Accreditation and certification are often used interchangeably—but they’re not the same. In this session, Lyndon Thomas (Lead Accreditation Specialist, NATA) demystifies the differences, explains how each applies across laboratories and broader quality systems, and outlines what organisations should prioritise to stay compliant and build trust. The session opens with a short introduction to NATA - who they are, how they operate, and where they intersect with standards such as ISO/IEC 17025, ISO 15189 and ISO 9001. What you’ll learn

• Accreditation vs certification: purpose, scope, governance, and why the distinction matters
• Where NATA fits in Australia’s quality and conformity assessment ecosystem
• Practical implications for QA/RA leaders, auditors and laboratory managers
• How to prepare evidence and avoid common nonconformities

Who should attend
Quality leaders, auditors, laboratory and technical managers, compliance officers, and anyone responsible for management systems and external assurance.
Date: Thursday 12 February 2026
Venue: Online (MS Teams)
Time: 7pm - 8pm (AEDT - NSW/VIC time)
Cost: $10 members; $40 for non members