The Ethics of Quality

CQAA November 2025

The Ethics of Quality

About the Topic

The Ethics of Quality: Just Because We Can, Should We?

"Your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn't stop to think if they should." - Dr. Ian Malcolm, Jurassic Park

This iconic line from Jurassic Park wasn’t just about dinosaurs...it was a warning about unchecked innovation. And in today’s tech landscape, it feels more relevant than ever.

As quality professionals, we don’t just ensure software works; we have the power to shape how technology impacts real people. But in a world driven by speed, automation, and AI, are we asking the right questions? Are we testing more than just functionality? Are we testing for fairness, security, and ethical responsibility?

Key Learning Objective

• When ethical considerations get lost in the race to ship
• The hidden ethical risks of AI, automation, and rapid release cycles... are we unknowingly reinforcing bias or compromising user trust?
• The pressure to cut corners when business goals clash with ethical concerns
• Building accountability: fostering a culture where ethical considerations are just as important as speed and efficiency

About the Speaker

Gwen Iarussi - President of Association for Software Testing

Gwen Iarussi is a relentless advocate for quality, a passionate technologist and engineering leader who's committed her career to improving and shaping the next generation of technology delivery practices.

With three decades of experience in the industry spanning support, quality & testing, enterprise engineering strategy, and SDLC governance across a diverse set of domains including financial services, early and higher education and global eCommerce, she currently serves as VP, IT Strategy and Responsible Innovation Lead for Zions Bank and is the current President for the Association for Software Testing (AST), a nonprofit focused on building a global testing community and evolving testing methods and disciplines. She is also the Founder of Athena IQ Consulting, where she helps organizations focus and fine tune their approaches to technology transformation and solution implementation. Gwen holds a MS in Information Systems from the University of Utah.

Beyond the professional sphere, Gwen is a Colorado native living in Utah, a born "mountain woman" who would rather be outside exploring nature than just about anything, and an avid amateur photographer and sourdough baker. She is the single mom of two adult kids, two 90 lb rescue pups, and a mustached parakeet named Matisse, who may or may not contribute her own opinions on testing and quality depending on the day.

Registration

REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED TO ATTEND THIS PROGRAM.

Please register by November 17th, 2025 at www.cqaa.org.

If you have any questions, please contact info@cqaa.org.

Date: Wednesday, November 19th 2025, from 12:00pm-1:00pm

Location
Webinar - https://zoom.us/j/96893774070?pwd=Yo9JmbY8BiqAwqMbcYa0RxPVu7oubb.1