CSA Group Announces John Froats as the 2015 Recipient of the Prestigious John Jenkins Award

TORONTO, June 17, 2015 /CNW/ - CSA Group, a leading standards development organization and global provider of testing and certification services, today officially announces John Froats, as the recipient of the 2015 John Jenkins Award. The award, CSA Group's most prestigious honour, is bestowed upon the person who is judged to have rendered distinguished service in the development, advancement, and application of voluntary standards.

The 2015 John Jenkins Award was presented to John Froats by Dr. Roland Hosein, Chair of the Board, CSA Group, at a special awards ceremony held during the CSA Group Annual Conference in Niagara Falls, Ontario. The award recognizes his outstanding achievement, extraordinary vision, commitment to excellence and tireless advancement of standards for the nuclear industry.  

"John Froats has been the Chair of the CSA Nuclear Strategic Steering Committee for the past seven years.  Mr. Froats has been instrumental in shaping and refining the nuclear program into one of CSA Group's most respected, well-organized and efficient programs," says Gianluca Arcari, Executive Director, Standards and Vice President CSA Group. "In leadership strength, technical knowledge, strategic acumen and personal integrity, John Froats is truly unmatched."

As a result of Mr. Froats' efforts, today nuclear standards are more broadly used and address a wider scope of subject matter, thereby advancing safety in nuclear generation and consistency in regulatory application. The program now supports over 30 active committees, over 400 expert volunteer members and has over 50 published standards.

Mr. Froats directed a five-year phase of process improvements that served to reduce development cycle time by more than 50 per cent and increase productivity by more than 60 per cent.  As a result, nuclear standards are typically published within 18 months, an objective that has been adopted by all other standards areas.

A well-respected leader in the nuclear industry, Mr. Froats has gained audiences from high-ranking government officials, executives of nuclear utilities and industry groups. He has taken a leading role in strengthening ties between CSA Group and major Canadian nuclear stakeholders, and is personally largely responsible for the cooperative and active relationship that CSA Group currently enjoys with the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission, which is invaluable to industry.

About the John Jenkins Award
The John Jenkins Award is CSA Group's most prestigious honour. Nominations for the Award are open to individuals who have: shown leadership in various areas - through personal involvement over a period of years - in the development, advancement, and application of voluntary standards; encouraged the development and advancement of standards both nationally and internationally; and through foresight and action, helped to substantially advance the arts and sciences related to standardization. CSA Group employees are not eligible.

Established in 1978 in memory of Dr. John Jenkins, the award commemorates the devotion and commitment demonstrated by Dr. Jenkins' more than 27 years of voluntary service to CSA Group and standards development. Dr. Jenkins immigrated to Canada from England in 1912 and went on to graduate from the University of British Columbia in 1923 as the country's first Forest Engineer. He served as a Colonel and Director of Military Planning at Defence Headquarters during World War II and, before his retirement in 1966, he was Director of the Forest Products Research Branch for the Federal Department of Forestry.

During his time with CSA Group, Dr. Jenkins served as President – now called Chairman of the Board - from 1967 to 1969, Chairman of the Standards Policy Board from 1969 to 1977, and Chairman of all major Standards committees related to lumber and building products. On June 19, 1975, Dr. Jenkins was inducted as an Honorary Member of CSA Group in recognition of his outstanding service. He passed away at his Ottawa home on November 7, 1977.

About CSA Group
CSA Group is an independent, not-for-profit membership association dedicated to safety, social good and sustainability. Its knowledge and expertise encompass standards development; training and advisory solutions; global testing and certification services across key business areas including hazardous location and industrial, transportation, plumbing and construction, medical, safety and technology, appliances and gas, alternative energy, lighting and sustainability; as well as consumer product evaluation services. The CSA certification mark appears on billions of products worldwide.  For more information about CSA Group visit www.csagroup.org.

SOURCE Canadian Standards Association

Allison Hawkins, Manager, Corporate Affairs, CSA Group, 416-747-2615, [email protected]