The Chief Executive Officer of the International Facility Management Association (IFMA), Michael Geary, has called on facility managers to adopt international standards to improve service delivery and strengthen the profession.

Speaking at the second day of the IFMA Global Conference on Thursday, August 13, 2026, Geary said standards such as ISO 41001 provide a common language for facility management across sectors, organisational sizes and regions.

“FM is practised locally, but global FM standards can be adapted to local FM realities,” he said.

He emphasised the need to balance international best practices with local conditions.

The IFMA CEO said ISO standards could help organisations improve regulatory and legal compliance, reduce operational risks, and make better use of energy, resources and materials.

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He added that the standards could promote consistent service delivery through clearly defined processes while improving the credibility and reputation of facility managers among clients and contractors.

Geary noted that the Ghana Standards Authority and the Standards Organisation of Nigeria had embraced components of ISO 41001 as a best-practice approach to adapting global facility management standards to their respective regulatory and operational environments.

He explained that the standards were developed through contributions from facility management practitioners, industry experts, IFMA and its members serving on ISO technical committees, which include representatives from more than 50 countries.

The CEO urged facility managers to support the adoption of the standards through practical implementation, internal audits and engagement with national standards bodies.

He said IFMA’s approach was to provide a global perspective with a local focus to help professionals bring world-leading practices into their own environments.

DR/MA