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In this episode of DBrief, Louise McGrath speaks with Rod Balding, CEO of Standards Australia, about why standards are far more than technical documents and how they shape safety, markets and Australia’s strategic position in a changing global environment. They explore how standards underpin everyday products and infrastructure - from housing and transport to emerging technologies - and why they are often invisible until something goes wrong.

Louise and Rod discuss the findings of Standards Australia’s recent end‑to‑end review, including a shift toward greater stewardship, earlier engagement on contentious issues, and efforts to improve speed, usability and collaboration across committees.

The episode looks beyond Australia to the global stage, examining how international alignment can reduce trade friction while allowing for local adaptation, and how standards are increasingly being used as tools of strategic influence in areas such as digital technologies, energy systems and critical materials.

Key takeaways

• Standards underpin safety, quality and consistency across a wide range of products, infrastructure and industries, often without being visible to end users.
• Misconceptions persist that standards act as barriers, but they are more accurately enablers of trust, interoperability and market development.
• A recent review is driving a shift toward more active stewardship, earlier issue resolution and greater efficiency in development processes.
• Volunteer experts play a critical role in shaping standards, and sustained engagement is essential to ensure outcomes reflect industry and community needs.
• Aligning with international standards helps reduce trade friction, while local adaptations remain necessary in areas such as climate and safety conditions.
• Standards are increasingly part of geopolitical and economic strategy, particularly in emerging technologies like AI, cybersecurity and quantum.

Contact the Industry Development & Policy team here.