“Our professions will always encounter challenges when dealing with public safety issues, particularly those that require substantial foresight, such as flood mitigation and protection. Special interests inevitably abound. Whenever we are dealing with risk that carries complexity and considerable uncertainty, seeking sensible foresight will usually be an uphill battle.”
to promote ill-defined applications of a precautionary principle, because it can be inherently more persuasive than an honest understanding of uncertainty. We have to remain remarkably patient and persistent to avoid responding to uninformed and unethical claims with our own claims of certainty that may not be justified. What is your vision for improving the profile of Professional Engineers and Professional Geoscientists? Why is this important? SH Any moves to improve our profile with others must surely start with our own view of ourselves. I firmly believe that we must focus on instilling pride in our professions, because that has the potential to ensure that we collectively will not tolerate inferior behaviour by others. Who better to prevent the public from experiencing unethical or incompetent practice than our own Members? Who else will have enough pride in our professions to prevent those who fail to meet our collective standards from being allowed to inflict harm on the public? We are equipped to exercise this duty, and we need to let the public know that. When you aren’t working as a consultant or volunteering for APEGA, what keeps you busy? SH I maintain an office at the University of Alberta, where I hold research funding and support a few
graduate students. I have not severed my connections there, even though I am no longer employed by the university. Unfortunately, I have stopped curling and golfing, after suffering some joint injuries, but I maintain hope of resurrecting one or both of these in future. Hiking, cross- country skiing, and occasional fly-fishing are pursuits I enjoy in the mountains, but I certainly need to make much more time for these while I am still able to enjoy them. Maybe next year? Is there anything you want to say that these questions haven’t covered? SH Teaching and public speaking have been an important part of my career, as some of you will know. I would love to disseminate the message about our professions and what we have to offer to the people of Alberta. If any of our Members have any speaking engagements for an Alberta audience that could benefit from a presentation by the President of APEGA, please do not hesitate to contact me or APEGA staff. I promise to do my best to respond positively to such requests. Finally, I would like to appeal to those Members who are able to but have not yet volunteered for APEGA to explore the numerous opportunities available to our Members. APEGA can only continue to perform to its high standards if our Members are willing and able to be involved, and contribute to our ongoing success.
also served on an expert panel that made recommendations on how to protect people and property from future flooding in Calgary. How did that experience impact your views on the role that professionals have in reducing climate change impacts and risks, especially when it comes to public infrastructure? SH Our professions will always encounter challenges when dealing with public safety issues, particularly those that require substantial foresight, such as flood mitigation and protection. Special interests inevitably abound. Whenever we are dealing with risk that carries complexity and considerable uncertainty, seeking sensible foresight will usually be an uphill battle. There will be no shortage of those who may be seeking short-term gain to advocate allowing others to bear longer- term risks, such as developing and selling in a flood plain. One tangible benefit of recent climate change debates is a greater focus on planning and building with risk and uncertainty in mind. Our Members need to hone their communication skills to explain to decision-makers such difficult concepts as a predicted one-in-300-year flood that could happen next year and even two years in a row. Some advocacy groups will claim unmanageable uncertainty
14 | PEG SUMMER 2016
Made with FlippingBook flipbook maker