Celebrating the Success of the 2024 JASANZ Futures Program Graduates
- Author: JASANZ
On Wednesday, July 31, 2024, the second cohort of the JASANZ Futures Program proudly graduated after an intensive 84-hour curriculum spread over four months. This year’s program attracted a record number of over 45 applicants, with 23 individuals selected to embark on a journey that would deepen their understanding of the accreditation and certification landscape.
The JASANZ Futures Program is a unique initiative designed to nurture emerging industry experts in conformity assessment and management systems. The program aims to build a strong foundation for participants by providing comprehensive knowledge of the systems supporting the marketplace. This year, the program’s goals included:
- Supporting Future Industry Experts: Investing in the next generation of management system industry experts by providing them with essential knowledge and skills.
- Developing Extensive Understanding: Helping participants gain a thorough understanding of the conformity assessment ecosystem, including accreditation and certification.
- Encouraging Active Engagement: Inspiring future professionals to take an active interest in conformity assessment.
The program commenced with a two-day face-to-face Futures Program Conference in Sydney from April 30 to May 1, 2024. This event offered participants the opportunity to network and learn from various stakeholders, including Technical Infrastructure Partners, scheme owners, certification bodies, and government representatives from New Zealand and Australia. The conference received positive feedback, with participants appreciating the wide range of topics covered and the expert insights shared.
Over the next four months, participants engaged in a robust curriculum, including courses on ISO/IEC 17021-1, an introduction to conformity assessment, schemes, accreditation assessment, and technical infrastructure partners. The program also featured weekly webinars and panel discussions that delved into different aspects of conformity assessment, such as product certification, management system certification, inspection, validation and verification, and certification of persons. These sessions allowed participants to connect with industry experts and explore the value of management system certification in various industries.
The 2024 JASANZ Futures Program has proven to be an invaluable platform for fostering the next generation of management system industry experts. As the graduates move forward, they carry with them a wealth of knowledge, new skills, and a strong network of industry contacts. We look forward to seeing the positive impact they will make in the world of accreditation and certification.
Reflections from Graduates
The graduation ceremony was filled with heartfelt reflections from the participants, expressing gratitude for the learning experiences and connections made. Here are some of the highlights:
Alex: “It was great. It’s great to learn from everyone. Thanks for all your knowledge through all of our partners and everything like that. It’s been really good the last four months. So, thank you.”
Allister: “Thank you very much for this outstanding opportunity. I’ve learned a lot throughout this process, met wonderful people, and certainly appreciated the experiences this course provided.”
Brenda: “Thank you for the opportunity. It has been a great learning experience, and it’s been wonderful gaining knowledge from the experts at JASANZ.”
David: “The knowledge shared and the enthusiasm was really good. Thank you.”
Dominika: “I enjoyed the last four months. It was nice to get out of the 17025 bubble and learn more about the broader scope.”
James: “I learned a lot about the other side and what the CABs go through, which was really insightful.”
Jessica: “I learned a lot from the presenters and fellow participants. It was really cool.”
Maninder: “Thank you to Kylie, Alan, Tatiana, and the whole team at JASANZ. It was a fantastic learning experience.”
Marisa: “I’ve learned a great deal, and it reinforced my knowledge and interest in the area.”
Natasha: “I learned so much and will bring a lot of the learnings and final project insights back to my workplace.”
Rochelle: “Despite some challenges, the support from everyone made it a great experience.”
Shames: “This course allowed me to submit a proposal to Standards Australia to revise one of their standards.”
Shruti: “The course provided great exposure to conformity assessment and helped me structure my career pathway.”
Tibor: “The program exposed us to the broader world of certification standards and the international perspective.”
Tracey: “Learning from passionate and committed industry partners was inspiring.”
Zakiya: “It was insightful to learn about the conformity assessment bodies from a different perspective.”
