Automation Power Shift: Ashley Weckwerth Takes the Helm as ISA Eyes AI’s High-Stakes Future

In a move that could reshape the global automation landscape, the International Society of Automation (ISA) has tapped Ashley Weckwerth, P.E., as its next president for the 2026 term - a pivotal moment as the industry confronts both the promise and peril of artificial intelligence. As the digital arms race accelerates, ISA’s new leadership faces the daunting task of balancing innovation with security, transparency, and ethical responsibility.

The stakes have never been higher for the century-old ISA, whose members engineer the backbone of modern industry - from oil refineries to smart factories. With Weckwerth of Burns and McDonnell stepping up as president, ISA is signaling its intent to lead - not just react - as automation and AI converge at breakneck speed. She’ll be flanked by Francisco Diaz-Andreu (President-elect and Secretary, Repsol), Scott Reynolds (Past President, Johns Manville), and Ardis Bartle (Treasurer, Apex Measurement and Controls), supported by a board spanning multinationals and tech innovators.

But leadership is only half the story. As AI’s role in automation shifts from futuristic vision to daily reality, the risks multiply: think cyberattacks on robotic assembly lines, opaque algorithmic decisions in critical infrastructure, or predictive maintenance systems gone rogue. ISA’s recent position paper doesn’t mince words: while AI supercharges robotics, digital twins, and real-time optimization, it also exposes industrial systems to unprecedented threats.

The Society’s answer? A redoubled focus on standards - especially the ISA/IEC 62443 framework, which sets the global benchmark for cybersecurity in operational technology (OT). These standards demand that AI in industry must be not only powerful but also transparent, secure, and reliable. As Weckwerth puts it, “It is inspiring to see such far-reaching expertise across ISA and the many sectors we serve. I am excited to collaborate with them to sustain ISA’s strong growth and continue to empower our global community of automation professionals.”

Behind the scenes, the new executive roster reads like a who’s who of the automation world: Tetra Pak, ABS Consulting, Occidental, United Electric Supply, and Schneider Electric all have seats at the table. This diversity is no accident - ISA’s future hinges on cross-industry collaboration, technical depth, and a willingness to confront uncomfortable truths about the digital risks ahead.

As the 2026 term approaches, the question isn’t just who leads ISA, but how they’ll steer the industry through an AI-powered storm. Will the new guard manage to keep automation’s engines running safely - or will the race for innovation outpace our ability to secure it? The world is watching.

WIKICROOK

• Operational Technology (OT): Operational Technology (OT) includes computer systems that control industrial equipment and processes, often making them more vulnerable than traditional IT systems.
• ISA/IEC 62443: ISA/IEC 62443 is a global standard offering guidelines to secure industrial automation and control systems against cybersecurity threats and attacks.
• Digital Twin: A digital twin is a detailed virtual model of a real object or system, used for testing, monitoring, and simulation based on real-time data.
• Predictive Maintenance: Predictive maintenance uses technology to monitor equipment and forecast failures, enabling timely repairs and preventing costly unplanned outages.
• Generative AI: Generative AI is artificial intelligence that creates new content - like text, images, or audio - often mimicking human creativity and style.