APAC 2027 is coming to Sydney!
NATA played an active role at the Asia Pacific Accreditation Cooperation (APAC) Annual Meetings 2026 in June which also honoured NATA’s outgoing CEO and APAC Chair Jennifer Evans with the APAC Lifetime Achievement Award for her leadership and service to the accreditation community.
The meetings, hosted by Indonesia’s National Accreditation Body (KAN) in Bali, brought together almost 200 delegates from accreditation bodies across the APAC region to strengthen collaboration and advance the systems that underpin global confidence in accreditation.
APAC’s work is central to the Mutual Recognition Arrangements (MRAs), which enable accredited test results, inspections and certifications to be accepted across economies. For Australian businesses, this translates into reduced duplication, faster access to international markets, and greater confidence that products and services will be recognised globally. This supports exports, improves competitiveness, and helps ensure trusted outcomes for regulators, industry and consumers alike.
Ahead of her retirement in July, Jennifer was honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award recognising an individual who has made exceptional, distinguished and sustained contribution to accreditation at the regional and international levels.
At the APAC General Assembly, it was also announced that Singapore Accreditation Council’s (SAC) Mr Tan Yee Tek would replace Jennifer as Chair of APAC for the remainder of the current term. Mr Yee Tek was previously the Vice Chair.
Several NATA staff presented at APAC 2026, contributing across a range of technical committees and working groups, reflecting key areas of focus for the region.
Phillip Hill spoke at the APAC ICT Project and Digitalisation Network workshop, while Neil Shepherd and Paul McMullen contributed to discussions on product, food safety and reference materials. Nick Di Cresce presented within the joint Artificial Intelligence working group, highlighting the growing importance of digital transformation in accreditation.
Brendon Moo, in his role as Chair of the Global ACI Communications Committee, presented to the Communications & Promotion Committee on global communications initiatives.
NATA also welcomed delegates to Sydney for the APAC 2027 Annual Meetings which it will host in June 2027, NATA’s 80th year, reinforcing Australia’s ongoing leadership in the region.
Through its continued engagement in APAC, NATA helps ensure that Australian accreditation remains internationally recognised, enabling confidence in results that support trade, innovation, and community trust.
