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ICPHSO Convenes Nearly 200 Product Safety Professionals for 2026 North America Product Safety Training Workshop

MOORESVILLE, NC – June 19, 2026 – The International Consumer Product Health and Safety Organization (ICPHSO) successfully hosted its 2026 North America Product Safety Training Workshop at the Lowe’s Companies, Inc. corporate headquarters in Mooresville, North Carolina, bringing together nearly 200 product safety professionals from around the world for a day of learning, collaboration, and networking.

Hosted by Lowe’s, the Workshop featured an engaging program focused on advancing product safety through education, dialogue, and the sharing of best practices across stakeholder groups.
A highlight of this year’s event was the debut of Lightning Perspectives from Former CPSC Leadership. This fast-paced, five-minute presentation by former U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission leaders included Commissioners Joseph P. Mohorovic, Dana Baiocco, and Chairman Alex Hoehn-Saric, who shared insights on emerging challenges, key lessons learned, and the future of product safety.

Attendees, which included product safety professionals from North America and beyond also benefited from four plenary sessions addressing critical topics including voluntary standards development, product safety program effectiveness, packaging, and sustainability initiatives, and obtaining actionable chemical testing information. Additional sessions delivered timely updates on global regulatory developments, compliance trends, eFiling implementation, warnings and labeling, and other emerging issues impacting the product safety community.

"The Workshop exemplified ICPHSO’s mission of bringing together diverse stakeholders to learn from one another and work collaboratively toward safer consumer products," said Marc Schoem, Executive Director of ICPHSO. "The quality of the presentations, the engagement of participants, and the willingness of experts to share their experiences created a valuable learning environment for everyone in attendance."

ICPHSO extends its sincere appreciation to Lowe’s, whose support and hospitality made the event possible, as well as to the Workshop’s sponsors and exhibitors. Their participation provided attendees with access to valuable services, technologies, testing resources, and compliance solutions while creating meaningful opportunities for professional networking.

The event also featured a pre-workshop networking reception and a closing reception, allowing product safety professionals from industry, testing laboratories, standards organizations, consumer and parent advocates, health professionals and others to connect, exchange ideas, and strengthen professional relationships.

Building on the success of the North America Product Safety Training Workshop, ICPHSO now looks ahead to its 2026 International Symposium, taking place September 9-10, 2026, in Brussels, Belgium, in conjunction with the European Commission’s International Product Safety Week, beginning September 7. The Symposium will bring together global regulators, industry leaders, consumer advocates, and product safety professionals to explore emerging challenges, share best practices, and advance consumer product safety worldwide. Registration is now open.

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About ICPHSO

ICPHSO (International Consumer Product Health and Safety Organization) is a global, neutral forum that brings together regulators, manufacturers, retailers, testing laboratories, standards organizations, consumer advocates, academia, and other stakeholders to advance consumer product safety through collaboration, education, and networking. For more information, visit www.icphso.org or contact ICPHSO at info@icphso.org. 

FOR RELEASE:  1/14/26

ICPHSO Honors Xiao Chen as 2026 Ross Koeser Achievement Award Recipient

Mt.  Laurel, NJ — January 14, 2026 — The International Consumer Product Health and Safety Organization (ICPHSO) is pleased to announce that Xiao Chen has been selected as the 2026 recipient of the Ross Koeser Achievement Award, one of the organization’s highest honors.

The Ross Koeser Achievement Award is presented annually in honor of Ross Koeser, ICPHSO’s founding member and first Executive Director. The award recognizes an ICPHSO member who has demonstrated outstanding dedication and made significant, lasting contributions to the organization and its mission to protect consumer health and safety worldwide.

Xiao Chen, Vice President, Premiums Assurance & Quality at Intertek, is an internationally recognized expert in risk assessment, with a professional focus on the application of risk modeling across a diverse range of business and governmental issues, from consumer product safety to corporate social responsibility. Throughout her career, she has worked with numerous national and international corporations and associations to improve product safety across the entire product lifecycle—from concept and design through distribution.

In addition to her technical expertise, Xiao brings strong business operation management skills, exceptional organizational ability, and extensive experience managing multiple programs and complex projects simultaneously. She has a proven record of success working with multidisciplinary, cross-functional, and cross-cultural teams, supported by excellent communication, analytical, and problem-solving skills. Highly motivated and deeply dedicated to advancing consumer product safety, Xiao’s work has had a meaningful and lasting impact on the global product safety community.

Xiao has also demonstrated outstanding leadership within ICPHSO. She previously served on the ICPHSO Board of Directors, including a term as Program Chair for the 2022 ICPHSO Annual Meeting and Training Symposium and President in 2022.

“Xiao’s leadership, expertise, and unwavering commitment to ICPHSO exemplify the spirit and values that Ross Koeser instilled in this organization from its inception,” said Marc Schoem, ICPHSO Executive Director. “Her contributions have strengthened ICPHSO’s collaborative community and advanced its mission to improve consumer product safety through education, networking, and information sharing.”

