Since joining Achilles in 2023, Hadeel Khalid has progressed from Supplier Relationship Specialist to Lead Auditor, bringing a unique perspective shaped by first hand experience with suppliers. In this interview, she reflects on her career journey, shares insights from the audit field, and discusses the evolving ESG landscape across the GCC.
Q: Tell us about yourself: what’s your background, and what led you to a career at Achilles?
I’m from Saudi Arabia and grew up in Riyadh. I studied at Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, where I gained a bachelor’s degree in English Translation. After graduating, I worked in the banking sector for three years, which gave me a strong financial background.
I then joined Achilles as a Supplier Relationship Specialist, where I worked directly with suppliers to help them register on the Achilles platform, complete their questionnaires and understand ESG requirements.
While working with Will Nelson, Global Head of Audit, on a few audits as a translator, I became interested in auditing. When I saw there was an opening for an auditor in the Middle East team at the beginning of this year, I asked if I could be considered for the role. I then completed two qualifications (the ISO 9001:2015 Lead Auditor qualification and the NEBOSH International General Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety) and spent two weeks in the UK shadowing different auditors to learn more about the role and the different types of audits. I then progressed into my current role as Lead Auditor.
Q: You joined Achilles in 2023 as a Supplier Relationship Specialist and have recently become a Lead Auditor. What prompted you to move into auditing, and how has your experience working closely with suppliers shaped your approach?
When I was working as a Supplier Relationship Specialist, I spent a lot of time helping suppliers complete their questionnaires and making sure they were compliant. This made me want to learn more about how their businesses actually operate so moving into auditing felt like a natural next step.
The two roles are quite similar in some ways, but now I get to visit suppliers and see things for myself rather than just reviewing the evidence they upload to the system. My previous experience also helps me understand the suppliers’ perspective and communicate with them during audits.
Q: What has surprised you most about the role, and what have you enjoyed most?
What surprised me most is how much you can learn about a business through an audit, especially with the variety of categories available through Achilles. One day we might be visiting a factory, the next a food company or an oil and gas company. Each audit gives you a different insight into how a business operates and the challenges they face.
What I enjoy most is meeting different people, learning about their businesses and taking something new away from every audit.
Q: You’ve had the opportunity to shadow experienced auditors and learn through real-life audits. What have you learnt in the field that you couldn’t learn from training alone?
Training gave me the technical knowledge, but going out on real audits has taught me how to apply it in different situations.
In my previous role as a Supplier Relationship Specialist, I was involved in supplier screening and helping suppliers complete their questionnaires. If a questionnaire highlighted gaps, such as missing certificates or ISO certification for a quality management system, we could look at this in more detail during an audit and see the evidence for ourselves. We can then give some suggestions on how to improve.
I’ve also learnt how important it is to communicate well and ask the right questions. ESG is a good example of this in Saudi Arabia, where some suppliers are familiar with ESG while others are less aware of what it means and why it matters. I can draw on my experience from my previous role to help explain this to them.
Every audit is different, and I’m still learning about the different businesses we work with and how they operate.
Q: What can an independent ESG audit reveal that a questionnaire or self-assessment can’t?
An independent ESG audit goes beyond what is written in a questionnaire. It allows us to verify the evidence, understand how policies are actually implemented, and identify areas for improvement that may not be visible through self-assessment alone.
Q: What’s a common misconception businesses have about what an ESG audit actually involves?
A common misconception is that an ESG audit is simply about finding problems. In reality, it’s about understanding current practices, verifying evidence, and identifying opportunities for improvement opportunities.
Q: As ESG expectations continue to develop across the GCC, what are you seeing businesses focus on most when it comes to improving their ESG performance?
From my experience, I’m seeing greater awareness of ESG and a stronger focus on improving policies, compliance, and overall business practices. Companies are also becoming more focused on demonstrating their performance through clear evidence and continuous improvement.
Q: Looking back at your journey since joining Achilles, what are you most proud of, and what are you looking forward to in this next chapter?
I’m most proud of how much I’ve grown since joining Achilles, from working with suppliers to becoming a Lead Auditor.
I’m currently working on the SIDAM programme, where we’re helping Saudi factories improve their ESG practices, make their supply chains more transparent and manage risks, including those related to environmental impact and progress towards net zero, in line with Saudi Vision 2030.
We started by sending out questionnaires and then auditing some of their suppliers to understand their current practices and where Achilles could help. We’re now carrying out desktop audits and working on UVDB before moving on to face-to-face audits.
I’m looking forward to gaining more experience, continuing to develop as an auditor and supporting Achilles’ work in Saudi Arabia and across the region.
