February 2026

I hope you had a restful break over the holiday period.

As we head into 2026, I wanted to share a number of organisational priorities and updates for the coming months and year.

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Strengthening our Member Value Proposition

We remain committed to strengthening our Member Value Proposition and refining our Member Model. Our efforts are focused on delivering meaningful value and support to all Members. While we make these changes, Members can contact Monique English, our Membership Engagement Manager.

International leadership and collaboration

Australia continues to play a leading role in international standards development and collaboration. In February I will travel to Timor Leste as part of our Standards Uplift Program. I look forward to working to support the people of Timor as they enhance competitiveness, look to improve processes, and identify ways to scale consumer protection. In addition, I am also incredibly excited to announce a new agreement between Standards Australia and Standards New Zealand that will support innovation and strengthen trade across both countries.  

Informing strategic decision making

March sees Standards Australia sponsor the Science Meets Parliament 2026 event. This initiative brings together Australia’s STEM community and policymakers to explore how science and technology inform decisions that shape our future.  We welcome the opportunity to share how standards can contribute to informed decision-making. 

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Enhancing access to standards

In January, we released Subscription Self-Serve (SSS) in the Standards Australia Store. SSS is a significant step forward in how we enable customers to access standards by providing a simpler, faster and more transparent way to establish and manage subscriptions online.

Customers can now select the standards they require, determine user numbers, and manage access directly through the platform. This not only improves speed, flexibility, and overall customer experience, but also aims to make access to standards clearer and more reliable, while increasing our impact by enabling faster, more confident adoption across industry.

Leadership update

I am pleased to share that Kareen Riley-Takos has been appointed to a senior role with the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). This is a significant achievement and testament to the calibre of our leadership team. While we'll miss Kareen's contribution at Standards Australia, we are happy for her and excited to continue working with her at an international level.  

Thank you

Your expertise and collaboration, whether through committee work, technical contributions, or stakeholder engagement, are what make our work possible.

Thank you for your ongoing commitment to supporting safety, innovation, and economic outcomes for Australia.

For over 30 years, Standards Australia has celebrated those shaping the future of standards. The Awards recognise collaboration and innovation – the collective effort that drives standards development and strengthens industries.

We honour individuals, accredited Standards Development Organisations, committees, and, more recently, corporate partners and Nominating Organisations.

Nominations for the 2026 Standards Awards are now open across eight categories.

Submit your nominations today    

Nominations close on Friday, 20 March 2026. Winners will be announced by June.

The International Standards Olympiad is the world's leading standardisation competition for high school students. Held annually in Seoul, Korea, it brings together teams from up to 20 countries to solve real-world challenges in technology, safety, sustainability, and innovation using standards.

We are calling on schools, teachers, parents, and students to get involved. Don't miss the chance to represent Australia and gain international recognition.

Register for information webinars or apply today

This renewed agreement strengthens one of the region’s longest standing partnerships and reinforces our shared ambition for a seamless Single Economic Market. The agreement will enable broader industry participation and strengthen alignment with international standards trusted by businesses and consumers alike.
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Read the full statement

You are invited to attend a joint Standards Australia and Standards New Zealand webinar outlining the agreement and its practical implications.

 📆Wednesday, 25 February

🕘 9am - 10am AEST

Secure your spot

A new international project, International Standards Cooperation in Renewable, Green and Clean Energy, is underway to support the growth of renewable energy across Southeast Asia, helping countries in our region work together to adopt global standards and unlock new opportunities for trade and investment.

Learn more

Standards Australia has partnered with Weld Australia and Corrections Victoria to help boost Australia’s welding workforce and tackle a critical skills shortage.

The sponsorship supports vocational training for people in prison interested in exploring a career in welding, giving them industry-recognised qualifications. The welding intensive training program, delivered at eight locations, is designed to boost the number of qualified welders in Australia and address a critical skills shortage.

Read more

Learn more about our international initiatives and how to get involved.

Check out the latest standards development in your industry.

Explore emerging themes and projects that advance safety and drive economic growth in Australia and across the region.

Help us keep Australians safe!  Our public comment phase provides an opportunity for stakeholders and members of the public to make valuable contributions.

Draft standards open for comment