Annual Scientific Meeting 2025

Sulisti Holmes is the Head of Decontamination and Incident Reporting Investigation
Centre, acting as the strategic lead for medical device safety and decontamination in
NHS Scotland.
She completed a degree in Pharmacy, a PhD in Applied Microbiology, postdoctoral
research projects. She completed the Advanced Course in Sterilization Technology,
Lead Auditor ISO 13485 and 4 TOPRA master classes on Medical Device
Regulations.
She sits on British and European Standard Committees. She is the author/co-author
of various decontamination articles.

Decontamination Lead and Deputy Head of Operations for Intensive care , Theatres , Pain and Sleep ( ITAPS).

For over three decades, Claire has been dedicated to advancing patient care, clinical safety, and operational leadership. With a career spanning frontline clinical roles and senior management.

Claire began her NHS journey in 1993, qualifying as an Operating Department Practitioner (ODP). For 26 years, she thrived in high-pressure environments, supporting thousands of surgical procedures across specialties. Her hands-on experience in anaesthetics, surgery, and postoperative recovery honed her commitment to patient safety, teamwork, and evidence-based practice. Known for mentoring junior staff and advocating for best practices, Claire became a trusted figure in operating theatres, ensuring seamless care from admission to recovery.

Recognizing the critical role of infection prevention, Claire transitioned into a Decontamination Lead role 7 years ago. In this position, she spearheaded initiatives to elevate sterilization protocols for surgical instruments and clinical environments.

For the past five years, Claire has served as a Senior NHS Operational Manager, leading the Intensive Care, Theatres, Anaesthesia, Pain, and Sleep (ITAPS) division. In this strategic role, she balanced clinical priorities with resource management, driving efficiency without compromising care quality. Key achievements include:

• Streamlining workflows across ICU and theatres to reduce patient wait times.
• Championing staff well-being initiatives to support burnout prevention in high-stress areas.
• Collaborating with multidisciplinary teams to integrate innovative pain management and sleep medicine practices.
• Navigating operational challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic, ensuring continuity of critical services.

After 31 years, Claire remains dedicated to the NHS’s core values whilst continuing to mentor emerging leaders, advocate for innovation in clinical environments, and champion initiatives that prioritize both patient outcomes and staff well-being.

With 16 years of experience in the healthcare industry, Becky has built an extensive career within the operating department, working across both the NHS and the independent sector. Beginning her career as an Operating Department Practitioner (ODP), Becky has taken on a variety of roles, including Deputy Theatre Manager, Ward Manager, and Theatre Matron. These positions have allowed her to develop a comprehensive understanding of the complexities of surgical services, from patient care to theatre management.

Over the years, Becky has been instrumental in driving improvements in theatre utilisation and clinical productivity, with a particular focus on optimizing the surgical process to reduce patient wait times. She has worked tirelessly to ensure that all necessary surgical instruments and equipment are available and decontaminated in a timely manner, a crucial element in maintaining high standards of patient care and safety.

In recent years, Becky transitioned into a leadership role dedicated to clinical productivity, with a heavy focus on surgical instrument requirements and decontamination processes. This shift has allowed them to spearhead initiatives to streamline workflows, ensure operational efficiency, and improve surgical outcomes. Their keen interest in reducing delays and optimizing theatre scheduling continues to drive their passion for improving healthcare services.

Having gained valuable insight from both the NHS and independent healthcare sectors, Becky has a unique perspective on the operational challenges and opportunities within both environments. This dual experience has enabled them to introduce innovative solutions that address the specific needs of each sector, while maintaining a patient-centered approach to all improvements.

Through her leadership and expertise, Becky continues to make a significant impact on the delivery of surgical services, ensuring that patients receive timely, high-quality care in a well-managed and efficient environment.

