IFAN - The Voice of Standards Users

In this episode of Voice of Standard Users, we sit down with Francis Pernel, Director of the IEC/ ISO Single Delivery Unit (SDU). Together, we explore the SMART program - a landmark joint initiative designed to deliver international standards in digitally enhanced, highly accessible formats without sacrificing their authoritative consensus.Francis breaks down why SMART goes beyond traditional PDF and XML files, how the SDU establishes a unified foundation for both ISO and IEC, and how digital-first authoring aims to streamline workflows for technical committees. Whether you represent a multinational enterprise integrating standards into automated compliance systems or an SME seeking easy navigation, this conversation highlights how global standards are adapting to today's digital landscape.Key Topics CoveredDefining SMART: How machine-readable standards add interactivity and connectivity beyond static PDF or XML files.The Historic Joint Operational Structure: Why ISO and IEC created the SDU to build common platforms, prevent duplication, and maximize scalability.Inclusion Across User Tiering: Balancing high-level system integrations for major corporations with simple, accessible tools for SMEs.Smart Authoring ("Smart from the Start"): Embedding content rules during drafting to improve quality earlier and reduce post-publication validation.Preserving Trust and Authority: Ensuring all digital implementations strictly anchor back to original, approved consensus content.The 3–5 Year Success Vision: Looking ahead to a future where SMART seamlessly blends into everyday standard development.

In this episode of IFAN – The Voice of Standards Users, we speak with Dr. Mike Eric Juru, CEO of Integrated Properties and Chairman of the Green Building Council of Zimbabwe, about the transformative power of international standards.Dr. Juru shares the remarkable journey of Integrated Properties from a business struggling with inconsistent processes and operational challenges to becoming the first organization in Zimbabwe to achieve certification to three major ISO standards: ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and ISO 45001.For Dr. Juru, standards are far more than certificates on the wall. They provide the structure, discipline and risk-management framework that enable organizations to improve performance, strengthen customer confidence, engage employees and ultimately become leaders in their industries.The conversation also explores one of the major challenges facing Africa: awareness. Standards are still often perceived as tools primarily for manufacturing, while their value to real estate, professional services and many other sectors remains insufficiently understood.Dr. Juru makes a strong case for greater adoption of environmental and occupational health and safety standards and argues that, in the face of climate change, some standards should become mandatory. He also challenges international standards organizations to do more to promote certified companies and demonstrate the tangible business value that standards can create.A compelling conversation about standards, sustainability, leadership and the future of business in Africa—from someone who has experienced firsthand how standards can transform an organization.

Join us on IFAN – The Voice of Standards Users as we sit down with Alex Stoichitoiu, President of IQNET.With deep expertise spanning ISO, CEN-CENELEC, and global accreditation, Alex offers a unique insider look at the changing landscape of international standardization and conformity assessment. From the shift toward subscription-based standards access to lowering barriers for SMEs using digital tools, Alex breaks down the key trends shaping global quality infrastructure—and why strong partnerships between standard users and certification bodies are more vital than ever.

Behind every medical oxygen cylinder, industrial gas system, and countless products we rely on every day are standards that help keep people safe.In this episode of the IFAN Podcast, IFAN speaks with Laura Brumsey, Senior Vice President of the Compressed Gas Association (CGA), about the critical role standards play in protecting lives, supporting innovation, and building trust across industries.Laura shares her unexpected journey into the world of standardization, reflects on the vital role standards played during the COVID-19 pandemic in ensuring access to medical oxygen, and explains why collaboration between users, industry experts, and standards developers is essential.The conversation also explores: Why standards are fundamental to safety in the industrial and medical gases sector  How users can shape better standards  The opportunities and challenges created by AI and digital transformation  Why engaging the next generation of standards professionals is more important than ever  Laura's vision for the future of global standardization G

In this episode, we go behind the scenes of the "hidden infrastructure" that powers our global economy. IFAN welcomes Philip Metzger, Secretary General and CEO of the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), to discuss how international standards are evolving to meet the challenges of 2026 and beyond.As the world shifts toward an all-electric and connected society, Philip explores the critical intersection of technology, policy, and human safety. We dive deep into:Responsible AI: Moving beyond technical specs to address the socio-technical responsibilities of artificial intelligence.Climate Action: How standards are turning climate commitments into measurable actions through green hydrogen, carbon footprint verification, and the Global Impact Fund.Geopolitics & Security: The role of standards in building resilient supply chains and maintaining national security in a fragmenting world.Bridging the Gap: How the IEC is supporting emerging economies and ensuring digitalization reduces global inequality rather than increasing it.The User’s Voice: Why standards users and organizations like IFAN are the most vital stakeholders in ensuring international standards remain practical, relevant, and authoritative.

What does it take to make standards truly work in high-stakes industries like aerospace?In this episode, we speak with Alton Sanders (Boeing), a leading expert in standards management with over 40 years of experience.From aircraft safety to digital transformation, Alton shares how standards shape every aspect of aerospace engineering—often in ways that are invisible but mission-critical. He explains why even the smallest components can have major consequences, and how better-designed standards directly improve quality, safety, and efficiency.The conversation also explores a key shift facing industries worldwide: the move from traditional document-based standards to structured, digital data. As engineering systems become more advanced, standards must evolve to remain usable, reliable, and relevant. In this episode, you’ll learn:Why standards are fundamental to safety in aerospaceHow user experience can make or break a standardThe real challenges of applying standards in practiceWhy digital standards are the future—and what’s at stake

In this episode, we speak with Dr. Laurie E. Locascio, President and CEO of the American National Standards Institute, about how standards enable innovation and global collaboration.We explore the critical role of standards users, the importance of measurement science, and how the standards system is evolving in the age of emerging technologies.

In this episode of the IFAN Podcast, we speak with Matthew Sexton, Technical and Compliance Director at BMI UK & Ireland and a member of the IFAN Board.Matthew works at the intersection of industry, safety, and standards, dealing daily with the practical application of construction product and fire performance standards across the UK and European markets.Beyond using standards, Matthew actively helps shape them. He serves on several technical panels and chairs key committees, including the BSI committee responsible for external fire performance of roofs and the Construction Products Association Technical Committee.In this conversation, Matthew shares insights from the front line of standards implementation, discussing:• Why the voice of standards users is essential • How industry experience improves the quality of standards • The real challenges of applying standards in the construction sector • Why more companies should engage in the standards development processThis episode highlights the importance of bringing practical industry experience into global standardization, ensuring that standards remain relevant, effective, and trusted.

Muhamad Ali from HP Inc. shares how standards support innovation, interoperability, and global market access in the technology sector. Discover why the voice of standards users is essential in shaping effective international standards. 

In this episode of The Voice of Standards Users, we speak with Sonya Bird, Vice President of International Standards at UL Standards & Engagement, about the importance of bringing the user perspective into international standards. Sonya shares how standards translate safety science into practical solutions and help support innovation, market access, and safety across industries. 

In this episode of the IFAN Podcast, we speak with Mr. Ruggero Lensi, Director General of UNI - The national standards body of Italy, about why standards users must be at the heart of international standardization. Drawing on his long-standing experience in the standards ecosystem, Ruggero reflects on the evolving role of users, the value they bring to quality, efficiency, and innovation, and why their active participation is essential for standards to remain relevant in real markets.The discussion explores IFAN’s mission as the global home of standards users, the challenges users face when engaging in standards development, and how collaboration between users, industry, and standards bodies can generate real economic and social impact.This episode sets the scene for the podcast series by reaffirming a core message: standards work best when users’ voices are heard.