Partha Pratim Dev FIEAust CPEng NER has been part of the ISO/TC 67/SC 7Offshore structures international standards committee as Australia’s representative. He established the first Australian community of practice in offshore structures and has led it since 2016.
International standards set the benchmark for best practice and often result in modifications or replications in Australian Standards.
We spoke to Partha about his experience on an international standards committee and how more Australian engineers can get involved.
What kind of change were you able to make as part of the ISO Committee – what did you focus on?
Participating in Standards Australia and ISO committees gave me the opportunity to bring an independent perspective to the table, shaping the future of standards development and ensuring global requirements for offshore oil and gas structures are met.
Historically, standards committees have been mainly represented by technical experts from Europe and the US. As almost 60 per cent of global oil and gas facilities are located elsewhere, I helped fill a gap by ensuring that Australia’s voice was heard and that our region-specific regulatory practices were also codified.
A high point of the experience was when the international community made me the project leader of the most complex standard and high consequence: ISO 19901-9 edition 2, Structural integrity management standard for offshore fixed structures. This standard, scheduled for publication in 2027, will become the overarching global framework for managing the integrity of more than 7000 oil and gas offshore fixed platforms worldwide. I have been fortunate to be supported by an international array of technical experts to deliver a world-class standard that will help guide the energy transition in the years ahead.
Can you explain what being on an international committee is like?
Being part of an international committee is not only a national honour, but also a responsibility. As the national Chair and Head of Australian delegation to the Technical Committee ISO/TC 67/SC 7 Offshore structures, I represented our country in committee, meetings, global discussions and activities.
Carrying that responsibility meant always demonstrating the highest professional conduct, bearing in mind that as I was representing both, my profession and our country, on the international stage.
How could other engineers get involved with international standard development – what is the process for being considered?
The best place to start is to seek nomination from an institution like Engineers Australia to one of Standards Australia’s sub-committees. Support from your employer while working on standards development is beneficial. In my case, I am thankful to Rosenxt for supporting me in my standards journey.
From there, the next step is to actively participate in the technical content reviews that come through national ballots and to volunteer for various ISO workgroups. Consistent involvement builds a strong track record that can lead to invitations to contribute to ISO standards development projects.
Why is it important to have engineering expertise on international ISO committees?
Technical knowledge and engineering experience are essential – poorly written standards, or those with technical errors, can result in poor engineering outcomes that can compromise life safety, cause environmental damage or result in significant economic losses.
Equally important are the skills needed to write clear and unambiguous clauses for requirements. These skills can be learned and developed, and Standards Australia regularly offers many workshops for training experts on writing code provisions.
What positive impact has volunteering had on you as an engineer?
ISO committees bring together some of the most respected experts in our industry. Working with them has profoundly shaped my leadership skills.
The opportunity to share knowledge, build long lasting relationships and getting to shape the future of our energy sector has been immensely rewarding. I feel privileged to have been able to volunteer in this space through the WA Oil and Gas Group, and grateful to Engineers Australia for opening the door to this work.
I would encourage every engineer to get involved in standards work and give it a go. It is a rewarding way to make a tangible impact on the profession and the future of engineering globally.
If you’d like to get involved in Australian Standards Development for your specialisation you can find available committee positions on our website.