March 31, 2026 – The National Association of Testing Authorities (NATA) today announced two internationally renowned keynote speakers for Accreditation Matters 2026, Australia’s largest conference dedicated to accreditation, standards, measurement, testing and conformity assessment.
World Bank Private Sector Specialist, Competitiveness Global Unit, Philip Grinsted, and Global Accreditation Cooperation Incorporated Chair, Brahim Houla, are both headed to Australia to present keynotes at Accreditation Matters 2026 at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre on Tuesday, July 7 and Wednesday, July 8.
AI governance, supply-chain assurance and consumer safety are firmly in the spotlight and confidence in the evidence behind products, services and digital decisions have never been more important.
Accreditation Matters 2026 will bring together 500 leaders from government, industry and the global accreditation system to examine how standards, measurement and accredited conformity assessment can help Australia respond to these fast-moving challenges.
Grinsted and Houla will bring sharp global perspectives to the crucial role that standards, accreditation and conformity assessment play in providing trust and safety for consumers.
Grinsted’s keynote presentation will centre on the World Bank’s recently released World Development Report 2025, which highlights how standards support economic infrastructure and why measurement, accreditation, testing, certification and quality infrastructure are essential to make standards work in practice. This ecosystem matters for governments, regulators and industry as it can reduce friction, lower transaction costs, and support global trade, innovation and developing economies.
“The World Bank’s latest World Development Report shows that standards and quality infrastructure are important but under-appreciated tools of economic development. I’m looking forward to discussing why international partnerships are more important to Australia than ever,” Grinsted said.
“I’d especially like to encourage those working at the intersection of policy and technology to attend because that’s where some of the most important conversations are happening right now. The pace of change in areas like AI and digital conformity assessment means that today’s discussions will already be shaping tomorrow.”
Houla was elected in October as the new Chair of Global Accreditation Cooperation Incorporated, the single organisation ensuring trust in laboratories and in certification, inspection, and validation verification bodies worldwide, unifying the roles of the International Accreditation Forum (IAF) and International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC).
His keynote, titled “Global Trust in a Changing Landscape: The Future of Accreditation and the Role of International Cooperation” will explore how international cooperation between accreditation bodies enables consistent approaches, shared expertise, and global recognition of accredited results through the Multilateral Recognition Arrangement (MRA).
Houla will reinforce how the global accreditation system has evolved into a powerful network supporting international trade, public safety, and confidence in conformity assessment.
“The biggest issue we face today is the fragmentation of trust,” Houla said.
“Our systems are well established, but they are increasingly challenged by digitalisation, artificial intelligence, geopolitical pressures and the rise of new forms of assurance such as ESG claims and ratings.
“My focus is on how accreditation must evolve to maintain confidence across borders and to remain a trusted component of the global quality infrastructure.”
Grinsted and Houla join a stellar lineup of more than 70 industry expert speakers for Accreditation Matters 2026, with multiple sessions across four key streams – Industry Essentials, Digital Transformation and AI, Technical Knowledge and Innovation and Productivity, Industry and Regulation.
They include:
Dr Ian Oppermann, a Commissioner with Australia’s Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) and AI Subject Matter Expert;
Deb Anton, Chief Executive Officer at the National Measurement Institute (NMI);
Professor Dimitri Gerostamoulos,Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine (VIFM);
Rod Balding, Chief Executive Officer at Standards Australia;
Dr Gary Lum AM, Principal Medical Advisor at the Australian Centre for Disease Control;
Dr Victoria Coleman, Australia’s new Chief Metrologist from the National Measurement Institute (NMI);
Ryan Winn, Chief Executive Officer at Science and Technology Australia (STA);
Brian Young, Chief Executive Officer at International Accreditation New Zealand (IANZ); and
John Styzinski, Head of Accreditation Services at the National Association of Testing Authorities.
View the Accreditation Matters program and speakers at: www.accreditationmatters.com.au
Accreditation Matters 2026
7–8 July 2026
Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre
Register at: www.accreditationmatters.com.au
Early Bird Registration is now open.
About Philip Grinsted
Philip Grinsted is a Private Sector Specialist in the Trade, Business and Competition team at the World Bank. He focuses on the intersection of private sector development and sustainability, with expertise in green competitiveness, firm-level technology adoption, and sustainable value chains. Philip also specializes in national quality infrastructure, advising clients on standardization and quality assurance – such as testing and certification to strengthen market access and regulatory effectiveness. Before joining the World Bank, Philip worked at the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ), primarily in India and China, advising the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs on fostering trade with emerging markets through national quality infrastructure. He holds a dual Master of Public Policy (MPP) and Master of Public Administration (MPA) from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) and the Hertie School in Berlin.
About Brahim Houla
Brahim Houla is an international expert in accreditation and Quality Infrastructure (QI), with more than twenty-five years of professional experience in accreditation, conformity assessment, and the development of quality infrastructure systems at both national and international levels. He currently serves as Chair of the Global Accreditation Cooperation Incorporated while also holding the position of Director of Accreditation Services at the GCC Accreditation Centre (GAC) in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. He previously served as Chair of the Multilateral Recognition Arrangement (MLA) Committee of the International Accreditation Forum (IAF). Houla actively contributes to several international quality and accreditation platforms. He has chairs the MRA council of the Asia Pacific Accreditation Cooperation (APAC) and is actively engaged with the International Network on Quality Infrastructure (INetQI), where he supports international coordination, partnership building, and the global alignment of accreditation systems.
About NATA
The National Association of Testing Authorities (NATA) provides accreditation for laboratories to ensure testing results can be relied on and trusted. As Australia’s leading internationally recognised accreditation authority, NATA’s role is to uphold the national standards of technical competence for those delivering products or services to the general public. Through its extensive network, NATA provides assessment, accreditation and training services to laboratories and technical facilities.
Media Enquiries
Brendon Moo
Head of Strategic Engagement & Communications
National Association of Testing Authorities, Australia
brendon.moo@nata.com.au