Overview
This year’s meeting will address topics at the forefront of accreditation and conformity assessment, including AI agents and their application to conformity assessment activities, the ANAB Integrity Program, the UNIDO Benchmarking Framework, revised ISO/CASCO deliverables related to scheme owner activities and governance, Global Accreditation Cooperation Incorporated, and scheme owners’ challenges and opportunities in an evolving digital landscape.
The ANSI National Accreditation Board is pleased to invite scheme owners and protocol owners with programs under any of the following standards to the 5th Annual ANAB Scheme Owners Meeting:
Venue
This meeting will take place on November 5, 2026, at the ANAB office in Washington DC. The meeting will be held as a hybrid event, with both in-person and virtual attendance options available.
ANAB DC Office
1899 L Street NW, Suite 1100-A
Washington DC, District of Columbia 20036United States
Hotel Accommodations
We’ve arranged discounted rates at four partner hotels for attendees of the event. Choose the option that works best for you and use the details below to book at the discounted rate.
Club Quarters Hotel – Washington, DC
ANSI can take advantage of member rates at the DC Club Quarters Hotel, and will receive a discount on the best available rate for the property. To make a reservation, please visit the ANSI Club Quarters Reservations link.
The Marriott is offering ANSI a discounted rate of 15% off its best available daily rate. Reservations can be made online here.
You can also reserve by contacting the reservations department at 202.303.0190 or via an email to [email protected]. When calling or emailing, please be sure to ask for the ANSI rate.
Club Quarters Hotel (Washington, DC)
Reservations can be made online here. You can also reserve by calling the hotel’s reservations line at 202.483.6000 or via email to [email protected]. If calling or emailing, please be sure to mention ANSI/American National Standards Institute so you will receive the discounted rate. Guests are encouraged to book four weeks in advance of arrival date when possible.
March 2 – June 25
Sept 14 – November 15
Executive: $349
Deluxe: $319
Eurostars St. Gregory Hotel (formerly the St. Gregory Hotel)
The Eurostars St. Gregory Hotel is offering ANSI a discounted rate of 20% off its best available daily rate. The booking link is not yet available for ANSI, and I and will provide an update as soon as possible. In the meantime, if you would like to make a reservation at this property, please contact Mary Kolberg at [email protected] directly and we will be happy to assist with securing the discounted rate.
Agenda
Introduction and Welcome (~5 minutes)
Presenter: Brad Moore – Associate Director of Conformity Assessment Strategy–ANAB
Expected Outcome: Setting the tone and objectives for the meeting.
ANAB – ANSI National Accreditation Board (~20 minutes)
Presenter: Doug Leonard – ANAB Executive Director
Expected Outcome: Understanding ANAB’s role, its relationship with Scheme/Program Owners, and how collaboration can enhance accreditation processes. The establishment of the New Global Accreditation Cooperation Inc. and its role in the accreditation and conformity assessment activities.
The “National Conformity Assessment Principles for the United States” – 3rd Edition
Presenter: Warren Merkel – ANAB Vice President Policy
Expect Outcome: The intent is to provide a concise and clear presentation of these principles for the United States to promote national and international understanding and recognition of competently conducted U.S. conformity assessment processes, resulting in increased acceptance of U.S. products within national and international markets. National and international acceptance is vital to the continued economic health of the United States, as well as to the protection of human health, safety, and the environment.
How AI is Shaping the Future of Accreditation and Conformity Assessment
Presenter: To be defined
Expect Outcome: Understanding current and emerging applications of AI in accreditation and conformity assessment. Evaluate risks related to AI adoption, including bias, transparency, explainability, and trust. Recognize the implications for standards, competency requirements, and accreditation criteria. Explore practical approaches for integrating AI into existing conformity assessment frameworks.
Panel 1: Scheme/Program/Protocol Owners
Best Practices of Managing and Monitoring Conformity Assessment Schemes/Programs/Protocols (~60 minutes)
Moderator: TBD
Presenters:
- QMS – Scheme Owner
- GHG Scheme/Program Owner
- Personnel Scheme/Program Owner
Expected Outcome: Sharing experiences and strategies to address common challenges and leverage opportunities in certification Schemes/Programs/protocols.
- Overview of the Schemes/Programs/Protocols
- What challenges do you have as an SO, and are they related to the Integrity of your program?
- How does AI impact your process?
- Is competence of your personnel one of your priorities?
- How do you, as an SO demonstrate conformance to the UNTP transparence protocol?
- Use of Data on the monitoring of Certification Bodies
- Are you satisfied with the process you have of mining complaints from the media or from companies certified under your program? Are the actions satisfactory? – How do you engage with the certified companies in the AI and data world? What process is used?
Update on the establishment of International Scheme Owners Association (10 Minutes)
Presenter: TBD
Expected Outcome: Providing an update on ISOA Initial Operation and Project/Priorities.
Discussion: Results of the Survey on “Paper on Competence Framework for Scheme/Program Owner Personnel Involved in the Development of Certification Schemes/Programs” (~10 minutes)
Presenters:
- Vijay Krishna – ANAB Vice President Credentialing Programs
- Eric T. Vincent – ANAB Senior Manager, Credentialing
Expected Outcome: Reviewing the results of the survey and next steps. in
Overview of the 2027 ANAB Conformity Assessment Symposium (~10 minutes)
Presenter: Keith Mowry –ANABSenior Manager Business Development
Expected Outcome: Sharing information about the upcoming ANAB Conformity Assessment Symposium, key themes, and how Scheme/Program owners can participate.
Panel 2: Scheme/Program/Protocol Owners
Best Practices of Managing and monitoring Conformity assessment scheme/program/protocol (~60 minutes)
Moderator:
Presenters:
- Laboratory Scheme/Program Owner
- Product/Process Scheme/Program Owner
- Product Scheme/Program Owner
Expected Outcome: Sharing experiences and strategies to address common challenges and leverage opportunities in certification Schemes/Programs.
- Overview of the Schemes/Programs
- Integrity program
- Use of Data on the monitoring of Certification Bodies
- Experience of Scheme Owners in the use of AI
- Sharing experiences and strategies to address common challenges and opportunities
- Scheme/Program owners’ best practices and challenges – Feedback on ANAB Services
Closing (~5 minutes)
Presenter: Warren Merkel – ANAB Vice President of Policy
Expected Outcome: Summarizing key takeaways from the meeting and next steps.
Register using the form below if:
- You are an ANAB scheme owner (private or public sector)
- You are attending as the designated representative for a scheme owner
- Association of Scheme owner
- Benchmarking organization
- Other entity (Specify)