The appointment of a new CEO for Standards Australia dovetails with the organisation’s release of its ‘Smart Cities’ roadmap.
The four-year program, designed to improve the ‘liveability’ of Australian cities and suburbs, uses new technology, such as artificial intelligence and a new concept – ‘open data’.
“The new in initiative will guide action across various portfolios to deliver sustainable outcomes for our cities and the people who live in them,” reflected Emma Harrington, who took up her new role in April.
Standards Australia chair Tracey Gramlick said Ms Harrington was appointed following a wide search and exhaustive recruitment process.
“Emma is a dynamic executive leader with an extensive background in strategy innovation and transformation across various organisations,” Ms Gramlick said.
A most recent report from market research firm KPMG highlights Australia’s increasing maturity of the Smart Cities movement. The report found that 21% of local councils were piloting Smart Cities projects, with a further 42% in the strategy and development stages.
“Standards will be an important part of supporting population growth and the safety of personal data as Smart Cities continue to evolve,” said the NSW government’s chief data scientist, Dr Ian Oppermann, committee chair of the Smart Cities Reference Group.
The Smart Cities Plan includes three pillars – smart investment, smart policy and smart technology.
The first round of the program saw a half of the total $50 million funding for 52 Smart City initiatives allocated across all states and territories, supporting the delivery of innovative city projects that “improve the liveability, productivity and sustainability of cities and towns across Australia”.
The roadmap explores the role of smart technologies and data in addressing critical challenges at the city level, including the energy transition to renewables, security of critical systems and emerging technologies, affordable housing supply and the delivery of inclusive community services.
Standards Australia chief development officer Adam Stingemore says standards and building codes are the foundation for best practices, enabling policymakers and organisations to prepare for a net-zero future.
“The interoperability of systems and processes bolsters our capacity to invest in, transform and leverage decarbonisation, creating spaces for resilient and thriving communities,” he said.
“To support this, we are exploring structural changes within Standards Australia’s Smart Cities committees to expedite standards development and provide a clear vision for our projects.
“We hope to foster collaboration between industry stakeholders, the government, universities and Standards Australia that can collectively drive progress in this space.”
Mr Stingemore said Australian cities were sprinted towards a net-zero future and Standards Australia, government and industry must unite to navigate this transition. Despite challenges, the potential for interoperability and transformative change was vast.
The first round of the program saw half of the total $50 million funded allocated to 52 smart city initiatives across all states and territories, supporting the delivery of innovative city projects that “improve the liveability, productivity and sustainability of cities and towns across Australia”.
The roadmap explores the role of smart technologies such as artificial intelligence and data to address critical challenges at the city level, including the energy transition to renewables and security of critical systems.
Mr Stingemore said adopting standards that supported smart cities included:
Smart infrastructure for sustainable communities promoting sustainable smart infrastructure, with Standards Australia and ISO urging government regulations to align with the ISO London Declaration on Sustainability.
- Developing circular economy standards providing guidance on waste reduction solutions that could boost the economy and improve sustainability measures.
- Secure resilient digital cities, benchmarking and adhering to standards information security and privacy protection to mitigate cybersecurity incidents.
- Supporting regional areas with smart and resilient tech practices, supported by standards to provide cost-effective solutions to mitigate against natural disasters and other challenges in regional areas.
- Caring for Australians with policymakers acknowledging the need to support and protection of older people using digital services and smart devices.
Before joining Standards Australia, Emma Harrington was CEO of the iconic NRMA Motoring and Membership business for three years, leading its strategic response to the global shifts to decarbonise transport. She was previously NRMA’s chief customer officer.
Ms Harrington has a track record of pioneering outcomes, including The NRMA’s first female roadside patrol and tow operators in its 102-year history.
Prior to joining NRMA, she held roles as director wholesale and distribution for the Foxtel Group, managing director/acting CEO for Yahoo7, and group head of data and transaction commercialisation for Seven West Media.
She holds a Master of Arts in Politics and International Relations from York University, Toronto, Canada.
Speaking after her new appointment, Ms Harrington said: “Our collective narratives are a testament to our shared commitment to excellence and service. I am looking forward to bringing the story of Standards Australia to life and amplifying the impact, influence and valuable contributions of our members, contributors and stakeholders.
