2027 ANAB Conformity Assessment Symposium

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professional Development Training
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What Is ACAS?

The ANAB Conformity Assessment Symposium (ACAS) brings together leaders from across the conformity assessment ecosystem for two days of dialogue, learning, and collaboration on the trends and challenges shaping accreditation and global trust. As new technologies, shifting regulations, and evolving stakeholder demands reshape the field, ACAS 2027 convenes the community to navigate that change together under this year's theme: Changing Conformity Assessment Solutions.

Why Attend?

  • Explore the forces reshaping the industry: AI, cybersecurity, regulatory shifts, and supply-chain pressure.
  • Learn from keynote speakers and presentations sources directly from the community.
  • Go deep in your discipline with targeted technical tracks, or follow the broader general program.
  • Connect with peers, partners, and solution providers at networking sessions and an evening reception with exhibitors.
  • Build practical skills through concurrent professional development training.

ACAS welcomes accreditation and conformity assessment bodies, laboratories, regulators, standards organizations, service providers, and consultants.

New to the field, or a quality manager or technical professional? The Professional Development Training track is built for you.

Register Now

Registration Fees For ACAS 2027

Pass Type

Early Bird
(through Sep 30, 2026)

Regular
(Oct 1 – Dec 31, 2026)

Late
(after Jan 1, 2027)

Full 2-Day Pass (Tuesday & Wednesday)
Both days, all sessions (choice of track) + reception

$895

$1,095

$1,175

Day 1 Only (Tuesday)
Day One sessions, includes Tuesday Reception

$650

$800

$875

Day 2 Only (Wednesday)
Day Two sessions, no reception

$450

$600

$700

Day 2 (Wednesday) + Tuesday Reception
Day Two sessions + reception

$650

$800

$875

Group Rate: Save 10% on groups of two or more. Use code GROUPCODE at registration. Valid on Regular and Late pricing only — not available with Early Bird rates. Groups must register at the same time in order to apply discount

Two-Day Registration includes: symposium sessions or professional development training, Day One and Day Two lunch, and the Day One evening reception.

Day Two Only Registration includes: symposium sessions on day two only and lunch.

Register Now

ANAB Professional Development Training

The ANAB Professional Development Training is a two-day, hands-on training program taking place during ACAS 2027 (January 19-20) at the Gaylord National Resort. It consists of four focused sessions designed specifically for conformity assessment body personnel who want to strengthen their quality management systems, covering the topics of risk-based thinking, cause analysis and corrective action, mastering audit trailing and tracing, and management review. The training is taught by experienced ANAB practitioners and is limited to 75 participants, with registration also including access to ACAS keynotes, lunches, and an evening networking reception. View the ANAB Professional Development Training agenda here!


ANAB Professional Development Training Registration

Meet the ACAS Speakers

Dale Cyr

CEO and Executive Director

Inteleos

Laurie E. Locascio, PH.D. NAE

President and CEO

American National Standards Institute (ANSI)

Marcus Long

Chief Executive

IIOA (Independent International Organisation for Assurance)

Warren Merkel

Interim Executive Director

ANSI National Accreditation Board (ANAB)

Allyn Shultis

Executive Director

GRMA Allyn

See All Speakers

ACAS 2027 Agenda

TUESDAY, JANUARY 19, 2027

Registration - 7:30-8:45

Morning Sessions - 8:45-12:00

Welcome to ACAS 2027! ANAB leadership opens the symposium with a look at this year's theme, Changing Conformity Assessment Solutions, and the forces reshaping the field: shifting markets, evolving regulation, and new technology. This session sets up two days of practical sessions, cross-discipline conversation, and the chance to connect with peers across the conformity assessment community
Presenters:
Warren Merkel, ANAB

A leading organization in today’s changing conformity assessment environment will share general perspectives on not only changes today but a glimpse into the future as well.  More details soon.
Presenters:
TBA

