A tribute to honour the legacy and contributions of Dr Barry David Inglis to APMP

23 November 1940 – 4 July 2025

Dr Angela Samuel, National Measurement Institute, Australia (NMIA)

On Friday 4^th July 2025, a giant in our community passed away.

Dr Barry David Inglis, inaugural CEO and Chief Metrologist of the National Measurement Institute Australia (NMIA), was a passionate metrologist whose contributions to the development of metrology within Australia, within our Asia Pacific region and internationally will stand the test of time. There have been many tributes written since Barry’s passing by a who’s-who of the pillars of our international metrology community, a truly fitting celebration of the tremendous achievements of a remarkable man. Others have written about his time on the CIPM from 2000, becoming Vice President from 2002 and then President for two terms from 2011 to 2019, during which time he oversaw the landmark redefinition of the International System of Units.

I take the liberty of adding one more tribute – to honour and recognise Barry’s legacy to us in APMP and how much we owe him for the flourishing, dynamic and influential organization that APMP is today. I know that many of you did not have the opportunity to know Barry. I, on the other hand, first met him in late 1994 when he had just been elected what-was-then Regional Coordinator of a relatively immature and fairly unknown regional body. Over the next five years, I had the enormous privilege of working closely with Barry, supporting him in realising a vision that transformed not only APMP but global metrology.

This picture is of the 1997 APMP meeting hosted in Australia, in the middle of Barry’s term as Regional Coordinator. Yes, these are all the attendees (just over 40)! Contrast this with the images that you have of APMP’s annual meetings bringing together more than 400 delegates.

How did Barry transform APMP into what it is today?

Barry recognised the fundamental role that metrology – and indeed the standards and conformance (S&C) infrastructure – plays in the reduction of technical barriers to trade (TBTs). The Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) had recently been established (in 1989) with the overarching goal of trade liberalisation and facilitation and, in late 1994, APEC’s Sub-Committee on Standards and Conformance (SCSC) was created. Barry attended the first SCSC meeting together with the heads of the other Asia Pacific S&C bodies and, together, they successfully made the case for recognition by the SCSC as APEC’s “Specialist Regional Bodies” (SRBs) supporting the objectives and work programs of the SCSC and APEC more broadly.

Trade facilitation and related issues being discussed by S&C leaders at this time highlighted for Barry the need for APMP to evolve into an organisation that could better address these needs. By 1996, Barry’s vision led to the drafting of APMP’s MoU, identifying for the first time the structures of a General Assembly, Technical Committees and Executive Committee.[1] Barry knew that APMP needed structures reflecting the CIPM’s Consultative Committees to effectively participate in a framework of mutual recognition of national measurement capabilities supporting reduction of TBTs. He had, in parallel during this time, been a key architect in in establishing such a framework, working with then-BIPM Director Dr Terry Quinn and other global leaders – and, in October 1999, the CIPM MRA was established. Today the CIPM MRA is recognised for its underpinning role in facilitating global trade and APMP members have nearly 6,900 published CMCs.

Support for developing and emerging NMIs:

Barry was also a trusted mentor and collaborator and a passionate advocate for developing and emerging NMIs.

·         It was Barry who championed the creation of the “Associate” membership category to the Metre Convention, recognising that many developing economies would otherwise not be able to participate in the international measurement system and the CIPM MRA and thereby achieve recognition of their national measurement capabilities.

·         We at NMIA received numerous acknowledgements since Barry’s passing of how much he contributed his considerable expertise, knowledge and wisdom to support the development of metrology in many economies over his long and illustrious career – to name a few: Singapore, Thailand, China, Indonesia, the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, South Africa … the list goes on.

And who could forget Waltzing Matilda..

I’ve noted already the vast difference between APMP in 1994 when Barry took on the leadership and APMP in 2025. While seemingly insignificant in a list of Barry’s achievements, there is one initiative for which we can thank Barry’s unerring instinct with people – our karaoke evenings! At the first APMP meeting which Barry led in 1995 in Japan, the 40-something attendees ended the day with a dinner in one of NMIJ’s meeting rooms. Unlike today’s grand dinners, this was a very informal event for this small but important group of metrology leaders. Keen to help everyone break the ice and get to know each other, Barry started singing a well-known Australian tune – Waltzing Matilda! I remember the surprised and wondering looks on people’s faces which slowly transformed into friendship and fun as, one-by-one, people took up the mantle from Barry to sing their own national songs and share their national pride. I can vouch for the numerous remarks made to me over the years (and I’m sure some of you) by international colleagues attending APMP appreciating the genuine culture of warmth and comradeship in APMP. Thank you Barry!

The list of Barry’s qualities as a human being are at least as long as his professional achievements. Among the wonderful messages I’ve received are those who knew how lucky I was to work so closely with him and benefit from the “proximity to his intellect, guidance and leadership”. I know and I 1000% agree. It has been the greatest privilege of my life.

APMP General Assembly 2019, Sydney Australia

[1] APMP’s Developing Economies Committee was established in 2000, with Barry’s advocacy and support.