PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
5 Muhammad Ashiq, P.Eng. Construction Engineer Alberta Transportation “I came to learn about how and why APEGA’s regulations are implemented. I’m learning things from the very Peace Region Branch Executive Stream 2: Responsibilities of Self-Regulation beginning of self-regulation. I only knew a little when I became a P.Eng., from ethics courses. This stream is great on detail, and information is very clear and so are the answers to questions. It’s really good background that I didn’t have before. A lot of it isn’t directly relevant to my job, because I don’t, for example, stamp documents. But as a Professional Member of the Association, it’s good to know how self-regulation works. I’m also on the executive of the Peace Branch, so it helps me know how we fit into the organization. I’m very comfortable with self-regulation. There’s always room for improvement, and I think it’s really important that we make things as clear as possible, particularly for the public and employers, when it comes to our professional designations. So it’s great that APEGA is reviewing the Engineering and Geoscience Professions Act .”
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3 Teja Arika, E.I.T.
Pipeline Integrity Engineer Husky Energy Ltd. Vermillion River Branch Executive Stream 1: Strategic Planning
“This session lays out the basics you need to know about analyzing critical situations while integrating business models. This is really important for engineers like myself, handling multiple projects at the same time. The course helps you think like a project manager, with an emphasis on budgets and forecasting. It’s an amazing course, actually.” 4 Dr. Joanne Phillips, P.Eng. Vice-President, Engineering Jay Gee Projects Ltd. Stream 3: Highlighting Developments in Electrical Engineering
“My takeaway is that it’s great to go to these sorts of things. You learn and relearn things, and you run into people you haven’t seen in a while, particularly in this stream. This stream is very broad, and it’s very good to have a broad perspective. Sometimes when you are into the specifics, you don’t see the big picture. Some of it is fun to hear about, even though it’s more about what other engineers are doing than it was about my work. But other things were really solid reminders, and I was glad to hear them.” 6 Deon H.J. Wilner, P.Eng.
Discipline Lead, Water and Wastewater ISL Engineering and Land Services Ltd. President, Consulting Engineers of Alberta Stream 1: Strategic Planning
“My takeaway is that our industry needs to approach things differently. Our market has changed, and our industries as a whole have changed. The current situation is no longer just a blip. Things are not going to go back to the way they were, the way we have become accustomed to — the recurring five-to-seven-year cycle of challenging times. Strategic plans on the shelf, or SOS, will not serve our firms. A lot of companies have
gone through the motions in preparing strategic plans to satisfy internal, regulatory or finance authorities, but these plans were never really adopted or internalized. We need to start thinking five to 10 years out, so we can spend our resources wisely today. North America especially seems to chase the short-term return and has trouble connecting to long-term, sustainable investment in our firms. It takes a long-term plan with long-term goals to be truly sustainable as an industry.”
38 | PEG SUMMER 2015
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