The quarterly publication of APEGA. This edition features Plot Devices: Children Engineer Solutions for Storybook Characters; Council Candidates Announced; Legislative Review Wraps Up; Dues Increase Goes to Risk Reserve; Foundation Renamed, Refocused
SUMMER 2017
APEGA’s New Leaders Registrar & CEO Jay Nagendran, P.Eng. President Jane Tink, P.Eng.
The Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Alberta | apega.ca
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Contents
SUMMER 2017
FEATURED PHOTO: PAGE 56›
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DEPARTMENTS
FEATURES
10 Meet the President 15 Meet the Registrar & CEO
4 President's Notebook 28 Movers & Shakers 42 Viewfinder 46 News 62 And You Are? 66 Member Benefits 67 The Discipline File
21 Thinking of Running for Council? 47 Applicant Experience Improved 56 Students Plus APEGA Plus Science
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The PEG (ISSN 1923-0052) is published quarterly — online — in the spring, summer, fall, and winter, by the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Alberta. Publication of a print version of The PEG ceased with the distribution of the winter 2016 edition. The PEG ’s content relates primarily to APEGA, our statutory obligations, our services to Members and Permit Holders, and the professional development of Members. The magazine also celebrates Member and Permit Holder accomplishments in Professional Engineering, Professional Geoscience, and other areas. The PEG is not a technical, peer-reviewed publication. Although we publish items about accomplishments in research, we do not publish actual academic or scientific papers and presentations, even in summary form. The PEG does not accept advertising at this time. Opinions published in The PEG do not necessarily reflect the opinions or
VOLUME 1 | NUMBER 2 | SUMMER 2017 ISSN 1923-0052 Director of Communications Philip Mulder , APR, FCPRS, FEC (Hon.), FGC (Hon.) Philip.Mulder@apega.ca Editor George Lee , FEC (Hon.), FGC (Hon.) George.Lee@apega.ca EXECUTIVE TEAM Registrar & Chief Executive Officer Jay Nagendran , P.Eng., QEP, BCEE Chief Operating Officer Heidi Yang , P.Eng., FEC, FGC (Hon.) Chief Financial & Administration Officer Sharilee Fossum , CPA, CMA, ICD.D, MBA
policy of APEGA or its Council. Inquiries: George.Lee@apega.ca
COUNCIL President
Jane Tink , P.Eng., FEC, FGC (Hon.) (Okotoks)
President-Elect Nima Dorjee , P.Eng. (Calgary) Vice-President John Rhind , P.Geol. (Calgary) Past-President Dr. Steve E. Hrudey , P.Eng., FEC, FGC (Hon.), FCAE, FSRA (Canmore) Councillors Natasha Avila , P.Eng. (Cold Lake) Dr. Jeff DiBattista , P.Eng., MBA (Edmonton) Jennifer Enns , P.Eng. (Calgary) George Eynon , P.Geo., FGC, FEC (Hon.) (Calgary) Darren Hardy , P.Eng. (Calgary)
Senior Advisor to the Registrar & CEO John Corriveau , P.Eng. Director of Stakeholder & Council Relations Pam Cholak , MBA
BRANCH CHAIRS Calgary Gobind Khiani, P.Eng. calgarybranch@apega.ca Central Alberta Genesh Chariyil , P.Eng. centralalbertabranch@apega.ca Edmonton Bob Rundle , P.Eng. edmontonbranch@apega.ca Fort McMurray Roya Iranitalab , P.Eng. fortmcmurraybranch@apega.ca Lakeland Azam Khan , P.Eng. lakelandbranch@apega.ca Lethbridge Albert Tagoe , P.Eng. lethbridgebranch@apega.ca Medicine Hat James Johansen , P.Eng. medicinehatbranch@apega.ca Peace Region Youssef Iskandar , E.I.T. peaceregionbranch@apega.ca Vermilion River (Co-Chairs) Kashif Dada , P.Eng. Dustin Wiltermuth , P.Eng. vermilionriverbranch@apega.ca Yellowhead Colleen Mireau , P.Eng. yellowheadbranch@apega.ca
Dr. Brad Hayes , P.Geol., FGC, FEC (Hon.) (Calgary) Dr. Timothy Joseph , P.Eng., FCIM (Edmonton) RaeAnne Leach , P.Eng. (Grande Prairie) Manon Plante , P.Eng., MDS, CD1 (St. Albert) Jason Vanderzwaag , P.Eng. (Fort McMurray) Claudia Villeneuve , P.Eng., M.Eng. (Edmonton) Emily Zhang , P.Eng. (Calgary)
Susan McRory , LL.B., ARCT Mary Phillips-Rickey , F CA Georgeann Wilkin , RN, LL.B., MBS
Public Members of Council
APEGA CONTACT INFORMATION HEAD OFFICE 1500 Scotia One, 10060 Jasper Avenue NW Edmonton AB T5J 4A2 PH 780-426-3990 TOLL FREE 1-800-661-7020 FAX 780-426-1877
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS Engineers Canada Directors
Lisa Doig , P.Eng., FEC, FGC (Hon.), MBA Dr. Gary Faulkner , P.Eng., FEC, FGC (Hon.) Dr. David Lynch , P.Eng., FEC, FGC (Hon.), FCAE, FEIC, FCIC Connie Parenteau , P.Eng., FEC, FGC (Hon.)
www.apega.ca email@apega.ca
Geoscientists Canada Director Colin Yeo , P.Geo., FGC, FEC (Hon.)
CALGARY OFFICE 2200 Scotia Centre, 700 Second Street SW Calgary AB T2P 2W1 PH 403-262-7714 TOLL FREE 1-888-262-3688 FAX 403-269-2787
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WHO WILL BE CELEBRATED NEXT?
