The Tribune

The Bahamas is seeking another term on the Council of the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) by nominating its own Standards Bureau chief to the post.

Dr Renae Ferguson-Bufford, executive director of the Bahamas Bureau of Standards and Quality (BBSQ), has been put forward as this country’s candidate for the Council for the 2027–2029 term.

The Bahamas Bureau of Standards and Quality, in a statement, said the move builds on the first-ever seat this nation secured on the ISO Council in 2023 with 70 votes — the highest total recorded by any candidate that year.

It added that the election also marked a milestone for Caribbean representation, with Dr Ferguson-Bufford becoming the first woman from the Caribbean to serve on the Council.

The election for the 2027–2029 Council will take place during the 2026 ISO General Assembly in Paris, France, on October 1, as part of the ISO annual meeting being held from September 28 to October 2.

The ISO brings together 177 national standards bodies from around the world, with the Council serving as the organisation’s core governance body. The Council addresses matters including strategy and policy, financial oversight, governance and organisational oversight, commercial policy and information technology.

For The Bahamas, a seat on the Council provides an avenue for this nation and other small island developing states (SIDS) to have input into international discussions affecting standards, trade, quality infrastructure and emerging areas of global importance.

The BBSQ said Dr Ferguson-Bufford has helped build The Bahamas’ national standards infrastructure, provided leadership at the Caribbean level, and already served on the ISO Council. During her first term, Dr Ferguson-Bufford contributed to discussions on the ISO’s future financing, digital transformation, capacity-building and the meaningful participation of developing countries and SIDS.

In March 2025, she was appointed vice-chair of ISO’s committee on developing country matters (DEVCO) for 2025–2026. This committee focuses on identifying the standardisation needs of developing countries, supporting technical assistance and contributing to policy discussions affecting their participation in the international standards system.

Senator Kevin Simmons, the BBSQ Standards Council’s chairman, said Dr Ferguson-Bufford’s first term on the Council reflects the progression of The Bahamas’ engagement within the international standards community.

“Leadership is ultimately measured by what you build, what you advance, and the doors you help open for others,” Mr Simmons said. “As chairman of the BBSQ Standards Council, I have seen that reflected in Dr Renae Ferguson-Bufford’s leadership, and it is equally evident in the depth of her experience and credentials.

“From helping build The Bahamas’ national standards infrastructure to leading at the Caribbean level, to serving on ISO Council, she has consistently carried the perspective of smaller countries into spaces where global standards decisions are shaped.”

Dr Ferguson-Bufford’s campaign for the 2027–2029 term is being advanced under the theme ‘Every Voice Heard’. Her platform is centred on three priorities: Stronger representation; leadership development; and broader access to opportunity.

The BBSQ said the focus is on ensuring that smaller and developing members have a meaningful say in the conversations and decisions that shape international standards; creating stronger pathways for emerging standards professionals and future leaders; and expanding access to training, technical support, knowledge and international networks.

“Our first term demonstrated that the value of a member’s contribution is not determined by its size,” Dr Ferguson-Bufford said. “Continued service would provide an opportunity to deepen that work — strengthening participation, developing future leaders and expanding access so that every member has a meaningful opportunity to contribute and be heard.”

She added that international standards have a direct connection to everyday business and national development. “International standards affect everyday business - from what we import, what we export, to product quality, consumer protection and how businesses respond to climate and technology,” Dr Ferguson-Bufford said. “Continued service on Council gives The Bahamas an opportunity to bring its experience and perspective into the global conversations shaping those standards.”

The Bahamas is one of five national standards bodies contesting three available seats in Group Four for the 2027–2029 term. The other candidates are Kenya, Mongolia, Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka. The election will be held at the ISO General Assembly at the CNIT Forest Centre in Paris’ La Défense business.