Simon Feary

Simon Feary’s early career was as a chartered biologist involved first in the genetics of cancer and leukaemia and their implications on prognosis followed by drug safety testing for the pharmaceutical industry. The latter involved a move away from the laboratory bench into management and, through exposure to Good Laboratory Practice and other regulatory requirements associated with the pharmaceutical environment, he gained a practical appreciation of the value to organisations of effective quality management.

Following completion of an MBA in the early 1990’s he joined the IQA in 1994 to head up IRCA, then a small UK-focused business and minor part of the IQA’s activities. During the next decade and a half he developed IRCA into an international brand synonymous with auditor and training certification, recognised and accepted worldwide as a credible component of the accredited certification landscape. In 2008, he moved to his current position as CQI’s chief executive, with a brief to promote the role and contributions of the quality professional within business and industry and to champion the CQI’s role as the leading professional body for quality and a positive contributor to UK plc.

His background and interests are both business and quality, two attributes very relevant to managing the CQI. He is also active within standards making and, through IRCA, retains an involvement in the International Accreditation Forum and other groups charged with developing standards, guidance and best practice.