades, Janhavi has built, led and scaled business units and teams from the ground up. She is a trusted advisor to the Senior Leadership Team and the Board on end-to-end Strategy Management with her expertise in Governance, Risk, & Compliance.

She firmly believes that ‘Efficient Board Governance’ sits at the heart of ‘Strong Institutions’ and being a Certified NED/Independent Director herself, helps identify and navigate challenges, thereby contributing to the UN SDG 16. With her extensive experience in the financial services sector across regions spanning North America, Latin America & Caribbean, UK & Continental Europe, and IMEA, along with being a Chartered SOx Audit Professional, she has been instrumental in leading the public listing aspirations of companies on their scale-up journey, through the Regulatory and ever-evolving Geo Political landscapes. Basis her keen business acumen, her insights on ‘ethical profitability’ help in securing sustainable stakeholder confidence.

A Certificated IRCA Member, Janhavi has been associated with the CQI for close to a decade and has served on various volunteering committees such as the London Branch Committee, and the Hybrid Events Committee. Currently she is actively involved in the CQI Audit Network Committee since its inception, and has also contributed to the CQI’s periodic publications and research work.

A deeply passionate Quality Professional at heart, earlier on in her career, Janhavi has closely witnessed and somewhat lived the role of a ‘Solo’ Quality Manager. After experiencing its impact first-hand, she continues to be a strong advocate of the ‘seat and voice at the table’ this profession rightfully deserves, given the tremendous potential of positive impact it holds.

Neil is a Fellow of the Chartered Quality Institute with 34 years’ experience of quality assurance, compliance, risk management and problem resolution across sectors including automotive, aerospace and defence, financial and construction, as a Quality Engineer, Manager and for the last 20 years as a consultant with EaglePeak Consulting Ltd. He has implemented and upgraded management systems to standards including ISO 9001, TS (Now IATF) 16949, ISO 14001, ISO 27001 and AS 9100 as well working with vehicle and product compliance certification and ESG standards.
He has been representing the UK in the revision of ISO 9001 as part of Working Group 29 and serves as the Avon Network Lead for the Chartered Quality Institute and as chair of BSI QS/1/2.

Richard has more than 30 years’ experience in the world of management systems standards, initially as an end user in the manufacturing and service sectors, and latterly as a standards developer, principal auditor and acknowledged subject matter expert.

He has travelled extensively, speaking at national and international conferences, seminars and forums on management system related matters. He is the CQI Head of Delegation for a number of ISO committees including TC176 (quality management), TC283 (occupational health and safety management), ISO/IEC JCT1 SC27 (Information security, cybersecurity and privacy protection) and PC302 (management systems audit). In addition, he has recently been appointed to the TC176 SC2 Chair’s Strategic Leadership Team who are responsible for the development and delivery of the sub-committee’s strategic action plan.

Prior to establishing KCS Limited, Richard held senior technical roles at the Chartered Quality Institute (CQI), provide technical leadership and direction to the Board, Executive and members of the CQI and IRCA. Though now independent, he continues to provide high level technical support to both the CQI and IRCA brands. He is Secretary to the CQI Standards Steering Committee, a CQI Technical Assessor and has acted as a lead judge for various categories in the CQI’s International Quality Awards.

Prior to joining the CQI, Richard held a variety of senior quality management, facilities management, contract management and IT service management positions, in both the UK public and private sectors.

Richard is a Fellow of the Chartered Quality Institute, a Chartered Quality Practitioner, a Fellow of the British Computer Society, a Chartered IT Practitioner, a Principal Quality Management System (QMS) Auditor, a Lead Information Security Management System (ISMS) auditor, and a PRINCE2 Project Management Practitioner.

As well as working with the CQI, Richard is member of the PECB General Scheme Advisory Board, the International Standardize Testing Organization Technical Board and the British Computer Society Registration and Standards Committee.

Caroline Hay is a Chartered Engineer (IET) and Chartered Quality Professional (CQI) with over two decades of experience leading quality transformation and Business Management System (BMS) integration across complex, safety critical sectors including defence, nuclear, marine and aviation. As Global Head of Quality at Babcock International Group, she defines and delivers enterprise wide quality strategy, overseeing approximately 400 professionals across five countries and ensuring robust governance, assurance, and continuous improvement across diverse operational environments.
Caroline has deep expertise in ISO standards, particularly ISO 9001, and has led large scale transformations to embed standardised, risk based management systems into complex organisations. She was the architect behind the transition of Babcock’s fragmented landscape of management systems into a single, unified global framework, enabling consistency, improved assurance, and clearer accountability. This transformation also included consolidating certification under a single body and successfully achieving ISO 9001 certification in new international markets, including South Korea.
Her experience positions her strongly to articulate the benefits of ISO 9001 beyond compliance. She emphasises its role as a strategic enabler—driving customer confidence, improving operational discipline, and embedding a culture of continual improvement. Through her leadership, ISO 9001 has been used to strengthen governance, enhance decision making through risk based thinking, and provide a common language across global operations. Earlier in her career, as Head of Quality for Defence Systems Technology, she integrated ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and ISO 45001 into a single certification framework, demonstrating the value of integrated management systems in reducing duplication and enabling holistic performance management.
Caroline also brings a pragmatic understanding of the drivers for organisational change in adopting or evolving ISO standards. These include the need for consistency across geographies, increasing regulatory expectations, customer demand for demonstrable quality assurance, and the inefficiencies and risks associated with fragmented systems. She has led organisations through the cultural and structural implications of such change—aligning leadership, simplifying processes, and balancing standardisation with local agility.
Caroline combines technical credibility with strategic insight, making her a compelling voice on how ISO 9001 can shift from a compliance exercise to a powerful lever for organisational performance, resilience, and growth.

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.