Last year CEO Adrian O’Connell advised the Board and Members that he would retire in 2024. The Board subsequently commenced a CEO recruitment process.

I am pleased to announce that, following a wide search and exhaustive recruitment process, the Board has appointed a new CEO, Ms Emma Harrington, who will take up the role from 3 April 2024.

Emma is a dynamic executive leader with an extensive background in strategy innovation and transformation across a range of organisations. She has held senior leadership roles at the NRMA, Foxtel, Yahoo7 and Seven West Media.

Adrian has already commenced working with Emma to support a smooth transition.

On behalf the Board of Directors, I would like to show our appreciation and deep gratitude to Adrian for his tremendous contribution to Standards Australia over the past 18 years, and particularly in his capacity as CEO since March 2019.

These have been years of challenge and transformation – Adrian, together with his leadership team, have built the foundations of a more customer-focused organisation that is delivering even greater value to the Australian community.

I know Emma will be reaching out to stakeholders in the coming months to hear their thoughts on the future of Standards Australia, and I trust you will join me in welcoming her to the organisation.

Tracey Gramlick, Chair of the Board

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As Tracey mentions above, I will be retiring as CEO of Standards Australia and supporting Emma Harrington as she steps into the role.

My tenure at Standards Australia spans 18 years, during which I had the privilege to lead the organisation for the last five and work with so many committed people.

Building a modern, responsive, and innovative organisation has always been my objective and passion. The team at Standards Australia has worked very hard to realise the organisation's potential to add enormous value to Australia, its economic and social advancement and to the region in which we live. I am proud of what we have been able to achieve in moving the organisation forward.

There have been far too many memorable professional moments to list, but to lead the organisation during its centenary celebration, mindful of the great figures in its long history, was a particular honour.

Standards Australia is a great national asset and is in good hands. Under the new stewardship of Emma Harrington and her leadership team, our organisation will continue supporting our traditional areas of activity while developing new strategies to deliver on its mission and vision to empower communities and be a global leader in trusted solutions that improve life.

To all the Directors, Members, contributors, stakeholders, and staff I have worked with over the years I say thank you for your commitment and support. It has been a wonderful collaboration, and I wish you and our great organisation every success for the future.

Adrian O’Connell, CEO

Emma Harrington has a history of transforming companies, engaging with employees, customers and stakeholders to deliver meaningful outcomes.

Prior to joining Standards Australia as its new CEO, Emma was CEO of the iconic NRMA Motoring and Membership business for three years, leading its strategic response to the global shifts to decarbonise transport. She was previously NRMA’s Chief Customer Officer.

As a powerful advocate for organisation collaboration, diversity, equity, inclusion and empowerment, Emma has a track record of pioneering outcomes, including the NRMA’s first female roadside patrol and tow operators in its 102-year history.

Prior to joining NRMA, Emma held roles as Director Wholesale & Distribution for Foxtel Group, Managing Director / Acting CEO for Yahoo7, and Group Head of Data & Transaction Commercialisation for Seven West Media.

Emma holds a Master of Arts in Politics and International Relations from York University, Toronto, Canada.

Kate Stoner is a Senior Building Surveyor in local government and a representative for the Australian Institute of Building Surveyors on CS-034 Swimming and Spa Pools. She also teaches at the University of Technology Sydney and has served as an expert witness in several Land and Environment Court cases. Kate is a small business owner, a mother of two, and an active volunteer with organisations like OneMeal.

Since joining the CS-034 committee in 2010, how have you seen your role as a woman evolve in the standards environment, and how has this influenced your work?

Our committee representatives continue to be male-dominant largely because of the type of industry it is. However, I have seen a significant positive shift by Standards Australia to appoint female project managers and chairs.

In line with the 2024 International Women’s Day theme of investing in women, what initiatives or changes would you suggest to further enhance the representation and participation of women in standards development and in your area of work?

I’d love to see meetings planned with a family-friendly approach. This would better support voluntary involvement of parents of young children.

In our fast-paced world, time is increasingly scarce and volunteering often takes a backseat. What can you share for those who are interested in making a contribution to the world of standards?

I am often told that I am the busiest person that people know. I don’t give myself much downtime. I am happiest when I am contributing without the expectation of a return. Volunteering your time is a highly valuable experience, especially when you can make and see a real difference. Being involved with a committee in your area of expertise allows you to do that.

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Introducing HyStandards, a game-changer for the hydrogen industry. This innovative tool, a collaboration between CSIRO and Standards Australia, simplifies the process of finding the right standards for hydrogen projects. It's a valuable resource for researchers, engineers, and industry professionals.

HyStandards is an interactive visual tool that allows users to instantly access a list of Australian Standards relevant to the hydrogen industry.

Access the tool here: HyStandards – HyLearning (csiro.au)

Standards Australia recently hosted two webinars on the world-first AS ISO/IEC 42001:2023.

The first one, in partnership with CSIRO’s National AI Centre’s Responsible AI Network, 'What is the AI Management System Standard and why do we need it?’, the panel shared insights on the standard, its benefits, and its importance from a risk and governance standpoint.

Watch the webinar 1 here.

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The second webinar, 'Responsible AI Management', delved into the application of this standard across organisations that incorporate AI systems in their products or services.

Watch the webinar 2 here.

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New online training

For a more in-depth understanding of this AI standard, register for the online training course, in partnership with the Australian National University (ANU), 'Understanding AS ISO/IEC 42001:2023, Information Technology - Artificial Intelligence - Management System'.

Register now for the e-module: AI Management System Standard Training Course (standards.org.au)

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.

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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.