Prashan D. Chaminda
Melbourne,Australia
Summary
Experienced leader in CSR and sustainability, specializing in project management and people management. Successfully led over 200 human rights audits and innovative sustainability initiatives at Marks & Spencer PLC. Demonstrated expertise in social compliance auditing, stakeholder engagement, and supplier relations.
Overview
30
30
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
CSR Lead Auditor
Intertek
Melbourne, Australia
12.2022 - 05.2024
- Conduct diverse Human rights (CSR) audits across various industries and states in Australia
- Audits included initial meetings, payroll assessments, health and safety checks, employee interviews, and closing meetings
- Proceed with third party payroll audits as per requirements of different clients
- Proceed with human rights audits as per the federal, state and council laws and client standards
- The audits include the opening meeting, payroll check, Health & safety check, employee’s interviews and closing meeting
- Preparing final reports as per the specific requirements of each client standards
- Providing the feedback for technical report reviewer
- Attending team meeting and to discuss about the audit updates, K.P.I requirements, law updates, new audits and customer updates
Manager Sustainability and CSR
Marks and Spencer PLC
, Sri Lanka
02.2019 - 12.2022
- Responsible for monitoring social compliance and sustainability standards (Human rights) in accordance with legal and client expectations for all 70 suppliers of Marks & Spencer
- Meet with third-party audit firms conducting audits on behalf of M&S, clarifying the company's requirements
- Organize and conduct training programs for suppliers on Plan A (sustainability), social compliance standards, and legal updates as per M&S expectations
- Manage individuals with disabilities, including the Marks and Start program, as well as Plan A (sustainability) projects focusing on plastic minimization, waste management, water management and air quality among M&S suppliers
- Monitor and update the status of all SMETA audit reports for suppliers collaborating on action plans and timelines within the Sedex platform
- Implement Plan A sustainability projects to meet Marks & Spencer’s environmental goals, including plastic minimization, water management, and waste management among suppliers
- Address customer and stakeholder complaints with actionable plans
- Collaborate with local labor departments and other stakeholders, including NGOs, JAAF, and unions, to discuss industry updates and future plans
Business Assurance Senior Manager
Intertek Lanka pvt ltd
, Sri Lanka
01.2014 - 01.2019
- Conducted various types of 200 Human Rights (CSR) audits across multiple industries, including apparel manufacturing, textiles, fisheries, decoration, and tire production
- This included 40 BSCI audits focused on human rights and environmental standards, performed in accordance with client and legal requirements
- Established strong relationships with the Labor Department, Employers' Federation of Ceylon, stakeholders, and the Board of Investment to discuss ongoing industry matters and obtain updates on relevant laws
- Developed partnerships with NGOs to gather insights about the Sri Lankan apparel industry and address ongoing challenges within the sector
- Provided technical assistance for audits, including guidance on procedures and addressing report discrepancies
- Collaborated with clients to address their concerns, strengthen relationships, and manage the audit department, which comprised six auditors and three coordinators
- Reviewed final reports for accuracy prior to submission to clients
- Monitored the audit process from initiation to completion, ensuring adherence to key performance indicators (KPIs) related to reporting, accuracy, quality, and revenue
- Delivered presentations to suppliers as needed to promote new business opportunities and foster relationships by addressing feedback from audits
Assistant Manager - IAA
Bureau Veritas Consumer Products Services Limited
, Sri Lanka
04.2002 - 12.2013
- Conducted over 500 Human Rights (CSR) audits and 140 Quality Management System (QMS) audits for a diverse range of clients, encompassing more than 40 organizations
- Many of these audits included assessments of environmental considerations in line with client expectations
- Executed more than 100 Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (CTPAT) audits for approximately seven clients
- These audits aimed to mitigate potential threats associated with exported packages and cartons to the U.S., addressing gaps throughout the supply chain to ensure the security of exported goods
- Additionally, facilitated three Fair Labor Association (FLA) audits in collaboration with FLA representatives in Sri Lanka
- The objective of these audits was to address human rights concerns identified by local stakeholders, including NGOs
Quality Assurance Auditor
Ragtime Clothing (Pvt) Ltd
, Sri Lanka
01.1998 - 03.2002
- Monitored the production process from the counter sample stage to the packed goods stage, managing styles through various inspection systems, including pre-final, inline, and final inspections
- This encompassed fabric and trims inspections, ensuring adherence to approved samples and specification sheets
- Once production was complete, final audits of finished garments were conducted in accordance with AQL standards
- Conducted compliance and technical audits based on client requirements, primarily addressing human rights concerns of each supplier in alignment with legal and client standards
- Technical audits focused on meeting the Quality Management System (QMS) expectations of the client at each stage of the garment production process
Quality in charge
Lanka Garments Group / AGM plant
, Sri Lanka
