A highly respected stalwart of the electrotechnology industry, Richard (Dick) Brett utilised his positions of influence to bring Australian Standards to the international agenda.  

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As Executive Director of the Australian Electrical and Electronic Manufacturers’ Association (AEEMA), Dick was in a position of influence when it came to Australia’s development of standards in the industry - even more so when he was elected Vice-President of the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) at its respective 1986 General Meeting in Berlin.  

During this time, the Australian delegation (led by Dick and Standards Australia’s Manager from the Electrotechnology Group, Peter Walsh) succeeded in getting Australia elected to IEC'S twelve-member Committee of Action (the predecessor of its Technical Management Board) for a six-year term.

Three years later, Dick was elected President of IEC, in recognition of his role in international standardisation for Australia. Dick had been associated with Standards Australia (SA) since the 1950s, led its delegation to the IEC General Meeting in 1982, and had chaired the Electrical Standards Board as well.

Further to this, Dick remained active in IEC even after his term expired at the end of 1992 and was instrumental in having Standards Australia host the 1993 General Meeting of IEC in Sydney, which brought nearly 600 overseas delegates to the country – a landmark event for Standards Australia.

In this respect, Dick was influential in the harmonisation of Australian standards with international ones, as well as promoting Standards Australia’s national presence within the international standards’ agenda.

“Dick Brett contributed many years of his professional career supporting the international development and role of standards. His impact will not be forgotten by those that had the opportunity to work with him and he embodies a true Standards Hero,” said Adrian O’Connell, Chief Executive Officer at Standards Australia.