A highly mobile workforce means that unlike any time prior, pipeline engineers are crossing borders, staying for a project and then jumping on a jumbo for the next project. This has increased the need for accepted and credible global standards to enable a smooth transition from country to country or even from continent to continent.

The immense challenges these circumstances present couldn’t be better illustrated than through the work Susan continues to perform for the Australian pipeline industry. Although Susan has recently moved to South Africa she continues to perform a vital role for the industry as the coordinator and representative of the Standards Australia ME38 committee on the International Standards Organisation (ISO) committee responsible for petroleum pipelines.

ISO standards are becoming increasingly important in Australia and the world. Hence it is very important that Australia has a strong voice in the standards produced to protect the Australian industry and Australian interests overseas. Until quite recently, ISO standards tended to be lowest common denominator, often captured by special interest groups, and used by few. Fortunately this is no longer the case.

Oil companies and governments are putting large resources into achieving international standardisation and the Australian pipeline industry is likely to be severely disadvantaged if it doesn’t monitor what is going on and participate in these ISO standards outcomes.

An example of the strong push for standardisation is the Vienna Agreement that obliges all members of the European Economic Community to abide by standards adopted by ISO. This has led directly to individual standards for European countries such as the UK to be discontinued. While in some countries there are back door efforts to delay and water down the effects of these agreements, the writing is on the wall: it is likely that eventually there will only be the ISO standards operating across Europe. The plethora of free trade agreements that Australia is developing will lead to increasing pressure for Australia to follow a similar path.

The APIA Research and Standards Committee and members of the ME38 committee are all agreed that Australia’s pipeline standard AS2885 is vastly superior to international equivalents for small diameter, high strength pipelines that are built in this country. It is therefore important that the industry continues to develop those standards and to benchmark them against other standards, including ISO.

This is not an easy task because almost all of the effort that goes into developing and maintaining Australian standards such as AS2885 is voluntary and relies upon the enthusiasm of individuals in the industry. The different approaches to design of Australian pipelines mean that it is essential that the contributions of the ME38 committee are recognised and appreciated. While ISO standards may become more used within the Australian industry, it is important that recognition of the different design needs in Australia is maintained.

Susan Jaques took on the voluntary role of the ISO representative of ME38 several years ago and since that time has attended meetings in Calgary and in London. It is an immense job keeping up to date with developments in all of the subject areas such as valves, compressors, drill casing, line pipe, welding and coating.

In addition she is required to work out when and if it is necessary for Australia to vote and liaise with relevant Australian experts to determine whether the vote should be negative, affirmative, or an abstention. The job has taken a lot of Susan’s time, especially the effort required in the preparation for and attendance at international meetings.

The real work is done at the Working Group level, where the Standards are reviewed, debated, written and agreed to. Australia is getting more involved at Working Group level, with several members recently being proposed or accepted into ISO Working Groups.

The process for meeting the deadlines imposed by the ISO committee present a raft of challenges, including responding to the ISO requests for comment from the industry. Susan works with Michael Hourmozi of Standards Australia to send the Draft ISO standards for review to members of the ME38-1 committee as well as any others who have identified an interest in a particular topic.

With everyone so busy, Susan certainly appreciates when the effort is made by industry members to review the ISO Standards and provide comments to be forwarded on to Standards Australia and through to the ISO committees.

It has however highlighted the global nature of the process itself – a lesson within the lessons. The ISO committee regularly keeps in touch via today’s essential tools including email and the ISO website while battling the curse of modern business, the many and varying timezones in which committee members are active.

Further, both the ISO committee and her current time in South Africa has highlighted the positive role that Australian engineers can play in countries facing massive infrastructure and energy booms and also the tremendous opportunities that are present for Australian firms in those countries.

Susan has continued to fill this vital role on the ISO committee since she moved to South Africa. It’s a contribution to our industry that goes way beyond the call of duty and we thank her for it.