Executive Committee Blog

Ethics, Inclusivity, and Engagement: Shaping the Future of the ISI Community

22 April 2026
ayse EC blog

I have worn many hats under the ISI umbrella over the years, but my journey began nearly 20 years ago when I first became aware of the International Association for Statistical Education (IASE). A colleague encouraged me to attend an IASE conference, saying “it is a great community to be part of.” That simple suggestion had a lasting impact on me. I enjoyed every session and, from that point on, I never looked back.

Over the years, I had the privilege of serving as Vice President and President of IASE for a total of 10 years. About a decade ago, I became an ISI Elected Member, which opened up opportunities far beyond what I had imagined. Since then, I have served on the ISI Nomination Committee, the ISI Advisory Board on Ethics (ABE)  where I contributed to the revision of the ISI Declaration on Professional Ethics. Through the Advisory Board on Ethics, I joined its Education Working Group, and in a few months I will take over its chairmanship from Dennis Trewin. Along the way, I have also continued learning. Through my involvement in the ABE Indigenous Data Governance Working Group, I have gained a deeper understanding of Indigenous Data Sovereignty, which contributed to the recent establishment of a Special Interest Group on Indigenous Statistics under ISI umbrella. I am also involved with the Committee on Women in Statistics and am currently working with colleagues from the Statistical Society of Australia to prepare sessions for the International Day of Women in Statistics and Data Science, a free 24 hour virtual conference on 6 October 2026.

I cannot quite believe that six months have already passed in my role as ISI Vice President. You might be wondering what I have been working on, so let me share a few highlights, and also invite you to be part of these efforts. I value collaboration and believe that we achieve more when we work together.

One of my priorities is to contribute to strengthening ISI conferences, particularly the World Statistics Congress. Drawing on my experience in organising conferences, I am part of a task force established by the ISI Executive Committee to enhance both the experience and visibility of ISI and Association conferences. If you have ideas or suggestions, I would very much welcome hearing from you. Please share your suggestions, comments, reflections with me here.

Another focus is improving connections between ISI and its Associations. There has already been encouraging progress through increased engagement between the ISI leadership and Association Presidents. Strengthening these relationships is a shared effort, and your perspectives are important. Please share your suggestions, comments, reflections with me here.

We have also launched the first ISI Video Competition, together with my colleague Denise Britz do Nascimento Silva. The theme is inequalities within the context of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. If you have not yet submitted a video, I encourage you to do so before the deadline of 30 April 2026. Please share your suggestions, comments, reflections with me here.

Another initiative close to my heart is encouraging more colleagues to become ISI Elected Members. Recently, I reached out to statisticians in Australia, through the Statistical Society of Australia Newsletter and personal email messages to invite them to apply. Many were surprised to learn they were eligible. This reminded me of my own experience: I only considered applying after being encouraged by a mentor. Sometimes, a simple invitation makes all the difference. I encourage you to “tap someone on the shoulder” who you think would benefit from being part of ISI, especially early career colleagues. Please share your suggestions, comments, reflections with me here.

The ISI Executive Committee appointed me to the Public Voice Priority. I am co-chairing the ISI Public Voice Committee with Prof Kerrie Mengersen. If you are interested in contributing to the activities of Public Voice such as creating or updating Wikipedia pages of Statisticians, writing (non-academic) Articles and Blogs, please share your suggestions, comments, reflections with me here. If you want to be contacted, make sure to include your contact details at the end of the form.

Finally, as I prepare to take on the role of Chair of the Ethics Education Working Group, I would greatly appreciate your support. We are developing educational resources and are looking for real cases that can be used for teaching and discussion. If you have encountered or observed a situation that could be developed into a learning case, I warmly invite you to share it with us here.

Thank you for being part of this community. I look forward to working with many of you in the months ahead. 

Until next time,
Prof Ayse Aysin Bilgin, ISI Vice President

Ayse Aysin Bilgin
ISI Vice-President