Registrar & CEO's Message
APEGA
Demonstrate Professional Leadership: Vote in APEGA Election 2019 BY JAY NAGENDRAN, P.ENG., QEP, BCEE, FEC, FGC (HON.) APEGA Registrar and Chief Executive Officer
Another year has zipped past in the life of APEGA, and the next cycle of governance is nearly upon us. We’ve been here many times before. In fact, the self- regulation of engineers and geoscientists has been proving itself in Alberta year after year, for almost a century, so thank you very much for your support during your chapter (and mine) in this storied history. We have much to be proud of, and I am confident that there’s at least another century ahead for APEGA. However, we cannot take the privilege of self- regulation for granted—we need to continuously earn the public trust. The public and some governments have less faith in institutions like ours than they once had. Those with the authority to regulate, like us, are questioned often, so our processes need to be strong, our answers solid, and our decisions thorough and defensible, all in the public interest. A century of service means a continued commitment to public safety. Being prepared and sustaining the public trust comes from strong and thoughtful leadership at the Council table. That’s why your vote matters and that’s why I’m encouraging you to use it now, during APEGA Election 2019. Our collective wisdom—the wisdom that APEGA’s staff and I rely upon for guidance and governance—are necessary to set us up for a second successful century of protecting the public interest, so let’s do this properly. Through surveys, we know why many of you have decided against voting in the past. A major reason is a lack of understanding of what exactly it is that Council does. Another reason is a lack of knowledge of who
the candidates are and what they represent. You don’t know these people, so how can you reasonably choose between them? The good news is that we’ve addressed each of these concerns. The election and the way we present it have improved, year upon year, based on the feedback you’ve provided. You can find out more about this in the election and candidate coverage in this PEG , which we’ve divided into three sections, starting on page 10: Why Vote? How do I Decide Who to Vote For? How do I Vote? The first part explains what Council is and what it does for you, your professions, and, most importantly, the people of Alberta. Council develops and drives a strategic plan. It oversees the association’s resources to make sure they are used responsibly. By directing me and receiving my reports, Council provides oversight of the operational side of the business. Think of Council’s role as deciding what the outcomes of our work should be. Council tells me what it wants APEGA to accomplish, then APEGA’s staff and I figure out how to make it happen. Under the Engineering and Geoscience Professions Act (the EGP Act ), Council is responsible to the government to enforce the Act. Hence, Council’s role is a significant one. To execute properly, Council counts on the yearly replenishment of fresh perspectives through the addition of bright and thoughtful people on Council. Selecting those people is where you come in. Your vote is important, so we want you to make informed decisions. That’s why we post videos and other information about candidates online. Personal
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