The group of experts that develops ISO 14001, the world’s most recognized framework for environmental management systems, has been awarded the Lawrence D. Eicher Award for excellence in technical work.
The distinction, which recognizes the significant contribution of an ISO technical committee or subcommittee to the development of International Standards, was presented at the 39th ISO General Assembly, running this week in Beijing, China.
According to ISO President Dr Zhang Xiaogang, ISO technical committee ISO/TC 207, Environmental management, subcommittee SC 1, Environmental management systems, was chosen for introducing “a number of innovations to help support its members and to promote its work externally”.
Standards support UN Sustainable Development Goals
In addition to ISO 14001, the subcommittee develops supporting standards for environmental management systems, including ISO 14004 on implementation, ISO 14006 on eco-design and a number of others standards currently under development such as ISO 14007 on environmental costs and benefits. Using ISO 14001:2015 can provide assurance to company management and employees, as well as external stakeholders, that environmental impact is being measured and improved.
This year, the standard celebrates its 20th anniversary. “For two decades, ISO 14001 has been helping organizations to better manage the impact of their activities on the environment,” said Acting ISO Secretary-General Kevin McKinley during the awards ceremony. “It is implemented in over 300 000 organizations and helps to support the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.”
Mr McKinley commended the efforts the subcommittee had made as part of the revision of ISO 14001, including a continual improvement survey and the innovative ways in which it communicates and promotes its activities. This includes the use of technology and social media, such as Google hangouts and Twitter chats, as well the creation and maintenance of a successful Web presence.
He also highlighted the subcommittee’s effective leadership in increasing committee membership, including the desire to promote the involvement of developing countries, which ensures the presence of world-leading expertise within the committee.
“Through this award, we want to acknowledge the importance of this committee’s membership – which is among the highest of any ISO technical committee/subcommittee, containing many different stakeholders. This shows the worldwide interest in the work of this committee. Its 70 P-members and 22 O-members include countries of all levels of development in every region.”
The Lawrence D. Eicher Leadership Award was developed in 2002 to acknowledge excellence and innovation in technical work, as a tribute to ISO’s late Secretary-General who served from 1986 to 2002.
Chinese President calls standards "common language of the world"
“With the deepening of economic globalization, standardization is playing an increasingly important role in facilitating business transactions, supporting industrial development, promoting scientific progress, and regulating social governance,” he said. “Standards have become the common language of the world.”
The Chinese President pointed out in the address how standards facilitate innovative development and lead the way for progress in our times. “International Standards are the major technical foundation of the development of a global governance system and the development of economic and trade cooperation.”
President Xi Jinping went on to deal with the role of standards in China. “China will actively implement the strategy of standardization,” he wrote. “We will promote innovative, coordinated, green, open and sharing development with the support of standards. Together with all countries in the world, we are ready to deepen cooperation in standards, enhance exchanges and mutual learning, and improve the system of International Standards.”
In conclusion, the Chinese President told the delegations of ISO member countries in his written message: “I hope that the participants of this assembly will pool wisdom and build consensus to jointly explore the active role of standardization in improving global governance and promoting sustainable development, so as to contribute to a better future of mankind.”
The ISO week in China is being held from 10 to 14 September 2016 in Beijing, China. This year’s agenda includes meetings of the ISO Technical Management Board (TMB), the ISO Council and the ISO Committee on developing country matters (DEVCO), as well as the annual 39th ISO General Assembly followed by an open session on “Standards improve global connectivity”.
“The 39th General Assembly is the first one to be held since the implementation of the latest five-year plan,” said SAC Administrator Tian Shihong. “With rich content in addition to its importance, the 39th General Assembly will surely pose far-reaching influence to international standardization.”
The week-long event is being hosted by SAC, ISO’s member in China, and includes more than 500 delegates from more than 120 ISO members and representatives from 15 international organizations. Together, these individuals will participate in interactive discussions that will shape the direction of ISO’s future products, services and systems.
