Standardization News

James Thomas, left, president, ASTM International, introduces Sara Gobbi, director of European Union affairs, ASTM International, at an opening ceremony at ASTM's Brussels office.

ASTM International has opened a new Office of European Affairs in Brussels, Belgium. Sara Gobbi has been selected as ASTM's director of European affairs to direct the office. The primary function of the office is to engage in outreach activities that raise greater awareness of ASTM among European institutions, business and trade associations, environmental and consumer groups, and other significant European stakeholders.

ASTM International's presence in Europe is broad, with members and customers in every European Union member country. European members are increasingly engaged in the leadership of ASTM technical committees that develop international standards in areas such as materials research and additive manufacturing, and that support the design and operation of new categories of general aircraft.

"The Brussels office allows us to build more consistent relationships at the European level that advance ASTM's mission, better serve our members and customers, and help to facilitate greater regulatory convergence and trade," says James A. Thomas, ASTM president.

Gobbi most recently worked as a standardization project manager at NORMAPME, the European Office of Crafts, Trades and Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises for Standardization. In that role, she advocated for small- and medium-sized enterprises in the development and revision of European standards policies, and advised SMEs in matters related to standards and regulations, competition law and intellectual property. Prior to that, Gobbi, an attorney, spent nearly five years advising clients in matters related to EU regulatory, internal market and competition policies.

For more information about the ASTM Office of European Affairs, contact Sara Gobbi.