In May, we hosted our Mid-year Members Forum in Sydney.

This meeting provided an opportunity to listen and learn from our valued Members. It allowed us the chance to hear insights into their industries and understand what Standards Australia needs to address to better support its customers.

Attendees enjoyed an insightful panel discussion on the role of standards into the future and a working session on Standards Australia’s engagement with its Members and committee members.

Key themes and call outs from the day included:

• Visibility: The call for increased visibility on standards projects, the activities of other nominating organisations and members, and timeframes was heard. We are committed to enhancing transparency and working together to address these shared challenges.
• Recognition: The importance of ensuring employers value the participation of their people in technical committees, ways to highlight this value and continue to recognise contributors for their time and effort are being explored.
• Creativity: In response to a rapidly changing world, there is a keen interest to develop innovative and creative solutions.  
• Simplicity: Our ongoing aim is to simplify the process for Members. Providing context and executive summaries will enable member representatives to share information more effectively within their organisations.
• Access: There is a dedication to making it easy for committees to access the tools and information they need. Improvements to systems to facilitate this are actively being worked on.

We look forward to addressing these themes in our upcoming work and strategies.

In addition to these important conversations, we also announced the winners of the annual Standards Awards, which recognise and reward excellence in standardisation. We thank the winners for their commitment and contribution to standards and the community.

Finally, we recently recognised National Volunteer Week, and celebrated committee members who have been with Standards Australia for 15, 20, 25, and 30-plus years. We hosted events in Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane which were attended by over 300 contributors.  

To all our contributors, whether you have recently joined Standards Australia or have been with us for decades, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to you and your supporting nominating organisations. Your services to standards development have a lasting impact, and we look forward to many more years of collaboration and progress.

I look forward to speaking with you again soon.

We are pleased to announce the winners of the 2024 Standards Awards! These awards celebrate the exceptional accomplishments of members of our Australian standards development community.

The awards were presented at ceremony in Sydney:

• W.R Hebblewhite Medal: Geoff Boughton
• Meritorious Contribution Award (National): Colin Wood
• Meritorious Contribution Award (National): Robert Morgan
• Meritorious Contribution Award (International): Vivienne Christ
• Emerging Leader Award: Sarah Brunton
• Innovation Award: Harm Ellens
• Outstanding Committee Award: BD-090 Bridge Design

Learn more about the winners here.

During National Volunteer Week, Standards Australia hosted special events to honour committee members who have served the organisation for 15, 20, 25, and over 30 years.

These events were a platform to acknowledge the contributors’ dedication, hard work, and substantial contributions over the years. Their enduring commitment has been instrumental in shaping standards that bolster safety in our community and beyond.

In line with National Volunteer Week, we are highlighting one of Standards Australia's long-standing committee members who generously volunteers their time to our organisation.

Mike Lumley currently chairs three Child Safety committees at Standards Australia and is a participating member of seven committees. He also participates in one ISO committee and different working groups.

Michael is looking forward to achieving 50 years of involvement with Standards Australia in 2027.

You have been a volunteer Committee Member at Standards Australia for nearly five decades. What motivated you to start volunteering with us?

At the age of 24, as a young engineer, I had the opportunity to comment on a draft standard. I was thrilled when some of my comments were incorporated. By the time I was 28, I was responsible for engineering and compliance on two committees, specifically for Electric Heaters and Electric Fans. Over the years, I found myself serving on various committees.

In 1987, when I was 39, I joined a company that manufactures child restraints for vehicles, bicycle helmets, and vehicle seat belts. Within my first year there, I once again became involved with standards committees. Since then, I have joined more committees and continue to actively participate.

Could you share some memorable experiences or achievements from your 47 years of volunteering in standards development?

I’m proud of my involvement with the Child Safety committees over the past 36 years, as our work has significantly improved safety for children. For example, AS 8005 included the world’s first requirements for sensing and warning devices to protect a child left alone in a vehicle. Another standard, AS/NZS 4370, has been instrumental in informing those who advise on the adaptation of child restraints to better suit children with disabilities.

How do you think volunteering contributes to your industry and the community?

I believe that volunteering is the lifeblood of Australian society, and this sentiment extends to the Standards Australia committees. Our involvement in the committees allows us to continually improve standards, enhancing safety for everyone in Australia. I have volunteered my services to various committees because I believe that my contributions benefit not only the companies I have been associated with, but also Australian society as a whole. I also feel a sense of obligation to share the results of my research and experience to help create safer products.

What advice would you give to someone considering volunteering in standards development?

Anyone who uses an Australian Standard^TM should consider contributing their expertise to a Standards Australia committee to help develop robust standards. If someone is interested in standards but can’t participate in a committee, I recommend that they seek out public review drafts and provide comments on them. I have been fortunate that my employers have always supported me in all my committee-related activities. Therefore, I would encourage people to seek full support from their employer to join and participate in any relevant committee.

Standards Australia will take part in the NATA Accreditations Matters 2024 Conference on June 25 and June 26 at the International Convention Centre (ICC), in Sydney.

We are proud to be a platinum sponsor for this event that serves as a great reminder into the importance of accreditation in the world of Standards.

Key speakers will represent Standards Australia: Tracey Gramlick, Chair of the Board; Kareen Riley-Takos, Chief Operating Officer; Ian Oppermann, Board member; Scott Brownlaw, Strategic Initiatives Manager; and Ben Russell, Engagement Manager. They will join other industry leaders, visionaries, Government Stakeholders, regulators, quality professionals, technical experts and colleagues from Australia’s leading Conformity Assessment Bodies and Testing Laboratories.

The event will see 40+ sessions and features 50+ national and international industry experts speaking on areas including the critical need for standards in the future AI world, the importance of accreditation in global trade and supply, essential discussions on food testing, the hydrogen future, the built environment, human pathology, biobanking, sports drug testing, and more.

Learn more and register to attend here.

Are you a young professional in the electricity and electronics industry? Or do you know someone who is?

If you are involved in any industry or business related to the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), you could represent Australia in international standards development.

The IEC Young Professionals Programme 2024 is now accepting applications. This programme is designed for emerging leaders in energy and electronics, offering a platform to enhance their skills on a global scale.

This one-year programme, free of charge, is open to young professionals aged between early 20s to mid-30s, who have completed their studies and are working in any industry or business relevant to the IEC.

The programme includes attendance at an Annual Workshop, which will coincide with the IEC 2024 General Meeting in Scotland, in October 2024. Travel and accommodation expenses will be covered.

Two applicants from Australia will be selected for this programme. Applications close at 5pm, Friday 5 July 2024.

More information on how to apply here.

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Standards Australia and CSIRO, Australia’s national science agency, recently released the report, ‘Implementing Circular Economy Standards in the APEC Region’.

The initiative, supported by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, is designed to foster circular economy practices and accelerate the adoption of relevant standards across the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) region.  

The transition to a circular economy presents a substantial opportunity to tackle the pressing sustainability challenges of today. Standards are instrumental in facilitating international cooperation for this transition. The report aims to deepen the understanding of international circular economy standards and their uptake in APEC economies.

Read the full report here.

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Standards Australia, in collaboration with CSIRO's National AI Centre, has published the latest report on the AI Management Systems standard, titled 'Understanding 42001'. This comprehensive document provides an in-depth look at this world-first standard and its impact on Australian organisations and the broader community.

The report outlines several key objectives, including the necessity and role of management system standards, details about the 42001 standard, its benefits, and the importance of AI standards in Australia.

Access the AI report here.

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.