The Standards Council of Canada (SCC) is pleased to congratulate two key executives, Chief Executive Officer Chantal Guay and Acting Vice-President, Standards and International Relations Branch Mkabi Walcott, on their recent selections to key governance positions at two regional standards bodies.
Chantal Guay was appointed as the Chair of the Executive Committee of the Pacific Area Standards Congress (PASC) for a three-year term, from 2019-2022. PASC is a forum of 24 standardization organizations from the Pacific area, including SCC, which meets to discuss international standardization issues. Chantal is the first woman to serve as Chair of PASC’s Executive Committee in the organization’s 46-year history.
One of Chantal’s key priorities during her term as Chair will be continuing to implement PASC’s current strategic plan, which covered the period from 2016 to 2020, as well as embarking on the process of developing PASC’s next strategic plan. With the recent signing of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP)—for which 9 of 11 signatory countries are also PASC members—as well as discussions between Canada and China on a possible trade agreement, Canadian leadership in this region will be highly valuable.
Mkabi Walcott was elected to the Board of Directors for the Pan American Standards Commission (COPANT). COPANT comprises the National Standards Bodies (NSBs) of the Americas, and currently has 32 active members (including SCC) and 10 adherent members. SCC has been very active in the Americas for the past few years, and we have signed Cooperation Agreements with the national standards bodies for Bolivia, Peru and Costa Rica since 2016. Mkabi will continue to represent SCC as a leading NSB and trusted advisor within COPANT.
Additionally, Alec Clark, SCC’s Manager, Innovation and Regional/International Engagement, has stepped forward to serve as convenor for a PASC Working Group on Trade Facilitation.
Regional leadership is a key strategic objective of SCC. By taking on leadership roles on standardization forums around the world, SCC helps to facilitate the trade of Canadian goods and services with these countries. Our participation in the Pan American Standards Commission (COPANT) is a good example of the benefits that can come from cooperating on standardization—research conducted by SCC demonstrated that Canada’s membership in COPANT increased the value of goods exported to partner countries by 10 per cent.
Quotes:
“It is with great pride that I take on the position of Chair with PASC’s Executive Committee. SCC is committed to regional balance in international standardization, and by taking on leadership positions such as this, as well as Mkabi’s position with COPANT, we are demonstrating this commitment and working to provide value to Canada.”
Chantal Guay, ing., P.Eng., SCC CEO