Governing safely, collaboratively and with integrity

Safe to Trade is underpinned by a robust governance structure. Bringing together a formidable team of the brightest minds from across the industry. Including renowned experts, professionals qualified to the highest level, industry leaders and consumers.

The Independent Governance Board (IGB)

Safe to Trade is governed by the IGB. The IGB bring strategic insight to support the ongoing development of Safe to Trade, whilst ensuring that the programme is managed and delivered to the highest possible standard. The IGB has an independent chairperson and has representation from the food industry, government and local authority and other experts in food safety and standards development.

Chair

Geoffrey Podger

Chair of the Independent Governance Board

Former CEO of the HSE and FSA, Chair at NCRQ National Compliance and Risk Qualifications

Alec Kyriakides

Independent Governance Board Member

An experienced food safety consultant with over 35 years experience in the industry, including as Head of Quality and Safety at Sainsburys, Non Executive Board Director of Campden BRI, a Trustee of the IFST, a Member ACMSF, Visiting Lecturer at Queen’s University Belfast and Chair of the BRCGS International Advisory Boards.

Jane Cull

Independent Governance Board Member

Scheme Manager with over 20 years experience in project, operations and safety roles.

John Barnes

Independent Governance Board Member

Ex head of Local Delivery at FSA and Former Senior Civil Servant, with extensive experience developing and deliverying food safety controls including the development of regulatory voluntary third-party assurance schemes.

Mark Flanagan

Independent Governance Board Member

CEO & Founder of Shield Safety, Environmental Health Professional with over 20 years’ experience

Sterling Crew

Independent Governance Board Member

An experienced food sector director who holds a portfolio of Chair and Board positions, including President-Elect of the Institute of Food Science and Technology and member of the Board of Trustees for the CIEH.

man eating feeling safe and confident

Alec Kyriakides

Chair of the Technical Standards Committee

An experienced food safety consultant with over 35 years experience in the industry, including as Head of Quality and Safety at Sainsburys, Non Executive Board Director of Campden BRI, a Trustee of the IFST, a Member ACMSF, Visiting Lecturer at Queen’s University Belfast.

Technical Standards Committee (TSC)

The TSC is responsible for the ongoing maintenance of the Safe to Trade standard, ensuring that it is always consistent and up to date with the latest legislation. Committee members have high expertise and experience in hospitality food safety management, food safety enforcement, hygiene regulations, health and safety and the development of standards.

Applications for the Technical Standards Committee are currently open. To apply visit our opportunities page.

We're looking for new members of the TSC

man eating feeling safe and confident

John Barnes

Chair of the Stakeholder Engagement Forum

An experienced food safety consultant with over 35 years experience in the industry, including as Head of Quality and Safety at Sainsburys, Non Executive Board Director of Campden BRI, a Trustee of the IFST, a Member ACMSF, Visiting Lecturer at Queen’s University Belfast.

Stakeholder Engagement Forum (SEF)

The SEF’s responsibility is key to keeping all stakeholders connected, and to promote awareness and understanding of Safe to Trade across all stakeholder communities, maintaining strong links with food industry regulators, inspection bodies, consumers and other groups.

man eating feeling safe and confident

Selvarani Elahi

Chair of the Certification Body Impartiality Committee

An experienced food safety consultant with over 35 years experience in the industry, including as Head of Quality and Safety at Sainsburys, Non Executive Board Director of Campden BRI, a Trustee of the IFST, a Member ACMSF, Visiting Lecturer at Queen’s University Belfast.

Certification Body Impartiality Committee (CBIC)

CBIC’s purpose is to ensure fairness and neutrality in the certification process, avoiding any bias. The committee operates on behalf of the Shield Safety Certification Body. Threats to impartiality are sources of potential conflicts of interest, bias and prejudice that could impact the objectivity of Safe to Trade certification.

We're looking for new members of our governance committees

man eating feeling safe and confident

Clare Lycett

Primary Authority Team, Milton Keynes City Council

Primary Authority

Milton Keynes City Council serve as the primary authority. This role includes the provision of authority-assured advice and guidance. Importantly other local authorities are required to respect the advice provided by Milton Keynes

Integrity Programme

The purpose of the integrity programme is to provide stakeholder confidence in the integrity of audits conducted by Certification Bodies. Within the integrity programme, Safe to Trade, on an ongoing basis, conducts audits on Safe to Trade certified locations and can carry out head-office audits of Certification Bodies to assess compliance with the Protocol