Andrew Poplett AE(W), AE(V), IEng, MIHEEM, ACIBSE, AffIFE
Andrew is an experienced engineer with over 35 years’ experience in healthcare building services engineering profession with 18 of those spent in the NHS.
He is now an independent advisor to the NHS and other private healthcare estate organisations in his role as an Authorising Engineer for both specialist ventilation and water quality and provides specialist support and advice on all aspects of estates and property management.

James is an AE(D) running an independent ltd company providing AE(D) services for NHS hospitals , private hospitals , manufacturers and contract providers. His AE(D) expertise is complemented by his previous knowledge as a Head of Estates within the NHS for 20 years, and overall NHS experience of 30 years. 

Sharon has taken a leading role in the Delivery, Contractual and Financial Management of Decontamination Services for both Private and NHS Healthcare providers.
Sharon is currently The Head of Decontamination which covers the Third party ‘Sterile service’ contract and Central Decontamination service for UHB, managing sterile services provision for over 80 theatres and has developed the QEHB Central decontamination unit to achieve BSI Accreditation in 2017 along with successfully opening a new the development CEDU Heartlands Treatment Centre 2023, newly refurbished CEDU at SOLIHULL 2021.
Sharon has recently taken over the role as Director of Finance for the IDSc and is a passionate and a strong supporter of continued staff training and development.

Mr Ryan Trickett is an expert hand and wrist surgeon who works as a specialist consultant in Cardiff, UK. He studied at University of Wales College of Medicine and developed an interest in hand surgery in the early 2000’s. He completed his surgical training across South Wales in all areas of orthopaedic surgery before completing an Advanced Training Post in Hand Surgery at the Queen’s Medical Centre in Nottingham. This prestigious nationally appointed post covers all aspects of hand and wrist surgery, including both orthopaedic and plastic surgical techniques. He then completed an additional fellowship at the world renowned Pulvertaft Hand Centre, learning advanced techniques in wrist fracture treatment, reconstruction and joint replacement in the hand and wrist. Ryan was appointed as a Consultant Hand and Wrist Surgeon in January 2015 at the University Hospital Wales, Cardiff.

He has completed an MSc in Trauma Surgery before commencing a research based MD where he developed a Patient Reported Outcome Measure for use after severe trauma. This was awarded by Swansea University in July 2017. Also in 2017, he completed the British Diploma of Hand Surgery – a jointly run specialist hand surgery qualification offered by the British Society for Surgery of the Hand (BSSH) and Manchester University. He was awarded the 2017 Gold medal for achieving the highest result in the examination.

He is widely published in the field of hand and trauma surgery with over 50 peer reviewed publications, a number of book chapters, and many internationally invited presentations. He currently sits as the Chair of the BSSH Communications Committee having previously served on the Research Committee and has been lead surgeon for a number of nationally directed hand surgery initiatives.

Jack is an experienced research scientist, auditor and consultant in medical device design, manufacture, quality assurance and regulatory affairs. He has particular expertise in packaging, decontamination, sterilisation, microbiology, material science and toxicology.
Jack is the founder and managing director of consultancy and training company Sterile Management Systems Ltd, as well as the co-founder and commercial director of conformity assessment body Sterility Assurance Limited. He is also an active participant in a number of industry committees including the research and emerging technologies committee at the Institute of Decontamination Science (IDSc).

Philippe DESTREZ has over 35 years of experience in the medical device industry and 20 years in device reprocessing with expertise in low temperature sterilization, endoscope reprocessing, surface disinfection and prion inactivation.

He coordinated the development of the French Sterilization Society and the World Sterilization Society (WFHSS) guidelines and is an active member of several ISO and EN committees, in particular the ISO and EN Working Group in charge of Hydrogen Peroxide Low Temperature Sterilization standards.

Philippe owns degrees in Physics (MSc-France) and business Management (MBA-USA) and is currently Scientific Director at ASP

Stacey works as a Production Team leader at UHCW NHS Trust Sterile Services in Coventry, where she manages a team of up to 20 supervisors and technicians on day shift that provides decontamination services to 32 theatres at UHCW and external customers across the Midlands.

