I’m delighted to announce the launch of a new mobile app from the Standards Australia Store.

Designed with user feedback from tradespeople, technicians, and workers who want the ability to view Australian Standards™ in real-time via their mobile phones, the mobile app aims to be an intuitive tool for looking up Australian Standards™ anywhere, with the ability for users to access publications offline when working on site or in remote areas.

With continuing cost of living pressures affecting the broader economy, the mobile app seeks to be a low-cost solution to access and subscribe to Australian Standards™ through an annual subscription, helping industries prioritise safety at an accessible price point.

You can read more about this exciting development here: Standards Australia Store Mobile App

Adrian O’Connell

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Every year Standards Australia recognises individuals, accredited SDOs and committees that have made an outstanding contribution to standards development.

Nominations are open across six categories, including:

• R. Hebblewhite Medal

• Meritorious Contribution Award (National)

• Meritorious Contribution Award (International)

• Emerging Leader Award

• Innovation Award

• Outstanding Committee Award

To learn more about the awards or make your nomination, click here.

Dr Kobi Leins (GAICD) is a global expert in AI, international law and governance. She’s a member of Standards Australia’s IT-043 Artificial Intelligence National Committee and is an Honorary Senior Fellow of King’s College, London.

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When did you first become involved in standards development?

I started to become involved in standards development towards the end of my PhD and working in an Engineering and Computer Science department at a university. I was researching and writing on Artificial Intelligence governance, and it was clear that standards had (and still have) a profound impact on mechanisation and industry.

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How do standards impact and interact with your industry?

Anyone using data should be aware of and comply with the best practice of standards. History doesn’t repeat, but it rhymes. The rise of mechanisation caused a lot of deaths, and engineers started to study safety as a separate topic, with research showing that production increased, rather than decreased, as safety and governance increased.

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Why is access to standards important?

The largest single loss of life in New York before 11 September was from a steamboat fire and subsequent sinking - many people died as wooden boats at the time were unregulated and steam engines often caught alight. Following the disaster, important changes were made to improve safety.

Standards provide the cobblestones of governance that prepare the way for the proper road of regulation, with deep technical knowledge and expertise of subject matter experts.

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What is the future of standardisation in your area of work?

In Artificial Intelligence, machine learning and automation, there needs to be an education piece about which laws already apply, how the systems work, and how companies and cultures engage with reviewing and reporting in documented, repeatable, and auditable ways.

The same research that demonstrated production increased with safety measures also applies to software as well as hardware – it is just a little more complex because of the ease with which software can be changed and how data needs to be managed. Companies need to review their policies and processes, and cultures and reporting systems, to ensure that there is effective governance of the tools they buy or use, regardless of technical complexity. Standards will change the game and raise the bar of best practice.

Discover Responsible AI Management with our webinar on AS ISO/IEC 42001:2023.

You’re invited to our online event where we’ll delve into the pioneering global AI Management System standard, AS ISO/IEC 42001:2023. Gain valuable insights into the application of this standard across organisations that incorporate AI systems in their products or services.

The webinar will be led by Harm Ellens, member of Australia’s Technical Committee IT43 Artificial Intelligence, and Director at Virtual Ink Australia. With more than two decades of experience in the AI field, Ellens brings a wealth of knowledge on the technical, ethical and business aspects of AI.

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Date and time:

Thursday, March 7 - 5.30 to 6.30pm AEDT

Register here.

Are you participating in an international technology standards committee working on critical technologies? Are you keen to upskill for free, share experiences and learn about international standards development for critical technologies?

Join the Tech Standards Training Program offered by the Department of Industry, Science and Resources and gain insights from experts and peers on topics such as geopolitics, international negotiation, cultural awareness, and diplomacy.

Don’t miss the next 2-hour online course on ‘Geopolitics of International Standards’ on 28 February, delivered by The Australian National University.

To register and find out more, visit industry.gov.au/TechStandardsTraining

Standards Australia represents Australia on the two major international standards development bodies, the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC). Our activities are reported on our International Updates page.

Access the latest standards development news in your industry sector via our Sectors page.

The public comment process provides an opportunity for stakeholders and members of the public to make valuable contributions. Draft standards currently open for comment are available via Connect.