Talk
Beyond the Gatekeeper: Redefining the Tester’s Role in Modern Software Teams
Philippa Jennings
For years, testers have been seen as the final line of defense—the gatekeepers who decide whether software is “ready.” But in today’s diverse delivery contexts, that framing no longer fits.
Testing HR and payroll systems demands accuracy, compliance, and employee trust. Airline holiday platforms rely on timing and reliability to deliver customer confidence. Insurance products require transparent risk decisions, while education technology must ensure usability, accessibility, and reliability for staff, students, and guardians. The domains differ, but in every case the tester’s role extends far beyond defect detection.
Key Takeaways
In this talk, I’ll share lessons from redefining the tester’s role across these domains, showing how testers can:
• Amplify team awareness of risk rather than “owning” quality.
• Influence product and design decisions before a line of code is written.
• Balance systematic testing with the pressures of speed, scale, and user expectations.
• Foster a culture where quality is a shared responsibility.
Attendees will leave with practical strategies to rethink their role within their own environment—whether they’re managing complexity in payroll, ensuring confidence in holiday bookings, clarifying risk in insurance, or helping teachers, students and guardians trust their software. By stepping beyond the gatekeeper role, testers can become catalysts for higher quality, faster learning, and stronger collaboration.
About the Speaker
I’m a quality and testing practitioner with over 17 years’ experience helping teams build quality in from the start, rather than relying on late-stage testing. I work closely with product, engineering, and design to surface risks early, influence decisions before code is written, and use exploratory and risk-based testing to support informed “good enough” decisions.
My focus is on moving beyond gatekeeping toward shared ownership of quality, helping teams deliver software people can trust across complex and high-risk domains.