Reflections, Progress, and What’s Next: One Year on from My Secondment

In July 2024, Captain Hassan EL-Halawany, Head of Hydrographic Division in the Egyptian Navy Hydrographic Department, spent 3 weeks with the UKHO Business Assurance team where he focused on Quality Management Systems whilst also participating in an ISO9001 Internal Auditor Training Course, which resulted in gaining a formal accredited qualification as an internal auditor.

Almost 1 year later, Hassan reflects on how the IC-ENC secondment opportunity paved the way forward in implementing Quality Management within ENHD.

ISO9001:2015 Internal Auditor certificate presentation with James Harper (IC-ENC General Manager), Hassan El-Halawany and Matt Millard

It is hard to believe a whole year has passed since my secondment at the UK Hydrographic Office. That experience was genuinely transformative—not only for me personally but also for the direction we’re now heading in at ENHD.

The training and exposure I received gave me both the confidence and the practical skills to help drive meaningful progress back home. I’m excited to share some key updates on how we’ve been putting our ISO 9001 qualification into action since our last update:

• Our ISO 9001 Journey is Underway
  We’ve officially begun our path toward ENHD’s ISO 9001 certification and we’re making excellent headway! It’s been a rewarding process that’s bringing structure and clarity to how we deliver quality in everything we do.

• Welcoming Our New QC Officer
  A big reason for our momentum is the addition of Mariam, our new Quality Control Officer. She is already making a big impact, and her efforts have significantly strengthened our quality assurance processes.

• Modernising with Purpose
  Inspired by what I learned during the secondment, we’ve also made strides in modernising our workplace. We're integrating concepts from ISO 45003 to support team well-being, and it’s been fantastic to see these ideas come to life across the office.

• Looking Ahead: Hosting Opportunities
  Perhaps most exciting of all, we’re preparing to give back. Next year, ENHD will be ready to host our very own IC-ENC secondment. It’s an incredible milestone, and we’re looking forward to welcoming colleagues and continuing the cycle of knowledge sharing and development.

This past year has shown just how powerful the right training and support can be. I’m proud of the progress we’ve made—and even more excited about what’s still to come.