Members of CGA’s staff recently attended the U.S. celebration of World Standards Day, a prominent week-long event organized by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). This annual gathering brings together various stakeholder groups across the U.S. standards community, including business leaders, industry, academia, trade associations, professional societies, standards development organizations, corporations, and government agencies.  This year’s event embraced a theme of Shared Vision for a Better World: Standards for the Changing Climate and provided CGA staff with insights, training, and networking opportunities to further impact the standards community.  

Emerging Standards Professionals Workshop: Leadership And Engagement in ISO and IEC Activities

To kick off the week, CGA participated in the Emerging Standards Professionals Workshop, designed to equip emerging professionals with essential skills in international standardization through the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC). The workshop was hosted by the U.S. National Committee Young & Emerging Professionals Committee and presented a robust agenda featuring career development sessions, expert panels, and hands-on training to develop leaders in standards development and conformity assessment. CGA staff networked with seasoned industry professionals, gaining valuable insights into engaging more effectively in global standardization activities.

The workshop spanned three intensive days:

  • Day 1 provided an overview of international standardization processes, including sessions on career advancement and networking opportunities.
  • Day 2 was highlighted by the IEC’s “Standard in a Day Bootcamp,” where attendees engaged in drafting and refining international standards. The day concluded with a conference on Standards and Sustainability, where attendees discussed the role of standardization in supporting sustainability worldwide.
  • Day 3 covered the broader impact of standards on emerging areas like AI, gender equity, and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This provided participants with insights on how standards are shaping the future of critical topics and industries.

Standards and Sustainability: Shaping the Future

The Standards and Sustainability conference provided CGA staff an opportunity to discuss sustainability in the context of industry standards and to explore pressing topics like circularity, Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) reporting, and the regulatory role of standards. Experts such as Chandrakant Patel, Chief Engineer at HP, and Sara Lisa Ørstavik, SDG Impact Specialist from the UN Development Program, shared their perspectives on implementing sustainability through standardized practices.

Christina Hartz, Standards and Committees Project Manager, noted:

“I enjoyed the opening keynote, Chandrakant Patel’s presentation, as he has a natural ability to weave a story within a lesson. He conveyed ways to adapt to changes in technology while being agile enough to know when to pivot and lean on more traditional techniques. It was a good way to set the theme for the day’s program.”

ANSI Legal Forum: Navigating the Intersection of Law, Innovation, and Standards

In addition to sustainability, CGA staff attended the ANSI Legal Issues Forum, which tackled complex legal topics, including the evolving landscape of data security standards and the potential impacts of recent Supreme Court decisions on administrative law and agency regulation. Legal experts discussed the implications of the Loper Bright decision, which may reshape regulatory practices by revisiting judicial authority over agency interpretations. Another key discussion revolved around the incorporation of private standards into public regulation—a practice that has sparked debates on copyright protection and accessibility.

The forum also addressed emerging data security challenges, with a focus on the role of standards in safeguarding complex computing environments. This session emphasized how robust data security standards are becoming essential across sectors, especially in fields like healthcare and finance, where data protection is paramount.

Advancing Standards to Meet Global Challenges

By engaging with thought leaders and gaining hands-on experience in standards development, CGA continues to be able to effectively create impactful standards that align with the rapidly evolving needs of both industry and society. The U.S. Celebration of World Standards Day served as an invaluable opportunity for CGA to deepen its influence within the standards community, build partnerships, and stay informed on the latest standards-driven solutions for tackling critical issues.