I wish I had a pound for every time I say ‘root cause analysis’

Catherine Watkinson, chair of the Society of Food Hygiene and Technology and site senior technical manager at Lyons Seafood’s, utters those three little words (over and over again…)

Describe yourself in three words

Hardworking, caring, stubborn (could be interpreted as determined!)

What’s your biggest professional achievement?
Achieving BRC A* unannounced with zero non-conformances two years running as part of the operational team at Lyons Seafood’s. That puts us in the top 0.4 per cent globally of achievement against the BRC standard

How did you get to where you are today?
Strong determination and a focus of what I wanted to achieve that have barely altered since I left university. Despite a few setbacks and detours along the way, I am happy with the journey my life has taken from both a personal and professional perspective 

What are your pet hates?
Very simply – dishonesty and disorganisation. There is only one characteristic I look for from the people that I work with and that’s for them to be open and honest with me whatever the issue. It makes for trusting and long-standing relationships. My colleagues think I have OCD with my colour co-ordinated folders but as I think a tidy desk means a tidy mind

Give us a positive prediction for the food industry over the next 12 months
The growth of cell phone technology to choose and buy food with related information to the source of the food, health messages an certification status etc 

What do you consider to be the most important attributes for a leader?
To have a clear vision, to support and provide direction, and to be open and honest 

Who do you most admire?
Having watched an enthralling two weeks of the Olympics, I have to say that, right now, it’s Lord Seb Coe. He has such a passion for his dedicated field. For years he trained to be a top athlete and then shared his passion with the nation to allow a new generation of sporting heroes. I hope that my passion for the food industry is felt among those around me so as to provide a new era of technologists, which is so urgently needed

Which people, organisations or companies are the ones to watch right now?
Cottage industry companies are ones to watch – as retailers look for unique selling points, I think new products coming into the market that are different and edgy could be the way forward. The Innocent brand was a prime example of this, as was along with Levi Roots’ sauces

Which word or words do you most overuse?
Root cause analysis! With the new BRC standard (Version 6) and working with ISO standards, we very much live by the principles of root cause analysis – I wish I had a £1 for every time I uttered those three words. From a personal perspective I use the word ‘bless’ quite a bit, too

If you weren’t at Lyons, what else might you be doing?
From an early age I always wanted some form of involvement with food. If I wasn’t actively involved in the industry, I would have some land and grow my own food and become self-sufficient as much as possible. There is no better feeling then picking and eating what you have grown

Tell us something about yourself that few people know
I would like to apply for Mastermind with my specialist subject being the novels of Agatha Christie. I have the whole collection at home

Any vices?
A glass of crisp white wine (or two) and a game of bingo on a Saturday afternoon with the girls

What single thing would most improve the quality of your life?
A better work/life balance

How do you relax?
Vegetable gardening, running, watching chill-out TV with a lovely meal and glass of white wine at home

How would you like to be remembered?
A warm, caring dedicated person – an ‘awesome’ person in her field