In this episode of the IFAN Podcast, we speak with Mr. Ruggero Lensi, Director General of UNI - The national standards body of Italy, about why standards users must be at the heart of international standardization. Drawing on his long-standing experience in the standards ecosystem, Ruggero reflects on the evolving role of users, the value they bring to quality, efficiency, and innovation, and why their active participation is essential for standards to remain relevant in real markets.

The discussion explores IFAN’s mission as the global home of standards users, the challenges users face when engaging in standards development, and how collaboration between users, industry, and standards bodies can generate real economic and social impact.

This episode sets the scene for the podcast series by reaffirming a core message: standards work best when users’ voices are heard.