Starting with a presentation and panel session at compsac2000 a series of activities has been undertaken to promote consideration and evaluation, within a Software Engineering context, of a document entitled the "Harmonization of Professional Standards", which had been produced under the auspices of IFIP (International Federation for Information Processing). Details of the background to IFIP?s harmonization initiative including the role of the World Trade Organisation are presented. A time line is given of activities that have been undertaken. The results of these activities are reported with particular emphasis on: the drivers and constraints that exist with regard to SE professionalism, the applicability of IFIP?s proposals, the major issues that have arisen, and finally recommendations regarding what needs to be done to further progress work in the area of Software Engineering professionalism.