President’s Notebook
APEGA
PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBLITIES These are fascinating times, really. And they continue to demand strong self-regulation. If you get absorbed in some new career, perhaps by becoming your own boss and capitalizing on the gig economy, always put the public first. Broaden your scope as you need to, of course, but do so in a professional and ethical way. If you need training in new areas, get it. Regardless, maintain your mandatory Continuing Professional Development program and report your hours. And remain licensed with APEGA. To practise legally, you must have a licence. Also, remember you have a professional obliga- tion to report what you believe to be illegal practice, by members and non-members. Professional engineers and geoscientists are insured for some of the costs incurred from whistleblowing, under the mandatory Secondary Professional Liability Insurance program. I’m not going to pretend that whistleblowing is an easy step to take, particularly in a tight job market. But being a professional is not about choosing an easy path. With effort, the support of your professional community, and the services and products offered by APEGA, you can make this new Alberta economy right for you—while continuing to serve the public interest. I’M LISTENING As your President, I am passionate about the development of our engineering and geoscience community. Part of that process is hearing from you about your challenges, successes, hopes, dreams, opinions—whatever you want to share. I’m making the rounds across Alberta, during President’s Visits to communities in each branch. Come out and meet me at the venue we’ve booked. Hear me speak. Ask me questions. Chat with me. Watch your inbox for your branch newsletter for more details on the President’s Visits or check the APEGA website under Events.
use of electric cars and autonomous vehicles spread- ing, most experts predict that we will reach peak de- mand for oil within the next 10 to 20 years. New opportunities continue to arise, however. For example, a grower of medical cannabis in Edmonton recently said that Alberta is a great place to locate. The reason? The economy has freed up skilled oilpatch workers who know how to build high-end facilities. (But you might want to consider potential problems travelling to the U.S., if you enter this industry!) All kinds of technological revolutions are underway, from the way we monitor the safety of our pipelines and plants to the way we interact with corporations, friends, family—and smart but inanimate things. Keep your eyes on research at our universities and pilot projects in the private sector. Renewable energy offers good, meaningful jobs. The think tank Clean Energy Canada recently reported that $25 billion has been invested in the sector in Canada in the past five years. Employment is up 37 per cent in renewable energy over the same period. I hear often about the roadblocks renewable energy faces. The big one, of course, is the lack of battery storage for intermittent production. That’s the deal breaker, according to the naysayers. My reply? Humans overcome obstacles. That’s what we do. Our private and public investment in renewable energy will pay off, and to think that it won’t do so is short-sighted and defeatist. In any case, we have no choice. Carbon resources won’t last forever, and the human race’s effect on climate must be addressed aggressively.
LINKS The Economist: The Insecurity of Freelance Work Randstad Workforce 2025 BMO Wealth Insight: The Gig Economy Rethink: The Transportation Disruption Keeping Up with CPD APEGA Career Resources Secondary Professional Liability Insurance President’s Visits
Questions or comments? president@apega.ca
6 | PEG FALL 2018
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