To celebrate International Women’s Day, IFAN, the International Federation of Standards Users, hosted “Authentic Voices – Inspiring Women through Shared Standardization Journeys”, a webinar highlighting the role of women in shaping global standards. Moderated by Gabriela Ehrlich, a member of IFAN and former Communication Director at IEC, the discussion emphasized the importance of diversity in standardization and the need for greater female participation.
Key takeaways include:
🔹 Diversity strengthens standards – Inclusive representation leads to better, more effective standards.
🔹 Confidence is key – Women should actively voice their expertise and challenge norms.
🔹 Standards drive change – From cybersecurity to sustainability, standardization shapes our future.
🔹 Collaboration matters – Networking within the standardization community fosters growth and innovation.
🔹 Encouraging leadership – More women in decision-making roles ensures inclusive progress.
Panelists Sonya Bird (UL Standards & Engagement), Sally Swingewood (ISO), Rachel Menda Shabat (Cybersecurity Expert), and Solange Blaszkowski (Philips) shared their experiences, inspiring others to engage in standardization.
Call to Action
IFAN urges all standards development organizations to promote gender diversity in standardization. By ensuring equal representation, we create standards that serve everyone better.
Together, we can build a more inclusive standardization landscape!
