CEO Report: Technical Governance Review – Implementation Plan
As we enter a new financial year, our core objective remains the same: through our committee process we work hard to build consensus and amplify contributions from our experts, making Australian life better as a result.
To maximise our impact we are beginning the year with a new
2018-19 Action Plan. A priority outlined in this plan is our governance. This has been a central focus of ours since the Technical Governance Review (TGR) kicked off 12 months ago.
Over this time we have worked closely with our members, contributors, staff, governments and independent governance experts to understand what a better Standards Australia could look like.
The TGR
final report (PDF), shaped by many months of consultation, answered this question for us: a better Standards Australia is more strategic, more open and more proactive. Our
response (PDF) to this report presented our approach with a number of well-defined and achievable outcomes.
As a significant next step, I am pleased to see the publication of our TGR
Implementation Plan (PDF) outlining the changes to come this financial year. The elements identified in the plan include prioritisation, committee composition, drafting development and public comment.
With our initiatives mapped out across the financial year, we are well positioned to make a difference in the next 12 months. However, this is just the beginning. Further programs of work will be developed and integrated into an Implementation Plan for 2020.
Ultimately, the change being implemented today will impact the future of standards and how people and organisations engage with us.
The right change is only possible if those that it impacts most are a part of the process. I have been pleased to see such active participation and interest from our members and contributor community to date, and look forward to this collaboration continuing.
—Dr Bronwyn Evans, CEO
In Conversation with Dr Christopher Wallace
Chris has been CEO of Australian Reinsurance Pool Corporation (ARPC) since December 2013. ARPC is a Public Financial Corporation providing reinsurance for commercial property and business interruption losses arising from declared terrorist incidents. He has led organisations in general insurance, workers compensation, health insurance, and reinsurance. He has worked extensively in insurance underwriting and claims management roles within insurers, and as a consultant to the insurance industry.
Standards Australia: ARPC is working with Standards Australia on the development of a handbook, HB 188, Physical Protective Security Treatment for Buildings. What is the intention behind the handbook?
Dr Christopher Wallace: The handbook is being developed to support the proactive risk management of commercial buildings. It will assist property owners and operators to assess their risks and implement measures to protect against terror attacks and other malicious acts. By referencing existing national and international standards, Federal Government advice and industry expertise, the handbook will facilitate improved risk assessment, prevention and treatment methods for physical security risks to businesses. ARPC’s vision for this project is to provide a unique resource for cross-industry implementation, and this is paralleled by Standards Australia’s vision of partnering to produce prototypes for intuitive application.
SA: HB 188 is a pilot project being tested by the Incubator. Tell us about the unique way the handbook will be developed.
CW: Rather than committee members receiving individual invitations to participate through their nominating organisations, expert contributors will be crowd-sourced. Drafting will also take place online, using a web collaboration tool. The intention is to simplify and streamline the process for both participation and development. This way, the results will reflect expertise and experience from a broader range of industries and contributors.
SA: Who should get involved?
CW: A diverse range of experts are encouraged to
register their interest. We see the future of risk mitigation focusing heavily on both prevention and resilience, and with ‘smart’ standards on the horizon, the moment to get involved is now. This project presents an opportunity for contribution from a broader range of Australian industries such as building, security, insurance, commercial property, facilities management, events management, local government, fire services and national security. Experts with specialised or diverse experience would add significant value, and we urge you all to get on board.
SA: What do you think is in the future of standardisation?
CW: Standards will continue to provide guidance and solutions to help people solve risk problems. Standards aid the consistent application of governance processes, and in this project the processes are to help businesses to understand and implement best practice. We hope HB 188 will make information on risk treatment in this area of risk accessible to a broad range of businesses. We also hope that the development methods tested by the Incubator will identify more streamlined ways of creating standards in the future.
Project Prioritisation Round 17
Round 17 of Standards Australia's Project Prioritisation will open on
Wednesday 1 August 2018, with applications accepted until
5pm Friday 31 August 2018.
Detailed information can be found on the
Submitting a Proposal page on our website.
All projects are selected based on four key criteria:
- Net benefit case
- Well-defined scope of work
- Stakeholder consultation and support
- The availability of Standards Australia resources
Should you, your nominating organisation or committee be considering submitting a project proposal, we encourage you to contact a
Stakeholder Engagement Manager as soon as possible. Your early communication will enable the Standards Australia team to provide any required assistance in advance of submission deadlines.
We are currently investigating how we can streamline the proposal process to make it faster and easier. Talk with your Stakeholder Engagement Manager about how the future of proposals might be changing.
Process for the adoption of ISO 45001 commences in Australia
Following extensive stakeholder consultation, Australia will begin the adoption process for the International Standard ISO 45001,
Occupational health and safety management systems – Requirements with guidance for use.
Learn more
on our website.
Contributor Corner
September Workshops on How to Write an Australian Standard
These popular workshops will be held again this September in Adelaide, Perth, Canberra, Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane.
Click here for available dates.
The workshop covers the principles of writing clear, performance-based standards, with exercises in-class to delve further into some of the finer points of drafting. Become a more confident contributor to your committee’s projects. Register your attendance today in the
Standards Australia Academy.
Sector Update
Access the latest standards development news in your industry sector via our
Sectors page.
SDO News
Australia and New Zealand move on joint forest management standard
Australia and New Zealand are closer to developing a joint standard for forest management following a joint meeting between the boards of Responsible Wood and the New Zealand Forest certification Association (NZFCA) in Wellington.
Responsible Wood and the NZFCA operate PEFC-endorsed sustainable forest management systems in Australia and New Zealand respectively.
A significant outcome of the meeting between Responsible Wood and the New Zealand Forest Certification Association will be the development going forward of a joint Australia-New Zealand standard for Sustainable Forest Management, AS/NZS 4708.
“We are confident of getting the right structures in place for the development of a joint standard recognised in both countries,” Responsible Wood CEO Simon Dorries said.
The New Zealand Forest Certification Association is primarily concerned with forest-related certification activities and is the governing body in New Zealand for the global forest certification scheme PEFC.
Wood Processors and Manufacturers Association of NZ CEO Dr Jon Tanner said after the meeting his board was looking forward to developing the joint standard, which had been given the green light by Standards New Zealand.
“The process will probably kick off at the end of the year,” he said.
The New Zealand forest and wood products sector relies heavily on exports with around 70% of production going offshore. Increasingly, the main markets, particularly Australia, North America and Asia, are demanding third-party certification as proof of legality of harvest and quality of forest management.
Most of the countries New Zealand exports to are now PEFC members and recognise PEFC certification as meeting their import requirements.
Photo: Responsible Wood chair Dr Hans Drielsma, AM (left), and CEO Simon Dorries, look over the operations of Juken New Zealand at the company’s Masterton plywood and LVL facility