01.1997 - 03.1998
- Implemented the quality management system and maintained quality standards from fabric inspection to packed goods
- This included training QC staff to meet product expectations, conducting daily meetings to address quality issues and identify root causes within the production process, and assessing the quality management system through inspection reports and KPI tracking
- Developed training requirements to fulfill client product standards
- Collaborated with client quality officers to address ongoing product issues and identify opportunities for improvement
- Conducted pre-production meetings for each style to discuss the standards to be achieved during production
- Established a documentation control system to ensure that the most up-to-date documents were utilized by staff
Subcontract quality controller
Union Apparel
, Sri Lanka
01.1996 - 03.1997
- Monitored daily production and conducted factory-wide inspections according to client AQL standards
- This included facilitating pre-production meetings with staff to explain product specifications and requirements, such as workmanship, stitching, trims, fabric, colour, and measurements
- Conducted pilot runs with small quantities on the production line to identify any potential issues before actual production began, addressing these concerns proactively
- Performed inline inspections to ensure that critical components of the product, such as collars and waistbands, met client expectations
- Additionally, implemented process inspections to minimize quality errors and ensure the final product conformed to the client’s specification sheet and approved samples
- Maintained quality standards throughout all stages of production, starting from fabric inspection, fabric laying inspection, fabric cutting inspection, trim inspection, cut panel defect inspection, pre-production meetings, pilot run meetings, and inline and final inspections
- Ensured compliance with the approved sample and trim card using AQL standards for final inspections
Quality controller
Dunhill Garment
01.1994 - 01.1996
- Began my career as a trainee quality controller in the first year, where I learned to create pattern boards based on client specification sheets
- I gained experience in fabric storage by colour lot, conducted fabric inspections using 4.0 methods to ensure the fabric met cutting standards, and understood fabric laying techniques to align with garment grain lines
- Additionally, I observed garment cutting practices in the cutting department to optimize fabric consumption, checked and sorted trims by lot for each garment, and performed fabric panel inspections to ensure no defects in the final garments
- Studied the pre-production meeting process, during which staff explained product specifications and requirements, including workmanship, stitching, trims, fabric, colour, and measurements
- In my second year, I worked as a quality controller, where I was responsible for overseeing product quality at each stage of production, ensuring compliance with the specifications outlined in the approved samples
Education
MSc - Textile and Clothing Management
University of Moratuwa
01.2022
Bachelor's - Industrial Studies (Apparel Production and Management)
Open University
Sri Lanka01.2013
Diploma - Industrial Studies (Apparel Production and Management)
Open University
Sri Lanka01.2008
Certificate - Industrial Studies (Apparel Production and Management)
Open University
Sri Lanka01.2004
G.C.E Ordinary level examination -
01.1990
Ph.D. - Environmental Management
N/A
N/ASkills
- Project management
- People management
- Technical skills in related QMS auditing and reporting
- Process management
- Social compliance auditing
- Sustainability in a related environment
- Complaint resolution
- Report Generation
- Scheduling
- Complaint Handling
- Product Knowledge
- Documentation
- Technical Support
- Quality Control
- Customer Relations
- Product Education
- Problem Resolution
- Staff Training
- Quality Assurance Controls
- Report creation
- Research
- Senior leadership support
Certification
- Certified Advanced Lead Assessor (SA 8000), 2011
- Certified Lead Assessor (SA 8000), 2004
- Certified Lead Assessor (ISO 9001-2015), 2017
- Certified Lead Assessor (ISO 14001-2004), 2013
- Certified Lead Assessor (Wrap), 2015
- Certified Lead Assessor (BSCI), 2017
- APSCA ASCA -Part 11 passed
- Certified Company Trainer (Train the Trainer program), 2013
- Certified product safety auditor by Levi's Stress co, 2005
- Certified BRC technical audits for Tesco and Walmart, 2005
References
- Chandana Kumar, Manager Business Assurance, Intertek Lanka Pvt Ltd, 0094-727775688, Chandana.kumar@intertek.com
- Michel Killer, CSR Lead Auditor, Business Assurance Australasia, +61418896524, michael.killer@intertek.com
Languages
- English
- Sinhalese
Revisiondate
09/10/24
Timeline
CSR Lead Auditor
Intertek
12.2022 - 05.2024
Manager Sustainability and CSR
Marks and Spencer PLC
02.2019 - 12.2022
Business Assurance Senior Manager
Intertek Lanka pvt ltd
01.2014 - 01.2019
Assistant Manager - IAA
Bureau Veritas Consumer Products Services Limited
04.2002 - 12.2013
Quality Assurance Auditor
Ragtime Clothing (Pvt) Ltd
01.1998 - 03.2002
Quality in charge
Lanka Garments Group / AGM plant
01.1997 - 03.1998
Subcontract quality controller
Union Apparel
01.1996 - 03.1997
Quality controller
Dunhill Garment
01.1994 - 01.1996
MSc - Textile and Clothing Management
University of Moratuwa
Bachelor's - Industrial Studies (Apparel Production and Management)
Open University
Diploma - Industrial Studies (Apparel Production and Management)
Open University
Certificate - Industrial Studies (Apparel Production and Management)
Open University
G.C.E Ordinary level examination -
Ph.D. - Environmental Management
N/A
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