Meet SQMC team of tutors, consultants, and staff.

Ian W. Hannah

SrMASQ; Founder & Chairman of the Board.

Ian has been involved in 'Quality' innovation since 1967 (in Canada, USA, and Scotland) as a Quality Manager, Quality Consultant, and University and College tutor. Graduating 'P.Eng' in Canada, he has been a long-standing member of the CQI Education Panel since returning to the UK, and was formerly Director of a Masters degree in Quality Management. He has lectured in such diverse countries as Canada, Venezuela, and Russia, as well as throughout Europe. In the mid-'90s he was involved in the development of EFQM's "Excellence" Model.

Using his technical teacher training ('Distinction' at Jordanhill, Glasgow) he served as the programmes 'guru' at SQMC for two decades, designing and developing new courses, as well as updating existing programmes.

Ian is now (officially) retired, but remains active as Chairman of the Board, and a highly-valued mentor to his associates.

Karen MacKenzie

CQP, MCQI, MASQ, FCIPD, IRCA Reg'd Principal Auditor, Director of Course Design, and Quality Manager.

Originally from the Highland town of Dingwall, Karen is a highly-respected business and quality consultant, having the vision and intellectual capacity to discern the key processes and personal development issues which are of paramount importance in any organisation.

Karen is an ISO 9001 Lead Assessor, Internal Auditor and implementer of ISO 9001 & 14001 systems in diverse industries - from construction to fabrication; and from environmental landscaping to Health & Safety consultancies. Her development work has been recognised by UKAS accrediting bodies such as BSI.

As a qualified, award-winning trainer, her auditor training courses (Quality, Environmental, Health & Safety) are well received by SQMC clients. Much of Karen’s success is due to two factors – her passion for making a difference and her natural ability to establish rapport with people.

Karen has also worked with the QAA on advising the disparate parts of the UHI on how to prepare for QAA audit. She is also an advisor to Scottish Enterprise National on the quality assuring of vocational education and training programmes, and has responsibility for rolling out the programme of self-assessment, quality development planning and continual improvement for education and training providers within Scotland. She retains a broad spectrum of interest and expertise across quality assurance, while continuing to teach an MSc in Practice Education at the University of Dundee.

Lynn Hewitt

Training Manager, Data Processor.

Lynn joined SQMC during an expansion period in the autumn of 2010, and quickly became an integral member of our team.

Working primarily as assistant to Kenny Hannah at our Operations Headquarters, Lynn’s astute research and organisational skills provide the strong backbone our intensive administrative processes necessitate. One of Lynn’s roles is to meet and greet customers arriving for open courses at our Fife training centre; finalise student enrolments; and ensure a high quality of follow-up service is provided to delegates after completing their training.

Robert Bell

BSc - Quality Management, HND - Quality Management, MCQI, IRCA-reg’d QMS Lead Auditor.

Former Royal Air Force officer, Bob, is a highly experienced Quality Engineer and Auditor, with a vast knowledge in Electrical Engineering Manufacturing, Steel, and Nuclear Energy industries. He’s trained in ISO 9001, TS 16949, AS 9100 and IAEA 50N - C/SG-Q Auditing; and is a certified Six Sigma ‘green belt’.

When not carrying out SQMC assignments, Bob is a contractor at the nuclear reprocessing site, Sellafield; in Cumbria.

Kenny Hannah

Director of Operations, Data Controller.

A former storeman, Kenny joined the organisation in the summer of 1998 in an administrative position, which expanded over time to include marketing activities and then general operations.

Kenny is responsible for planning and co-ordination of training events, course venue vetting and procurement, plus the management of sales, marketing and business strategy. He is the proponent and architect behind SQMC’s technological advancements over the years, and designer of internal software applications that have enhanced the organisation’s efficiency and interactivity with our clients.

In 2012, after fourteen years of service, Kenny was invited on to SQMC’s Board of Directors.

Andrew Gillies

MBA, CMIOSH, MCQI CQP, IRCA QMS Lead Auditor.

Andrew is a distinguished business consultant with a background in both the public and private sectors; including the positions of Quality Manager at South Lanarkshire Council and latterly QHSE Manager for Interserve Construction.

Andrew is registered with the International Register of Certificated Auditors (IRCA) as a Lead Auditor for Quality Management Systems, and has led third-party audits on behalf of a UKAS-approved Certification Body.

