2025 Award Winners

John Furbank

John was awarded the prestigious W.R. Hebblewhite Medal in 2025 for his outstanding contributions to standards development, particularly in consumer protection and product safety. With a career spanning over 50 years, John has played a pivotal role in shaping safer, more reliable products and services. Since 1978, he has been an active member of Standards Australia committees and has held senior roles in consumer protection agencies across Australia, Fiji, and the UK.

A passionate advocate for consumers, John has represented the Consumers Federation of Australia (CFA) on numerous committees since 2005 and has been a key contributor to international standards work. He has also served as Honorary Secretary of the CFA Executive Committee, chaired the Consumers Association of South Australia, and is a member of the National Measurement Institute’s Consumer and Industry Liaison Committee. John is also the author of two consumer-focused guides on graffiti management and organic food.

His legacy continues to influence standards and consumer rights both in Australia and globally.

Sean Bassett

Sean received this award in recognition of his substantial contributions to problem-solving, research, and innovative thinking in standardisation. With more than 25 years of involvement with Standards Australia, he has served on around 20 technical committees covering areas such as personal flotation devices, children’s nightwear, fire safety and resilient flooring.  

Renowned for his technical expertise and leadership, Sean currently sits on ten committees and chairs three (CS-086 Burning Behaviour - Textile Products, Floor Coverings and Furniture, TX-009 Carpets, and SF-050 High Visibility Clothing).  His work with Standards Australia broadened his knowledge beyond laboratory testing and connected him with leading experts and lifelong colleagues and friends across diverse industries.

James Sankar

James is recognised for his achievements in international standards development, with a focus on smart cities and digital infrastructure. His efforts have advanced innovation in global Wi-Fi services, cybersecurity, and environmental recovery, helping shape the future of connected, sustainable communities. Since 2019, he has been a leading contributor to the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) Systems Committee for Smart Cities.

With over 20 years of experience across the UK, Europe, and Australia, James has led major service transformations and built strong global partnerships. He authored the influential 2024 position paper Smart Cities: An Essential Enabler for Australia’s Future, which has shaped standards committee structures and is now guiding international implementation. James is also President of the Australian Smart Communities Association, a Senior Member of the Australian Computer Society, and founder of Smart Footprints, a carbon-neutral digital consultancy.

Osama Ali

Osama Ali (Oz) is a Chartered Professional Engineer and Principal Advisor for product safety and compliance at Caterpillar. Over the past five years, Oz has led ME-063 Earthmoving Equipment committee through a major transformation – revitalising 60 aged standards into a portfolio of over 160 contemporary standards.

Under his leadership, the committee set a new benchmark by publishing the highest number of standards within a single year - an achievement that highlights both impact and efficiency. The committee is currently in the final stages of publishing AS 20474 series, a set of ‘capstone’ machinery safety standards poised to leave a legacy for Australia’s earthmoving and mining sectors.

Oz is also a Standards Australia’s 2015 Young Leaders and a NEXTgen Program Alumni and has continued to advocate for nurturing the next generation of standards experts in Australia.

Dr Kala Senathirajah

Dr. Kala is recognised for her impactful contributions to water industry standards, backed by over 25 years of experience across the private sector, government, NGOs, and academia.

She has played a key role on the committee CE-024 Measurement of Water Flow in Open Channels and Closed Conduits, helping to shape standards in water flow measurement and microplastics management. During her PhD research in 2019, she identified the need for consistent approaches to microplastics and has since championed harmonised standards through her scientific publications. Her advocacy extends to global efforts, including her involvement with the UNEP's Intergovernmental Negotiations Committee for the Global Treaty to End Plastic Pollution.

Dr. Kala also serves on the AWA Technical Advisory Committee, the WA Division Committee, is a National Congress Representative, and chairs the College of Environmental Engineering Board. In 2023, she was named the WA Professional Engineer of the Year Award.

Her dedication to innovation, professional development, and sustainable outcomes continues to shape forward-thinking standards, making her a worthy recipient of the Innovation Award.

BD-066 Prefabricated Concrete Elements

The BD-066 committee is honoured for its outstanding teamwork and commitment to developing standards for prefabricated concrete buildings and civil structures. Chaired by Paul Uno since 2011, the committee’s work on the AS 3850 suite of standards has continually evolved to enhance safety and efficiency in construction. Notably, this suite includes the world’s first standard for prefabricated concrete elements, setting a global benchmark for comprehensive guidance across all methods of prefabricated concrete construction.

The standards developed by BD-066 are essential reference documents for the construction industry and have inspired governmental codes of practice. Since the release of the first standard in 1990, the committee has consistently updated the documents to reflect the growing importance of efficient, safe prefabricated construction.

Many members have served for over a decade, with two founding members still contributing since the committee’s inception, demonstrating a remarkable legacy of expertise and commitment.

Energy Queensland

This new award category celebrates organisations that show exceptional dedication to standardisation, contributing their staff’s expertise and time for the benefit of the Australian community. Energy Queensland, Australia’s largest, wholly government-owned electricity company, exemplifies this commitment through active involvement in technical committees, submission of project proposals, and close collaboration with industry stakeholders.

Serving over 2.4 million customers across Queensland, the organisation manages a vast network of infrastructure and prioritises safe, affordable, and sustainable energy delivery. It invests significant time, resources, and commitment to standardising and optimising across its businesses and operations. To support this, the company develops internal standards aligned with global benchmarks like ISO 9001 Quality management systems and ISO 45001 Occupational health and safety management systems - Requirements with guidance for use, ensuring consistent, efficient operations.

Encouraging active employee involvement in industry bodies such as Standards Australia, ensures that the organisation is at the forefront of leading industry practices, and providing valuable learning and innovation opportunities driven by the collective knowledge of its over 9,000 employees. Their employees have contributed to countless publications, standards, and guidelines to help further the advancement of the industry and share knowledge for the greater good of the energy sector.