Stacey has over 15 years of experience in Sterile Services and alingside her day-to-day decontamination production management role she is the unit lead on staff training and development, hacing recently undertaken a compelte review and update of staff training programs as UHCW Sterile Services.

Stacey recently completed her Level 3 Team Leader Apprenticeship, has qualifies as a certified ‘User’ for UHCW following her attendance at Eastwood Park in December 2024 and also undertakes weekly validation testing on all types of decontamination equipment at the unit.

Mike Simmons is a consultant medical microbiologist. His training in microbiology was interrupted by active service in the Falklands War but he managed to qualify as a consultant with the Royal Navy before moving to the late departed Public Health Laboratory Service.

He joined the NHS in 1990 before working for the CMO in Wales in 2000. From 2010 he returned to Carmarthen as the clinical lead for microbiology for the Hywel Dda University Health Board Microbiology Service provided by Public Health Wales, covering Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire. He continues to work for Public Health Wales on a part-time basis.

While working for the Welsh Government he chaired the decontamination project that led to all HSDU’s in Wales achieving Medical Device Directive accreditation and since that time has chaired the all Wales sterilisation and decontamination group.

Currently works for two NHS trusts as a consultant Microbiologist: Salisbury and Portsmouth Hospitals, with expertise in infection control, decontamination, hospital water and ventilation systems.
Prior to becoming a doctor he trained as an engineer working in the food, brewing and pharmaceutical sectors.
As an engineer he gained experience in hygienic design, plant commissioning, GMP validation and manufacturing.
Layth is a chartered engineer and remains a member of the Institute of Chemical Engineers.

Nick Brown is the General Manager, AVM Services, Cambridge University Hospitals.

Nick holds a Master’s degree in Business Management and has extensive experience in training staff and navigating business requirements across Europe, Asia, and the USA. As General Manager at AVM Services for over a decade, he has been instrumental in developing City & Guilds accredited decontamination training courses tailored to the needs of healthcare professionals. These programs enable participants to conduct correct and reliable operational procedures on decontamination equipment.

Under Nick’s leadership, AVM Services offers specialized training for Sterile Services Department and Endoscope Reprocessing Unit personnel, including technicians, senior technicians, and supervisors. The training programs cover various aspects of decontamination processes, ensuring that staff are well-equipped to meet the demands of their roles. Additionally, AVM provides comprehensive training for decontamination engineers, emphasising the importance of proper equipment maintenance and operation.

Steve Bishop is a Business Development Manager at Spirax Sarco (UK & ROI), with a particular focus on  decarbonisation, developing technologies and the criticality of maintaining quality and resilience in thermal energy delivery as industry decarbonises at increasing pace. Steve also has a keen interest in the Hospital sector and its’ Net Zero ambitions. He has been with Spirax Sarco for 18 years and also brings many years’ experience  of a variety of general industrial and steam-using processes, including manufacturing experience across a variety of industries.

Steve says – “ I’m passionate about the crucial role that steam continues to play in the delivery of Thermal Energy for our customers and how we are rapidly developing new technologies and approaches in order to achieve this, in a way that completely aligns with our collective Net Zero goals and challenges”

Karren joined UKHSA in 2021 as a Consultant Clinical Scientist specialising in Environmental
Microbiology and Infection Prevention and Control.
She initially trained as a BMS in diagnostic microbiology, becoming a clinical scientist and
Microbiologist (Decontamination) within the Infection Prevention and Control Team of a large NHS
teaching hospital (2006-2021). Here Karren specialised in the microbiological aspects of ventilation,
water safety and decontamination, including targeted microbiological sampling of the healthcare
environment (air, water and surfaces).

Lead Nurse Specialist IPC Primary and Community Care HARP

Amanda is currently the lead IPC specialist for the community at Public Health Wales. Her background roles include the lead nurse at the Hospital for Tropical Disease, London, before moving into Public Health, Research, and IPC. She has a BSc (Hons) in Health Protection and MSc in Infection Management in addition to a Diploma in Tropical Nursing. Her interests are in global IPC, outbreak response and how IPC is applied in non-clinical settings. The IPC guidelines were developed in close collaboration with Welsh Government, stakeholders including practitioners and wider disciplines of microbiology and decontamination experts.

