Meet Iwan Powell
“There’s a lot of variety – you’re not just doing one thing. You’re involved in the whole process.”
Job Title: Regulatory Compliance Specialist
Company: Lionel Hitchen Ltd
Degree: BSc Chemistry, University of Bath
Finding a Route into Chemistry
Iwan didn’t have a clear career path in mind at school but he did know he wanted to follow a scientific route. With A-levels in Maths, Further Maths and Chemistry, he had a strong foundation in analytical thinking and problem solving. Although he was interested in biochemistry too, he chose to drop biology in favour of Further Maths and committed to a degree in Chemistry at the University of Bath.
“I thought, ‘I’ll pick something that interests me and gives me options’. I didn’t know what job I wanted, just that chemistry was something I enjoyed and could lead me somewhere useful.”
Entering the Flavour Industry
After graduating, Iwan started job hunting during the COVID-19 pandemic. With fewer opportunities available, he applied widely and stumbled across a role in the flavour industry, an area he hadn’t previously considered.
“I had no idea this industry even existed locally, let alone that there was such a large manufacturer practically on my doorstep. It felt like finding a hidden gem.”
Iwan joined Lionel Hitchen Ltd in a technical regulatory role. At the time, he only knew he wanted to stay away from lab work, but this job offered a perfect mix of chemistry, technical detail and administrative structure.
What Does a Regulatory Compliance Officer Do?
Iwan’s role focuses on ensuring that ingredients, products and suppliers meet complex safety and legal standards. This includes reviewing technical data sheets, updating specifications and working with natural flavour compounds that can change over time.
“There’s a lot of problem solving. We look at how hazards are classified and how updates to regulations affect our products. You might find one chemical change impacts four products or 600. It’s my job to assess the impact and make sure everything’s correctly updated.”
Brexit added another layer of complexity early in his career. Iwan took the lead on aligning UK and EU regulatory systems, an experience that gave him responsibility and visibility early on.
Developing Technical and Analytical Skills
Over time, Iwan’s role has grown to include more cross-department collaboration, project work and data analysis. He’s particularly proud of driving improvements using Power BI to analyse performance indicators and identify time-saving opportunities.
“I love the analytical side. It’s a bit of a passion project – finding patterns, solving problems and making things more efficient across departments.”
Looking Ahead
Five years in, Iwan is still deciding what his long-term path looks like, but he’s interested in both technical specialisation and future management opportunities.
“I never thought I’d work in the flavour industry, but now I’m here, I really enjoy it. The company’s been incredibly supportive and the work is more interesting than I ever expected.”
Iwan’s Career Advice
“You don’t have to have it all figured out. Pick a degree that interests you and see where it leads. The flavour industry isn’t something many people know about, but there’s a lot going on behind the scenes and plenty of opportunities to grow.”
What I enjoy most about Regulatory Compliance
In this video, Iwan Powell shares why the hazard classification side of regulatory work inspires him. From understanding how hazards are assessed to managing large-scale regulatory updates, he explains how problem-solving, calculations and scientific reasoning form the core of his role at Lionel Hitchen.
