Bassam Alshammari

About you

My name is Bassam. With over 15 years of experience in the field, I am currently a Food Safety and Nutrition Senior Specialist and Head of Department at the Ministry of Health in Saudi Arabia.

I hold a Master's degree in Food Safety, Hygiene and Management from the University of Birmingham, UK. In my current role, I oversee strict food safety compliance for thousands of patient meals, from raw ingredients through to ready-to-eat service, while also providing external consulting, auditing, and research services.

Outside of work, I maintain a healthy work-life balance by reading, keeping up to date with the latest scientific and technological developments, and spending time with my family.

Why did you join the BRCGS Professional Programme?

I joined the BRCGS Professional Programme primarily to gain a deeper and more comprehensive understanding of product safety management. I also wanted to ensure the highest level of brand protection for my organisation and achieve an internationally recognised standard of excellence within my field.

What value do you personally feel the BRCGS Professional certification brings to you?

On a personal level, this certification has greatly enhanced my knowledge and strengthened my ability to manage complex product safety systems.

It has significantly increased my confidence when auditing within the food sector and has equipped me to overcome challenges more effectively. The certification has also enhanced my professional profile and enabled me to become part of a globally recognised and prestigious community of like-minded professionals.

How has the training helped improve operations at your site/company?

The training has had a direct impact on our site operations by strengthening our product safety culture and streamlining our compliance processes.

This has resulted in improved audit outcomes and, importantly, has enhanced our credibility and strengthened trust among our customers and stakeholders.

What did you most enjoy about the training?

I particularly enjoyed the interactive activities and practical delivery of the training.

The trainer was exceptionally knowledgeable and used effective teaching methods that made complex product safety concepts easy to understand and immediately applicable to real-world scenarios within my organisation.

What are you most looking forward to within the Professional community?

I am particularly looking forward to the networking opportunities and connecting with like-minded professionals from around the world. Sharing best practices with peers is invaluable.

I am also excited to access exclusive benefits, such as the microlearning modules, which will support my continued professional development.

How do you plan to keep your skills up to date?

I plan to actively engage with the Professional Programme by enrolling in additional training courses and taking advantage of e-learning modules and webinars.

I also intend to attend industry conferences and events to remain at the forefront of emerging product safety trends and regulatory developments.

What are your career ambitions/aims?

My main ambition is to lead a dedicated team of specialised professionals and establish myself as a recognised leader in product safety.

I aim to expand my impact by conducting further audits and providing expert consulting services for BRCGS, as well as for other local and international organisations within the food safety sector. Ultimately, I aspire to drive continuous improvement and champion safety and quality in everything I do.