Xiao Chen will be formally recognized and presented with the award during the ICPHSO 2026 Annual Meeting and Training Symposium, which is being held in Orlando, Florida, February 23-26, 2026.

She joins a distinguished group of past recipients whose work has helped shape ICPHSO and the broader consumer product safety community.

Previous Ross Koeser Achievement Award Recipients include:

• 2025: Don Kornblet
• 2024: Pinuccia Contino
• 2023: Rod Freeman
• 2022: Bob Adler
• 2021: Sean Oberle
• 2020: Nancy Cowles
• 2019: Marc Schoem
• 2018: Carol Pollack-Nelson
• 2017: David Schmeltzer
• 2016: Joan Lawrence
• 2015: Ross Koeser

ICPHSO congratulates Xiao Chen on this well-deserved recognition and looks forward to celebrating her achievements with members and stakeholders at the 2026 Annual Meeting and Training Symposium.

About ICPHSO
The International Consumer Product Health and Safety Organization (ICPHSO) is a global, member-driven organization dedicated to protecting consumer health and safety by providing a forum for education, collaboration, and information exchange among regulators, manufacturers, retailers, laboratories, consultants, and consumer advocates.

ICPHSO Board Opportunity - 2026

Deadline for Submission: December 3, 2025

Have you been looking for an opportunity to share your leadership skills and contribute to the success and development of ICPHSO? ICPHSO is seeking applications from members for open positions on the ICPHSO Board of Directors which become vacant March 14, 2026.
  
The Nominating Committee is responsible for presenting a slate of directors to the ICPHSO Board to ensure the organization is governed with excellence and vision. ICPHSO strives to ensure that its governing Board is inclusive and representative of the many different stakeholders that make up its growing membership base.  The Nominating Committee is inviting interested and qualified members to apply for consideration.  

The terms of directors are for an initial three years, and may be extended for one additional term. In addition, if a Board Member is elected to an Executive Committee (EC) position, the term would be extended to the length of time serving on the EC. Generally, the meetings are held virtually, with the exception of an in-person meeting held in conjunction with the yearly Annual Meeting and Training Symposium in February.

BOARD MEMBER JOB DESCRIPTION

Here are the some of the qualities that make a good board candidate:

• Knowledge and understanding of product safety issues and trends;
• Dedication and responsibility;
• Policy making, strategic thinking, and leadership abilities;
• Decision-making and analytical skills;
• Team player, ability to work in multi-stakeholder, inclusive environment;
• Excellent communication skills;
• Ability to commit the time and resources to serve on Board, committees, and attend ICPHSO events, and
• Company/Organization support of your participation as a Board Member with ICPHSO;
• Links with one of ICPHSO’s stakeholder communities (i.e. – manufacturing, retail, trade association, non-profit organizations, consumer and parent advocacy organizations, safety organizations, legal, standards, testing, consulting, academic/research, health educators, etc.).

If you feel you have the skills and commitment to make a strong contribution to the future success of ICPHSO, we would like to hear from you. Complete the Application Form, and send with a current résumé to:

Marc Schoem, Executive Director at marc.schoem@icphso.org.

All completed applications must be received by Wednesday, December 3, 2025

For additional information or any questions, contact Marc Schoem, Executive Director
 at 301-774-3020 or by email at marc.schoem@icphso.org. 

Application

Applications for mentees are now open for ICPHSO's 2025 International Product Safety Student Mentorship Programme run in cooperation with the OPSS. The programme matches talented students and experienced safety professionals in a formal mentorship relationship. Mentees benefit from complimentary participation in ICPHSO' s International Symposium on 14-15 October in London, relief from certain associated travel and accommodation costs and a range of other programme-specific learning and networking opportunities. See more information HERE and please apply HERE. Please contact Sarah-Jane Dobson (Sarah-Jane.Dobson@ashurst.com) and Molly Lynyak (mlynyak@astm.org) and info@icphso.org with any questions. Mentor applications will be opened shortly.

Hear from Chris Harvey, ICPHSO President Elect and Planning Chair for the ICPHSO 2026 Annual Meeting and Training Symposium, on how to become more involved with ICPHSO by helping out during the planning process for the Annual Symposium.

This is the first of a series of videos that lead up to the Annual Symposium, February 23 -26, 2026, in Orlando, Florida.

 VIEW VIDEO

 INTERESTED IN SPEAKING/MODERATING?

 REGISTER HERE!

 COMPLETE THE FORM

Hosts Wanted!

Dear ICPHSO Supporters:

We are pleased to offer a valuable networking opportunity to host the ICPHSO 2025 International Symposium Welcome Reception, scheduled for October 13, 2025, in London, UK. We are currently seeking potential hosts for this event. Hosting the Welcome Reception provides an excellent platform to demonstrate your commitment to product safety and to welcome ICPHSO attendees to London. Interested individuals or organizations are invited to submit a request by completing the form linked below.

Complete the Form