Dr Brian Kirk is qualified as a Pharmacist. He holds a Masters Degree in Pharmaceutical Analysis and a PhD in Pharmaceutical Sterilization Technology. His Doctoral research involved investigations into the application of computer technology for modelling chemical reactions and the inactivation of bacterial spores in steam sterilization processes and monitoring and controlling steam sterilizers; work for which he received the 1985 annual award for best submitted paper to the Parenteral Drug Associations Journal. He worked for over 10 years in the UK NHS as a quality control pharmacist for a hospital pharmaceutical sterile supply manufacturing department gaining Qualified Person status as a result of this experience. He joined 3M Health Care in 1989 as a development scientist for sterilization monitoring products. During his time with 3M he was responsible for developing and supporting a number of new products including the first electronic Bowie and Dick test device launched onto the market. He also held a number of additional responsibilities including European Technical service for sterilization supporting customers and business teams (1995 – 2000) and then the same role within UK region. Before leaving 3M in 2019 he was Scientific Affairs and Education manager for the Western European region. Throughout his career Brian has had special responsibilities for monitoring the development of National, European and International standards relating to sterilization and as a result is a member of a number of BSI, CEN and ISO committees responsible for developing standards for chemical and biological sterilization indicators and steam, ethylene oxide and vaporized hydrogen peroxide sterilizers and sterilization processes. Brian is the convenor of ISO TC 198 working group 3, moist heat sterilization. Brian has presented at a number of national and international conferences, has published a number of peer reviewed articles and is a Fellow of the Institute of Healthcare Engineering and Estates Management (IHEEM) also registered as a UK Authorising Engineer (Decontamination) by the same professional institute. Brian is also a visiting honorary lecturer at the University of Nottingham and is on the peer review panel for the Journal of Hospital Infection. Brian is Director of Brian Kirk Sterilization Consultancy Group Ltd, a company he formed after leaving 3M in April 2019, specialising in Standards Development, Education and Sterilization Consultancy.

Senior Director, Scientific, STERIS

Richard has over 38 years’ experience in medical devices and sterilization and is a UK Registered Authorising Engineer (Decontamination). He has a BSc (Hons) in Applied Chemistry, and is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Biology (RSB), Fellow of the Institute of Healthcare Engineering and Estate Management (IHEEM), and Chartered member of the Institute of Decontamination Sciences (IDSc). He has been granted 6 patents.

He has been actively involved in the development of National, European and International standards for over 30 years, with leadership roles at BSI, AAMI, CEN and ISO, as well as serving as current Chair of ISO/TC 198, Sterilization of health care products. He has been the recipient of AAMI’s Standards Developer Award and is an AAMI Fellow.

The Principle Decontamination Engineer working within the specialist team at NHS Wales Shared Services Partnership/Specialist Estates Services. His role is dedicated to all aspects of decontamination/reprocessing techniques of medical devices. John is a member of a team that provides validation services, advice and guidance to Health Boards/Trusts within Wales and works closely with Welsh governmental departments to deliver policy and strategy in this unique and often complex field.

John has worked within the NHS in Wales since 1986, initially with Gwent Health Authority, before moving to Welsh Health Estates.

In 2012 John completed the ACIST course (qualifying course for Authorised Engineer – Decontamination) and was formally accepted onto the IHEEM register as an Authorised Engineer (Decontamination) late 2013.

He was a member and Officer of the CSC committee between 2011 and 2022, recently taking up the position of Chair in April 2024.

Mark Furmage is an Authorising Engineer Decontamination AE(D). Mark has over 30 years experience within the NHS working in many job roles from Engineer, Senior Estates Management, Decontamination and working within Infection Prevention and Control. Mark operates as an AE(D) within his own company Mark Furmage AE Services.