CEN, the European Committee for Standardization, and its Member SIS, the Swedish Institute for Standards, are delighted to announce that Ms Ulrika Francke has been elected as the new President of CEN. Ms Francke, who previously served as the first woman President of ISO, is now making history once again as the first woman to become CEN President.
Ms Francke was elected as CEN President in June 2025 and started her mandate on 20 March 2026, after serving as President-Elect alongside Mr Stefano Calzolari, CEN President between 2022 and 2026.
Ms Francke has extensive experience in standardization: she was the Chair of the BIM Alliance from 2014 to 2018, an organization working to develop standards for the real estate and construction sector, affiliated with the European BIM network. In 2018, she joined the SIS Board, with a focus on increasing the engagement of the real estate and construction sector in standardization and currently serves as the President of SIS. Ms Francke’s experience with standardization and management is also reflected on the international stage in her previous role as President of ISO in 2023–2024.
As the former CEO of Tyréns AB, a consultancy specializing in urban development, the built environment, and infrastructure solutions, Ms Francke gained demonstrable experience in the private sector. Under her leadership, the company evolved from a domestic operation to an international one, expanding from about 500 employees to a staff of more than 2700. She has also played an important role in the public sector as the Deputy Mayor of Stockholm with responsibility for urban development. She later worked as the Director of the Department for city planning, zoning and building permits for Stockholm and the Director of the Department of Traffic and Real Estate – two roles that highlight her strong management background and deep expertise in building and infrastructure sectors.
Ms Francke has also been deeply engaged in research and innovation: she has been a Board Member of Stockholm University, the Building Research Council Board, and she was one of the creators of the Swedish Centre for Innovation and Quality in the Built Environment.
Ms Francke’s wide range of experience puts her in an ideal position to manage technical and strategic aspects, together with the relationship with the European institutions. Her leadership will ensure that CEN continues to work for a future-proof, sustainable, and efficient standardization system that benefits the European economy and society.
Reflecting on her appointment, Ms Francke commented: "I am deeply honoured to serve as President of CEN at a moment when European standardization has never mattered more. Standards are the invisible backbone of our economy and society: they make innovation possible, keep people safe, and open markets. I look forward to working with our Members, our partners in the European institutions, and all stakeholders to ensure that our system remains agile, inclusive, and fit for a rapidly changing world."