Conformity assessment has been changing to meet more complex and challenging assurance needs.  The first panel in this session will explore circumstances under which third-party conformity assessment should be considered appropriate.  The second panel will have a look at a number of cutting-edge technologies that conformity assessment bodies (CABs) use to tackle new assurance needs and improve efficiency in delivering services to their client.
Presenters:
TBA

Lunch - 12:00–1:00

Afternoon Sessions - 1:00–5:00

Accredited assurance is undergoing its most significant transformation in decades. This IIOA session explores the dual challenge of auditing with AI and auditing AI, alongside the broader digitalisation pressures reshaping certification, inspection, and conformity assessment. Through member case studies, live interaction, and a moderated discussion, participants will examine where accreditation requirements are clear, where gaps remain, and what decisions the community must make next. The goal is to define a shared path forward that maintains confidence while enabling innovation.
Presenters:
Marcus Long, IIOA

Presentation #1: Task Level Governance for AI Use
A specific approach to using AI as a tool in various conformity assessment activities will be presented by SCS Global Services.  The approach will describe how to govern AI use to maximize its benefits and best manage risk.
Presenter: Diana Kirsanova Phillips, SCS Global Services

Presentation #2: The Physical and Digital Future of Conformity Assessment
As products embed more advanced technology and features historical approaches to product conformity assessment based on testing are changing and adapting as well.  UL Solutions will share the role and relationship of virtual evidence in combination with traditional physical evidence for a hybrid approach to assurance from product conformity assessment.
Presenter: Robert Slone, UL Solutions

The National Board for Workforce Certification & Verification (NBWCV) will review their new conformity assessment solution for the challenges of necessary and critical non-employee workers in hospitals.  This solution illustrates how new multifaceted approaches to accredited standardization and conformity assessment are using new tools and approaches to solve long-standing problems.
Presenters:
Carter Lonsberry, NBWCV

A 30-minute roundtable before the reception; meet new people at your table and work through thought-provoking questions raised by the day's presentations.

Evening Reception with Exhibitors - 5:00–8:00

Heavy hors d'oeuvres and drinks provided

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 20, 2027

Morning Sessions - 8:30-12:15

The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) will present its changing perspectives on conformity assessment.  And the perspectives from the owner of a large global conformity assessment scheme on conformity assessment today will be shared.  More details soon.
Presenters:
Laurie Locascio, ANSI
Allyn Shultis, GRMA

Amazon, a global household name and user of conformity assessment will share their experiences as a reflection of how conformity assessment is ever changing to meet new challenges and needs.  More details soon.

The Global Accreditation Cooperation, Inc. (Global ACI) represents a new chapter in the globalization of accreditation of conformity assessment bodies.  The status and development of Global ACI, its members, and how it will impact the future of globalized conformity assessment will be presented.  More details soon.
Presenter:
Brahim Houla, Global ACI

Accreditation provides independent assurance of the competence and impartiality of conformity assessment bodies, but a key challenge is moving from recognizing its value to developing the organizational capability required to achieve and sustain it. Drawing on observations from Jamaica, the Bureau of Standards Jamaica presents a practical Accreditation Readiness Pathway and explores how this perspective may support conformity assessment bodies in Small Island Developing States.
Presenter:
Kimberly Powell, Bureau of Standards Jamaica

See separate agendas for:
- Management Systems, Product Certification, and Validation & Verification (coming soon)
- Forensics
- Inspection, Laboratories, and Related Activities
- Credentialing (coming soon)

US federal government agencies perform conformity assessments, oversee private sector conformity assessment bodies, and are among the most significant users of conformity assessment for assurance and regulatory compliance.  A panel of representatives from US government agencies will explore the impact of changing conformity assessment solutions in the government context.  More details soon.
Presenter:
TBA

A new model of developing a conformity assessment solution is currently being used that takes public-private partnership to a deeper and more practical level.  ioXt as the lead private sector partner in this endeavor will present this new model and share experiences with its implementation as a model for future initiatives that tap the relative strengths of both government and private sector entities.
Presenter:
Grace Burkhard, ioXt

