Aussies take top technical roles (2002-11-19)
Australians have been appointed to a number of the major governance positions in international organisations responsible for the development of international Standards and conformance, which stands to boost Australia’s business profile and improve relationships with our global trading partners.
Of the eight senior governance positions with major organisations responsible for International Standards and conformance; namely the International Organisation for Standardization [ISO], the International Electrotechnical Commission [IEC], and the International Committee for Weights and Measures [CIPM], Australian’s currently occupy three.
Standards Australia’s Chief Executive, Mr Ross Wraight, the first Australian in ISO’s 55-year history to be appointed as ISO Vice President for Technical Management, said: “It is crucial that Australia plays an active role in these organisations to ensure that our voice is heard.
“If Australia is going to gain greater access to international markets then it is imperative that we provide effective input into those systems and processes that facilitate international trade , but often serve, or are perceived to serve, as barriers to trade.”
In his role Mr Wraight is responsible for the management of ISO’s core technical work around the world including the scope, strategic planning and performance of all ISO technical committee activities. Some 30,000 international experts supported by 250,000 national experts contribute to this work. ISO has published and maintains over 13,500 International Standards. Mr Wraight is also a member of the ISO Council the peak governing body of ISO and the World Standards Cooperation and leadership group of ISO, IEC and the International Telecommunications Union technical group, ITU-T.
In 1994, Standards Australia’s then Chief Executive, Mr Stewart Horwood, became the only other Australian to have held a senior position with ISO since its formation in 1947.
Of the two other appointments, former Chairman of Standards Australia, Mr Don Gray, is the first Australian to hold the post of Chairman of the Conformity Assessment Board [CAB] and only the second Australian to become a Vice President of IEC since its formation in 1925.
According to Mr Gray: “As Chairman I will be responsible for representing the CAB to international and regional organisations and to IEC member committees with interests in conformity assessment. While in my role as IEC Vice President I will be a member of the governance bodies of the IEC - the Council, the Council Board and the Executive Committee, which oversees the operations of the IEC Central Office and acts between meetings of the Council Board.
“In these roles I will be keeping well informed on Australian views on the various Standards development and conformity assessment issues which arise within the IEC and seek to ensure that Australia's position on the issues is well known.”
There are three conformity assessment schemes operated by IEC:
IECEE for electrical equipment [household, office and electronic etc],
IECEx for electrical equipment for explosive atmospheres
and IECQ-CECC for electronic components
Mr Gray said: “These schemes are the only truly globally recognised conformity assessment schemes and play a vital role in the international trade in electrical goods.
“While the schemes operate independently, the CAB is responsible for overseeing the schemes, for development of the conformity assessment policies of the IEC and is the contact point for relationships with international and regional conformity assessment organisations.“
The IEC operates through a Standards development and a conformity assessment stream, which are managed separately with the overall responsibility for the conformity assessment activities resting with the CAB.
Australia is a member of the IECEE and IECEx schemes and has a stake in their successful and efficient operation.
The CAB comprises 12 members (and their alternates) elected by the IEC membership, representatives of the schemes, the IEC Treasurer and the General Secretary and a Chairman who is also a Vice President of the IEC.
In a third key role for Australia, Dr Barry Inglis, head of the CSIRO’s National Measurement Laboratories, was elected Vice President of the International Committee for Weights and Measures [CIPM].
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