ANSI Taps New Volunteer Leaders for 2026, Reaffirming Safety and Standards Priorities

ANSI Announces 2026 Volunteer Leadership, Spotlight on Christian Dubay’s Return

The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) has announced its volunteer leadership team for 2026, naming a slate of board officers and directors who will steer the organization’s volunteer-run work over the coming year. At the center of the announcement is the return of Christian Dubay from the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), who will take a leading role on ANSI’s board. The changes formalize who will represent member interests as ANSI coordinates standards work across industry, government and testing bodies throughout 2026.

This leadership shift matters to ANSI’s members because volunteer officers set priorities for standards development, shape policy positions when federal agencies consult on regulations, and oversee how ANSI balances technical expertise, consensus and public safety in its work.

Who’s Leading ANSI in 2026: Officer Roles and What They Represent

ANSI released a roster of officers and board members along with its announcement. The new slate mixes familiar faces from standards organizations and industry with representatives from testing and consumer safety groups. For readers who want a quick scan, here are the headline roles and the types of organizations those leaders come from:

• President / Chair-level role: Christian Dubay (National Fire Protection Association, NFPA) — returning to a visible leadership role that reinforces ANSI’s ties to safety-focused standards development.
• Vice presidents: A group drawn from trade associations, technical societies and major corporate members who will help steer ANSI committees and outreach work.
• Treasurer and secretary positions: Filled by representatives with governance and financial oversight experience, responsible for board administration and fiduciary checks.
• Board directors: A broader set of volunteer members representing manufacturers, technology companies, conformity assessment bodies (such as testing labs and certifiers), academic and public-interest organizations, and government liaisons.

The announcement emphasizes balance across sectors: standards users (industry), standards developers (technical committees and societies), and conformity assessors who test and certify products. ANSI says this spread helps the board consider technical detail, commercial realities and public safety at the same table.

How ANSI’s Volunteer Governance Works and Why Christian Dubay’s Role Resonates

ANSI is a non-profit that coordinates voluntary consensus standards in the United States. It does not itself write technical standards; instead, it accredits the processes used by technical committees and societies so that standards reflect broad agreement among stakeholders. The board is made up of volunteers from member organizations. Those volunteers are typically nominated by member groups and elected following ANSI’s bylaws to serve one-year or multi-year terms, depending on the position.

Christian Dubay’s background at the NFPA connects closely with ANSI’s public-safety focus. NFPA develops widely used fire and life-safety codes and standards, and its leaders are experienced in building consensus among manufacturers, regulators, fire services and insurance interests. Dubay’s return to ANSI leadership signals continuity on safety priorities and suggests the board will keep a steady hand on issues where standards intersect with public protection and building codes.

What This Leadership Change Means for Standards Work and Stakeholders

For businesses, regulators and technical committees, the practical effects are often gradual rather than dramatic. Volunteer board officers set high-level priorities, influence which outreach and policy efforts get resources, and help settle governance questions when disputes arise. Expect a focus on:

• Continued attention to safety-focused standards and how they interact with codes enforced by authorities having jurisdiction.
• Ongoing coordination with federal agencies that rely on ANSI-accredited standards as part of regulatory frameworks.
• Support for the mix of industry-led technical work and public-interest representation that underpins ANSI’s consensus model.

For member organizations, a board with strong representation from conformity assessment and standards-heavy associations means ANSI will likely keep emphasizing trusted accreditation, transparency in standards development, and international alignment where U.S. participation matters.

Next Steps: When the Term Starts and How Members Can Get Involved

The new volunteer leadership will serve through the 2026 term, and ANSI says the board will convene for its usual series of meetings and committee sessions early in the year. Members should watch ANSI’s announcements for the schedule of public meetings, working group calls and opportunities to volunteer on technical committees.

ANSI has issued a press release with the full roster and notes for media and members. Members who want to engage with specific initiatives can contact ANSI’s member services or the association’s communications office for meeting calendars and volunteer application details.