From strengthening compliance frameworks to serving on the Family Court bench, Sarah shares how a culture of trust and purpose drives her work
Sarah Cannon is the Group Quality Assurance Lead for Multitone Electronics. Appointed in March 2025, she leads the team on all quality assurance matters whilst overseeing compliance with ISO standards and regulatory/legal requirements in the UK, Malaysia and Germany. In this interview, Sarah shares her thoughts on how Multitone embeds a culture of quality across the company, and how this commitment to safe and effective solutions aligns with her personal values.
Multitone: Sarah, what have been your three key highlights to date since joining Multitone?
Sarah: One of the biggest highlights has been getting to grips with the business and really understanding how important Multitone’s solutions are in real-world, critical environments. It’s great to know that what we do genuinely makes a difference every day.
Another key highlight has been the successful completion of audits in the first year. Joining a new organisation and adapting to a new set of standards is always challenging, and the team’s support was important in achieving the recertifications.
Finally, I’ve really enjoyed strengthening our quality and compliance frameworks. It’s been rewarding to see changes to discussions about quality becoming more embedded in day-to-day conversations rather than something people mainly think about at audit time.
Multitone: You oversee several critical ISO standards including 9001, 14001, 22301 and 27001. How does this commitment to quality and security create a competitive edge or a better experience for our customers?
Sarah: Compliance with ISO standards such as quality management and information security isn’t just about certification – it’s about trust.
Our customers rely on Multitone for solutions that must work first time, every time, often in high-risk environments.
By embedding these standards into our daily operations, we reduce risk, improve reliability, and ensure consistency across everything we deliver. For customers, this means confidence that their data is protected, their systems are robust, and their supply partner takes governance and accountability seriously. That trust is the significant competitive advantage in critical communications that Multitone has always offered and always will.
Multitone: What is the biggest challenge when unifying quality assurance best practices across international teams, and what steps have you taken to ensure adoption?
Sarah: It is making sure we’re consistent without being rigid. Different locations naturally have different ways of working, so it’s important not to take a one-size-fits-all approach. I’ve focused on clear communication, practical guidance, and working closely with local teams so they understand the “why” behind the processes. Through regular check-ins, internal audits and open discussions, I ensure teams understand, support, and always use our quality systems, rather than simply documenting them.
Multitone: How do you make quality and legislative compliance a shared responsibility in everyday work?
Sarah: I try to keep things practical and relevant. When people understand how quality and compliance link directly to safety, customer satisfaction, and protecting the business, it stops feeling like a tick-box exercise. By weaving these topics into everyday conversations, team meetings and decision-making, quality becomes part of normal working life. Leading by example and encouraging people to speak up or ask questions also helps build a culture where everyone feels responsible for doing things the right way.
Multitone: What are Multitone’s three top strengths which make it an attractive place to work?
Sarah: First and foremost, the sense of purpose; working on solutions that really matter in the critical moments makes the work more rewarding. Secondly, the high level of support from board level and a lot of knowledge across the business. Finally, the level of trust and autonomy given to employees, empowers individuals to take ownership of their work.
Multitone: Why do you think so many employees choose to stay loyal to Multitone?
Sarah: People stay because they feel valued and respected. There’s a strong sense of loyalty, and a genuine appreciation of experience. Multitone also offers stability and the chance to grow over time, which encourages people to build long-term careers here. If you are willing to put the hard work in and actively put yourself forward, Multitone will go on that journey with you.
Multitone: Which of the company’s solutions most excites you – and why?
Sarah: I am really looking forward to being part of the innovation taking place with Fire coders. This work is particularly meaningful, as they not only support Fire and rescue services across the country but also provide critical support to organisations such as the RNLI. In addition, there are some very exciting developments planned for our next-generation messaging tools, which will further enhance their capabilities. All of this strongly resonates with my core belief in keeping people safe and providing meaningful levels of protection. Watch this space; there is a lot to be excited about!
Multitone: What changes do you think will occur in the world of compliance within critical communications over the next few years?
Sarah: I expect to see increased focus on cybersecurity, data protection, and supply chain assurance. As systems become more interconnected and digital, compliance will move beyond static standards toward continuous monitoring and risk-based assurance.
Organisations that proactively embed compliance into innovation will be best positioned to succeed – this is one of Multitone’s values at its core.
Multitone: Talking of outside work now, what persuaded you to put yourself forward as a magistrate?
Sarah: I have always had a genuine desire to help others, shaped in part by my own experiences growing up. Experiencing severe bullying during my early school years taught me firsthand how unfair treatment and feeling unheard impact a person’s confidence and sense of safety. Those early experiences instilled in me a determination to support those facing challenging circumstances and sometimes at a point in their life which could be their most challenging.
This commitment continued into my early career when I worked with the NSPCC. That role offered me a window into the complex realities faced by vulnerable children and families, and the challenges of navigating legislation while ensuring that the people affected received the support and protection they needed. It reinforced the importance of safeguarding and empathy, together with balanced, thoughtful decision-making; a skill that I have carried with me throughout my professional life.
Putting myself forward as a magistrate felt like a natural continuation of that early work in a capacity which means I can still enjoy what I do now, particularly as the role allows me to contribute within the family court. I feel deeply committed to supporting fair outcomes for children and families and ensuring we make thoughtful decisions in their best interests.
The opportunity to sit as part of a diverse bench was also a key attraction, bringing a range of perspectives and life experiences into the justice system. The responsibility that comes with the role is significant, but it is this responsibility that makes it so meaningful.
I feel incredibly fortunate to have Multitone’s support in becoming a magistrate. Their encouragement reflects the company’s strong community values and commitment to helping people grow, both professionally and personally, and I am grateful to be able to pursue something that aligns so closely with my values, core work practices and life experiences.
Multitone: Final question… Do compliance and the magistracy require the same ‘DNA’? What shared skills have you relied on?
Sarah: Surprisingly, yes. There’s a lot of overlap. I think compliance and the magistracy share a similar ‘DNA.’ Both roles draw their strength from fairness and integrity, requiring me to apply rules and frameworks consistently while remaining mindful of context and impact. In each case, there is a responsibility to make balanced, well-reasoned decisions that stand up to scrutiny.
Many of the skills I rely on in compliance translate directly into the magistracy. These include strong attention to detail, the ability to assess evidence objectively, and confidence in interpreting and applying standards or legislation. Equally important are good judgement, clear communication, and the willingness to ask the right questions to fully understand a situation before reaching a conclusion. Perhaps most importantly, both roles require empathy alongside professionalism.
Whether working in compliance or sitting as a magistrate, you are often dealing with complex situations that affect people in very real ways. Being able to remain impartial while understanding the human impact of decisions is a shared and essential skill in both.
Ultimately, both roles are about responsibility, judgement, and doing the right thing, even when decisions aren’t easy.
Thank you, Sarah, for sharing with us your professional and personal experiences.