As well as achieving Chartered Quality Professional status with the CQI, the Glasgow-born CE Marking specialist brings our clients a wealth of experience in Environmental Management Systems, and Occupational Health and Safety, for which he holds Chartered status with IOSH.

Cath Macneill

BSc, MSc, IOSH, MCQI, IRCA reg'd QMS Principal Auditor.

Cath is a highly experienced Quality and occupational health and safety auditor, advisor and trainer. She believes passionately that management systems genuinely save companies money in the long term, and lead to company growth and staff retention.

Cath began her career in Quality Assurance and health and safety consultancy back in 1993, within a variety of industries. She is equally suited to working alongside owner/managers of cottage industries as she is with teams at large government departments, electronic and oil companies. With an emphasis on civil and mechanical engineering, printing and general industry sectors, she is aware that there are similar issues that affect all organisations regardless of size or type; and is adept to facilitate the correct culture for the improvement of Quality and health and safety systems. She's regularly asked to conduct internal audits on behalf of clients, and supplier audits for a portfolio of large clients that includes Transport Scotland's road construction and maintenance schemes.

Cath joined the Scottish Quality Management Centre in the spring of 2019, bringing with her 20 years of expertise in developing and delivering IRCA registered Quality (and Safety) courses. As is the philosophy of SQMC, her classroom is enriched by her up-to-date anecdotal examples from her recent audits.

A fluent speaker of Hungarian, having lived and worked there for several years, Cath likes to 'relax' by taking part in triathlon training and competitions!

Alex Kirk

MBA, CMIOSH, IRCA QMS Lead Auditor.

Alex has over 30 years of hands-on experience in senior HSEQ roles in both the public and private sectors. He has a proven track record of leading working groups in the implementation and monitoring of an organisation's Occupational Health & Safety Management System, for which he holds Chartered status with IOSH.

An enthusiastic, dynamic, and motivated individual, Alex can relate to and influence all levels within an organisation, ensuring they comply with all relevant legislation and regulations. He's accustomed to working in a fast-moving, dynamic and high-risk environment; having extensive and transferable skills in Strategic Health & Safety Management, Corporate and Operational Risk Management, QSA Auditing and Training.

Alex has led on major Health and Safety changes for the Scottish Police Service where, in 2012-2013, he was nominated as the Single Point of Contact (SPOC) on behalf of the Association of Police Health & Safety Advisers for Scotland, and was instrumental in bringing together all Scottish Police Safety Advisers and Managers to work as a united team. Every Health and Safety-related aspect was benchmarked for best practice and legislative requirements, taking forward a number of key pieces of work to future-proof the transition to Police Service of Scotland, in April 2013. The massive project required Alex to produce a new Strategic H&S Policy and Standard Operating Procedure, H&S Strategy and a three year action plan to deliver continuous improvement; to name just a handful of his responsibilities in his role as 'Interim Lead National Health and Safety Manager'. His hard work was recognised in 2014 with a Certificate of Distinguished Service for his contribution within the police service, and the future of risk management within Police Scotland was the subject of his dissertation for his MBA.

As an HSEQ Manager, Alex recently implemented Health, Safety, Environmental and Quality Management Systems at one of Scotland's largest electrical, instrumentation and control engineering companies, successfully gaining registration from a UKAS-approved Certification Body. The company then received an International Safety Award, as further testimony to his expert input, solution–focused approach, and focused desire to ensure the safety and wellbeing of his colleagues.

SQMC clients engaging the service of Alex will undoubtedly benefit and enjoy a consultant with real drive and a willingness to succeed. His vast experience, professionalism and proactive approach to his projects mean he adds value to every organisation he is partnered with.

Susan Hunter

BSc Hons PgDip, PIEMA, IRCA-Certified QMS & EMS Lead Auditor.

Susan is a seasoned Environmental Professional who has spent more than two decades protecting and enhancing our environment. In her role as a consultant, she has a burning desire to teach others how to use the environment to develop their businesses.

Susan worked for the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) for 18 years, giving her a wealth of experience in the environmental industry that she can draw upon as a trainer.

She is also a co-founder of Edge of Eden Design Studios, a company that specialises in the production and sale of products made from reclaimed or secondhand materials. The notion of the circular economy, upon which her work is based, is beautifully exemplified by this reuse and redesign.

Meet our team.

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