John Walter
ISO President-elect - Canada
John Walter is serving a one year term as ISO President-elect in advance of a two-year term as ISO President, beginning in January, 2018.
Mr. Walter has previously served as ISO Vice-President (policy) for the period 2014-2016 during which time his duties included leadership of ISO’s Strategy and Policy Committee, supporting implementation of the ISO Strategic Plan, and ensuring effective communication on strategic issues within ISO and with its stakeholders. Mr. Walter is also the Chief Executive Officer of the Standards Council of Canada (SCC), Canada’s member body to ISO. Since his appointment in 2009, Mr. Walter has initiated a productive dialogue with senior decision-makers from industry and government in order to establish Canada’s strategic standardization priorities. This dialogue led to the implementation of innovative solutions to support Canada’s standardization priorities such as the accreditation of new standards development organizations; the systematic monitoring of thousands of standards in government regulations; and the development of new standards to help deploy leading-edge technologies. In addition to his duties at SCC, Mr. Walter helped strengthen international standardization by actively participating in ISO’s Technical Management Board (TMB) and by assisting regional organizations such as the Pan American Standards Commission (COPANT) and the Pacific Area Standards Congress (PASC) to set new strategic priorities. Mr. Walter was recently appointed as an advisor on the China Standardization Expert Committee (CSEC) of the Standardization Administration of the People’s Republic of China (SAC).
Prior to his appointment at SCC, Mr. Walter gained extensive experience as both a developer and user of standards. From 2001 to 2009, he was Vice-President, Standards Development for the Canadian Standards Association (CSA Group), Canada’s largest standards development organization. Previously, Mr. Walter worked with standards from a business/industry perspective as the founding President and CEO of the Technical Standards and Safety Authority (TSSA). TSSA oversees public safety in Ontario, Canada’s largest province. While Assistant Deputy Minister at the Ministry of Consumer and Commercial Relations in Ontario, he also gained experience using standards as a regulator. Mr. Walter holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Guelph, Ontario.
Scott Steedman
ISO Vice-President (policy) - United Kingdom
Scott Steedman has been appointed ISO Vice-President (policy) for 2017. A senior industry figure in business and engineering with a career spanning industry, standards and academia with excellent strategic, communication and technical leadership skills. Responsible for the ISO member in the United Kingdom in his role as Director of Standards at BSI since 2012, Dr Steedman has promoted new thinking about the role of standards as a consensus of good practice for governments, industry and consumers and as an enabler for innovation, trade and economic growth. He is a Board Director of the BSI Group and recently completed six years as a non‐executive Director on the Board of the Port of London Authority. Prior to joining BSI he held senior roles in the engineering industry, working in civil engineering and infrastructure, in academia and in professional bodies. At the European level, he has been Vice‐President Policy of the European Committee for Standardization (CEN) since 2013.
A former Vice President of the Royal Academy of Engineering and of the Institution of Civil Engineers, he continues to be Editor-in-Chief of the Royal Academy’s flagship magazine, Ingenia. Dr Steedman holds a doctorate degree in engineering from Cambridge University (United Kingdom) and was appointed to the title of Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 2010 for services to engineering.
Piet-Hein Daverveldt
ISO Vice-President (technical management) - Netherlands
Piet-Hein Daverveldt was appointed ISO Vice-President (technical management) for the 2017-2018 term, and served as ISO Vice-President elect (technical management) in 2016. He is currently the Managing Director of the Royal Netherlands Standardisation Institute (NEN) and has held this position since 2012. Prior to this, he worked for 25 years at Royal Dutch Shell where he held various management positions. He was the NEN representative on the ISO Council from 2012 to 2013 and a member of the ISO Strategy and Policy Committee (CSC/SPC). He was Vice-President Finance at the European Committee for Standardisation (CEN) in 2015 and 2016 and a CEN Board member from 2012 to 2016.
Piet-Hein is a member of the stakeholder panel of the Dutch Accreditation Council. He is also a member of the Netherlands Academy of Technology and Innovation, AcTI. He holds a doctorate in theoretical physics from Leiden University.
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