Lunch - 12:15–1:15

Afternoon Sessions - 1:15–4:30

See separate agendas for:
- Management Systems, Product Certification, and Validation & Verification (coming soon)
- Forensics
- Inspection, Laboratories, and Related Activities
- Credentialing (coming soon)

Cyber threats keep growing more sophisticated, raising a basic question: how do we know practitioners have the skills to protect systems and data? This panel looks at how certifications, competency-based training, and workforce credentialing build a qualified cybersecurity workforce, drawing on lessons from DoD partnerships and education pathways.
Presenter:
TBA

As AI, cybersecurity, digital identity, and credentials become more interconnected, conformity assessment has an increasingly important role in establishing trust. This closing session will bring together the themes explored throughout ACAS and consider their implications for accreditation, certification, credentialing, and quality assurance. Moving beyond a discussion of technological change, it will challenge attendees to consider how conformity assessment must evolve to provide confidence in the people, systems, data, and decisions that shape our digital world.
Presenter:
Dale Cyr, Inteleos

A panel of conformity assessment leaders will provide observations about the symposium and engage with feedback offered by attendees
Presenters:
Laurie E. Locascio, ANSI
Brahim Houla, Global ACI
Richard O'Brien, TIC Council Americas
Warren Merkel, ANAB

Close

TUESDAY, JANUARY 19, 2027

Registration - 7:30-8:45

Morning Sessions - 8:45-12:00

Welcome to ACAS 2027! ANAB leadership opens the symposium with a look at this year's theme, Changing Conformity Assessment Solutions, and the forces reshaping the field: shifting markets, evolving regulation, and new technology. This session sets up two days of practical sessions, cross-discipline conversation, and
the chance to connect with peers across the conformity assessment community.
Presenters:
Doug Leonard, Executive Director, ANAB

Our opening keynote frames the questions driving this year's theme. Expect a candid look at where conformity assessment is headed and what it will take to keep pace.
Presenters:
TBA

Risk-based thinking is the cornerstone of an effective management system. This session will build the foundation of risk-based thinking, discussing why it is important and how to incorporate it into yourmanagement system.
Instructor:
Deanne Emory, Instructional Designer, ANAB

Lunch - 12:00–1:00

Afternoon Sessions - 1:00–4:30

When there is a non-conformance, cause analysis is critical to develop effective corrective actions. In this session, you will learn how to master cause analysis and corrective action so the non-conformance does not recur or occur elsewhere in your management system.
Instructor:
Deanne Emory, Instructional Designer, ANAB

Evening Reception with Exhibitors - 5:00–8:00

Heavy hors d'oeuvres and drinks provided

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 20, 2027

Morning Sessions - 8:45-12:00

A wide-angle view of the changing conformity assessment landscape and how markets, trade, and regulation are reshaping it. Open to all attendees.
Presenter:
TBA

Objective evidence leads auditors in evaluating audit evidence against audit criteria to determine conformance. In this session, we will define terms related to auditing and dive into efficient auditing using trailing and tracing.

Instructor:

Deanne Emory, Instructional Designer, ANAB

Lunch - 12:00–1:00

Afternoon Sessions - 1:00–4:30

Management review can feel like a check the box exercise, but the data in management review is a valuable tool for driving excellence in your management system. In this session, we will discuss how to use management review data as a continuous improvement tool.
Instructor:
Deanne Emory, Instructional Designer, ANAB

All attendees reconvene to pull together the threads from two days of sessions. ANAB leadership shares closing remarks,
key takeaways, and a look at what's ahead for the conformity assessment community.

Close

Download and view the PDF agenda!

View the ACAS Agenda
Register Now

Venue

ACAS 2027 will be hosted at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center located in National Harbor. ANAB has arranged for a room block at the Gaylord National Resort for January 17-21, 2026; hotel reservations can be made at a discounted rate of $299 per night. The deadline to make reservations is December 29, 2026; the availability of rooms and the discounted rate is not guaranteed after this date. If you have any questions, please contact Mary Kolberg at [email protected].

Gaylord National Waterfront View

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