Standards Australia has announced changes to the functional structure of its operations and its executive team effective immediately.

As a result of the new structure, the executive team will be:

• Dr Bronwyn Evans, Chief Executive Officer
• Adrian O’Connell, Deputy Chief Executive Officer
• Kareen Riley-Takos, General Manager Operations
• Varant Meguerditchian, General Manager Stakeholder Engagement
• Adam Stingemore, General Manager Strategy and Public Affairs

Standards Australia CEO Dr Bronwyn Evans explained the significance of these changes.

“Shortly after I arrived in 2013, we put in place our 5 year strategic plan which is focused around the four key pillars of Profile and Relevance; Engagement and Performance; Finance and Governance; and People and Culture.

“The board and I have been very pleased with the results we have been able to achieve in each area over this time.

“As Standards Australia evolves and grows it is appropriate and timely to put in place some changes to the functional structure and leadership team that will set us up for even more development and success in the future.

“The changes set out below will allow us to imagine when we can be a digital and connected Standards Australia, leading standards development nationally and internationally. They will also empower us to be what we need to be over the coming years.

“Our mission remains the same: to excel in the provision of contemporary, internationally aligned Australian Standard brand standards and related services for the net benefit of Australia. I am confident that this transition will position Standards Australia for success in 2017 and beyond.”

Standards Australia will be comprised of four business divisions:

• Corporate Services: led by Adrian O’Connell, provides specialised support to the whole business. The responsibilities of the Corporate Services team include finance and investment management, corporate governance, human resources, training, and business and events services. Legal Services will also form part of the Corporate Services team.
• Operations: Ensuring the alignment of how we engage with contributors, develop documents and other content, and manage this with the existing and planned Information Technology infrastructure will be mission critical to Standards Australia’s success. The Operations team, led by Kareen Riley-Takos, will bring together standards development, publishing, information technology and project office teams as one business unit.
• Stakeholder Engagement: The importance of aligned engagement activities nationally and internationally is at the core of Standards Australia’s activities. The national sector management and international engagement functions will form one team under the leadership of Varant Meguerditchian.
• Strategy and Public Affairs: This new department, led by Adam Stingemore, will focus on business strategy, commercial partnerships and member relations. It will also oversee our communications, media and public affairs teams. The functional structure is built around maximising the skills of Standards Australia’s people and contributors. Importantly, through this transition all positions within the organisation have been retained.