Celebrating Australian Recipients of the 2025 IEC 1906 Award

Standards Australia congratulates the 2025 Australian recipients of the prestigious International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) 1906 Award, which recognises outstanding recent achievements that have significantly advanced the work of the IEC.

This year, four experts have been acknowledged for their leadership, innovation, and commitment to international standards development. Certificates were presented by our CEO, Rod Balding, to Alex Baitch, James Sankar, Jean Cross, and Lucy Finlay.

Alex Baitch

Alex represents the IEC Technical Committee 99, focusing on insulation coordination and system engineering of high voltage electrical power installations above 1,0 kV AC and 1,5 kV DC. As Chair of the national mirror committee EL-043 High Voltage Installations, Alex is recognised for his technical expertise and collaborative approach. His contributions to TC 99, especially in driving the development of the Group Safety Publication IEC 61936-0, have been highly valued.

James Sankar

James is a member of the IEC Systems Committee (SyC) on Smart Cities and chairs the national committee IT-269 Smart Cities Systems, representing the Australian Smart Communities Association. His work supports standards that improve the integration and efficiency of urban systems. Earlier this year, James played a key role in the SyC Smart Cities meeting hosted by Standards Australia, facilitating engagement between Australian industry and international experts. He also received the 2025 Standards Awards for Meritorious Contribution (International) for his leadership in global initiatives across Wi-Fi, cybersecurity, and sustainability.

Jean Cross

Jean is a member of IEC Technical Committee 56 on Dependability and the national committee QR-005 Dependability. Her work supports standards that help organisations manage system reliability and technical risks throughout the life cycle of products and services. Jean led the complex programme to establish the six core standards of TC 56 and oversaw the revision of IEC 60300-1, Dependability management – Part 1: Managing dependability, published in 2024.

Lucy Finlay

Lucy represents the IEC Technical Committee 23 on Electrical accessories and is a chair of the national committee EL-004-09 Circuit Breakers and Residual Current Devices.  Her contributions help set safety and performance standards for low voltage circuit protection devices used in homes and buildings across Australia and New Zealand. Lucy has been instrumental in advancing discussions on emerging topics such as environmental impacts, cybersecurity, and coordination within Residual Current Devices (RCDs), ensuring inclusive and forward-looking standards development.

These experts have made significant contributions to shaping global standards, helping to ensure safer, more reliable, and future-ready technologies. We thank them for their dedication and congratulate them on this well-deserved recognition.

Learn more at https://www.iec.ch/awards