Our auditing team work in accordance with the Chartered Quality Institute (CQI) and the International Register of Certificated Auditors (IRCA) Code of Conduct to ensure the highest ethical standards and integrity.
All SLF auditors will ensure the following principles of auditing:
Act with integrity at all times
Ensure impartiality and objectivity within the audit
Maintain confidentiality and security of information
Ensure due diligence and professionalism
Ensure fair representation and accurate, truthful reporting
Maintain an evidence based approach
Ensure the adoption of structured audit process to ensure reliable, consistent auditing
Ensure a risk-based approach that considers risks and opportunities for improvement
Our Auditors
Deborah is an accredited SA8000 Social Systems Lead Auditor and is available to conduct Social and Governance Audits.
Before founding the Sustainable Leather Foundation, Deborah previously managed the Leather Working Group, working with organisations around the world to improve the environmental impact of leather manufacture. As well as overseeing the day to day management of the Sustainable Leather Foundation, Deborah is also a UN/CEFACT Consultant, working on the UNECE project to “Enhance Traceability & Transparency for more Sustainable Value Chains in the garment and footwear sector” and is a Council Member of the Society of Leather Technologists and Chemists. Deborah is a Practitioner of the Chartered Quality Institute (PCQI) and is an accredited SA8000 Social Systems Lead Auditor.
To contact Deborah about an audit please click here: Audit Enquiry
Zain holds a Masters degree in Operations management – MBA from ITM business school, India, Bachelors degree in Mechanical Engineering from Anna university, India. He has worked as a Chemical quality and procurement manager in leather industry in his career and has provided information technology services setting up ERP systems in tanneries and shoe factories for optimised workflow.
Zain has worked in tanneries for more than 11 years and is a leather industry fifth generation. In his career he has worked with many tanneries. His knowledge spans a wide range of regions as a sustainability consultant since 2010 in India, Russia, Turkey, Africa, Bangladesh, Indonesia etc. His experience covers the full range of the leather production from beamhouse to finishing process.
In 2017, Zain obtained his ISO 14001:2015 certified environmental lead auditor certification from IRCA, In 2021 Zain completes his SA 8000 Social Accountability international certification by SGS. He is also a registered IEMA – Institute of environmental management and assessment – Principal Environmental Auditor.
He has worked on many projects to reduce environmental impact and cost reduction methods to tanneries and is also an industry expert for TUV SUD for ISO Audits. With experience with over 70 tanneries/ factories globally plus experience with shoe factories for ISO audits and social audits.
Zain’s Native language is Urdu and can speak fluently in English, Hindi, Tamil, and intermediate level in Russian.
To contact Zain about an audit please click here: Audit Enquiry
Junaid is the Managing Director of Asian Verification and works as a consultant and lead audit, helping textile, apparel, leather and footwear industries to achieve business excellence.
Junaid is a qualified ISO45001 Occupational Health & Safety Lead Auditor, as well as ISO9001 Quality Management Lead Auditor. He is also an Environmental Management Systems Lead Auditor (EMS-LA) and is a certified PMP (Project Management Professional).
Junaid has a wealth of experience that spans water and energy technology, sourcing, business development and lecturing university students.
Junaid holds a BA in Apparel and textile Marketing, a Masters in Business Administration, a Diploma in Supply Chain Management and Project Mangement, alongside his Foundation Degree in Engineering.
To contact Junaid about an audit please click here: Audit Enquiry
Alfredo is a leather professional with more than 20 years of experience in several tanneries in Spain, with responsibilities ranging from raw material and chemicals sourcing to process control and development; from beamhouse to finishing department, from R+D and quality control labs to management of solid wastes and WWTP. He has served in all the critical departments in the technological areas of the tannery.
Alfredo holds a Degree in Chemistry and two masters in Integrated Management of Quality, Environment and Occupational Health and in Sustainability and Corporate Social Responsibility. He is an Environmental Lead Auditor, ISO 14001:2015, recognised by the European Organisation for Quality (EOQ). He is also an LWG approved auditor since January 2018.
Over the last few years, Alfredo has been developing CSR plans and strategies for chemicals producers, as well as undertaking consultancy work for tanneries in Russia, Kazakhstan, China and Mongolia. With more than 15 publications in journals and congresses, he is an active communicator who is keenly interested in environmental impact of tanneries, float recycling, waste minimisation, and operations research, in order to help make better decisions in the tannery.
To contact Alfredo about an audit please click here: Audit Enquiry
Interested in becoming an Auditor for Sustainable Leather Foundation?
In 2022 we will assess the requirements for additional auditors to provide environmental and social audits at facilities around the world. To be eligible for consideration you will be a Certified Lead Auditor in either ISO 14001 Environmental Management or SA8000 Social Systems. In addition, Lead Auditor ISO 45001 Occupational Health & Safety will be advantageous.
If you are interested in learning more about the future opportunities with SLF, please send a full CV with covering letter to the team using the link below: