60 Seconds with Stewart Melvin

What does your role involve?

As an NQA Regional Assessor, my role is all about helping organisations achieving and maintaining ISO certification currently to the following Management System Standards: ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 45001, ISO 50001, BS 99001 & SSiP Assessments. Before joining NQA, I spent 22 Years with HM Forces (Army) and many years as a QHSE Manager on the other side of the table, preparing audits and working closely with certification bodies. That experience gave me a real appreciation of the challenges organisations face, from balancing day-to-day pressures to driving continuous improvements.

What do you enjoy doing outside of work?

I am a keen runner and have completed numerous Marathons, Half-Marathons and 10K races and raised money for both Veterans and Marie Curie - who looked after my mum, when she sadly passed away last year. I am also a keen Saturday morning park runner but was late for my first parkrun when I moved to England from Scotland as they start at 09:00 AM in England but 09:30AM in Scotland!

What are your hobbies and interests?

I enjoy studying history and archaeology and have continued the genealogy work initiated by my mother, which my father is unable to pursue. I actively study and document my family tree, tracing our ancestry and relationships across multiple generations.

In addition, I serve as Chair of the Southeast IOSH Community, providing strategic direction, acting as the figurehead, and representing IOSH at a regional level. I also maintain an active lifestyle, participating in running activities whenever possible and having led numerous C25K courses with various running clubs.

If you could instantly master one skill or talent, what would it be?

Play the Piano as looking back at my family history, I've discovered I have many talented musical ancestors.

A proud moment or achievement

One of my proudest achievements is the journey itself! The Army taught me resilience, discipline, and the importance of protecting people, which naturally evolved into a passion for health, safety, quality and the environment. In civilian life, I have been proud to apply those values in QHSE leadership roles, where I have helped create safer workplaces, improved compliance, and built cultures where people feel protected and valued. Seeing teams grow in confidence and knowing my work has contributed to fewer incidents and stronger systems is something I carry forward with pride. For me, both careers share the same foundation: services, responsibility, and making a positive difference for others.

A challenge you’ve overcome in your career

Serving with various war zones exposed me to high-pressure, unpredictable environments that demanded adaptability, resilience and strong decision-making. Each operational tour including Norther Ireland, Bosnia, Kosovo, First Gulf War etc brought unique challenges, from logistical constraints to complex security threats requiring quick thinking and teamwork under extreme conditions.