Shine a light on excellence in engineering or geoscience by nominating a colleague or project for an APEGA Summit Award.
SUBMIT YOUR NOMINATION TODAY. apegasummit.ca/nominate
Nominations close September 15, 2017.
President’s Notebook
MASTER APEGA
Beyond the Buzzwords and Jargon – Creating Clear Communication and Careful Listening BY JANE TINK, P.ENG., FEC, FGC (HON.) APEGA President
At our Annual General Meeting, I spoke about how much I have enjoyed the opportunity to meet our Members and Permit Holders and how I look forward to meeting many more of them over the coming year. I consider this in- teraction to be an integral part of improving our engage- ment with our membership and other stakeholders. A large part of that engagement depends on how truly effective the communication is between our Asso- ciation and its stakeholders. Engagement and communi-
self-regulation. They are equally important for Members and Permit Holders in their professional practices. When I speak to new Professional Members at Member Induction Ceremonies, I reiterate the necessity, as Professional Engineers and Professional Geosci- entists, to communicate honestly with all stakeholders in a manner that people understand. After all, this is our obligation to our clients, our employers, and all the stakeholders in our projects, including the public. When we stamp our work, that stamp, that symbol,
cation are closely related, both relying heavily on the willing- ness, honesty, and clarity of everyone involved. I have found that each party in a conversation usually believes they are speaking clearly. They’re using their own typical language, complete with their own buzzwords, acronyms, and
ENGAGEMENT AND COMMUNICATION ARE NOT ONLY IMPORTANT FOR THE ASSOCIATION AND THE FUTURE OF SELF-REGULATION. THEY ARE EQUALLY IMPORTANT FOR MEMBERS AND PERMIT HOLDERS IN THEIR PROFESSIONAL PRACTICES.
communicates to anyone who uses or reviews the work that it was performed by a licensed Professional Member and that it can be relied upon to be accurate — that it can be trusted! We must always re- member that it isn’t only the
terminology. The other party is listening with their own filters and language. The question then becomes, “Is either side truly being heard?” The Association’s consultations with Members on our legislative review involved many different forms of communication, including in-person sessions, webinars, surveys, and written material. The reports that came out of these interactions and the feedback APEGA collected are covered in what are called We’re Listening reports, thus signifying that the Association has heard what Members have communicated. I encourage you to read the reports. We believe that we have been listening, but only you, our Members, can verify whether you were truly heard. Engagement and communication, however, are not only important for the Association and the future of
work we stamp and sign but all the work we perform that should achieve this high level of quality and care. Any work done by others that we accept and potentially incorporate into our work needs to be reviewed and checked like we had done it ourselves. We are taking professional responsibility and accepting liability. This should not be done lightly, because we must not violate the public trust we work so hard to earn and maintain. Although most of us, if not all of us, would prefer to deal with the technical aspects of our work — the numbers, the calculations, the test results, the maps — we must, in fact, be able to explain both the benefits and the drawbacks of the work we do to all the stakeholders associated with the project. Some of these stakeholders may be technical experts like ourselves, but others may have little to no technical background.
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President's Notebook
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We must be respectful of their perspectives, even when they differ from our own. We must take care in the words we use and the meanings we assign to the words others use. We need to communicate clearly to the technical and the non-technical players alike and address any issues that they may have, because they
ULTIMATELY, WE MUST BE ABLE TO COMMUNICATE IN A WAY THAT ALLOWS ALL PARTIES TO BE TRULY HEARD AND UNDERSTOOD. WE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO GET EVERYONE TO AGREE TO THE ENTIRE SOLUTION, BUT THEY NEED TO UNDERSTAND WHY WE ADOPTED THE SOLUTION WE DID.
live with the consequences of the work we perform. Ultimately, we must be able to communicate in a way that allows all parties to be truly heard and understood. We may not be able to get everyone to agree to the entire solution, but they need to understand why we adopted the solution we did. It continues to be my privilege to meet our Members and Permit Holders, as well as many external stakeholders. It has given me an opportunity to see whether we, as an Association, are communicating in a way that our Members actually hear and understand. It also allows me to find out about what issues our stakeholders are concerned about and why. Many of these issues are currently being addressed by Association staff. These include improvements to our application and registration processes, our complaint and investigative processes, and much more. (For more information, I encourage you to read the 2016 APEGA Annual Report: Strengthening Our Foundation .) Some of these concerns are being examined now by your Council and APEGA staff, such as reviewing qualifications-based selection for the acquisition of engineering and geoscience services; reviewing our proposed legislative changes and preparing documents related to the changes for submission to the government; and making more improvements to our systems to become an even stronger regulator of our professions. Thanks for the input. I really do hear you! Before we leave the subject of communication, I must take this opportunity to congratulate my predecessor, the now Past-President of APEGA, Dr. Steve E. Hrudey, P.Eng., FEC, FGC (Hon.), FCAE, FSRA. Dr. Hrudey has received international recognition for his writing, by receiving a Gold Hermes Creative Award, Publications — Column, for the President’s Notebook published in the fall 2016 PEG, We Must Honour the Privilege of Self-Regulation — or Risk Losing It.
MEMBER-TO-MEMBER ENGAGEMENT: MY PERSONAL THOUGHTS
One concern raised by many Members-in-Training and senior Members is the impact that the economy has had on employment
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many of these other areas. Many of them have worked so many years in the same industry that they may not even realize the skills they possess or where that expertise would be transferable. I believe our APEGA Members can make significant contributions in new areas, for the betterment of people and businesses both here and abroad. My hope is that we, as Members, can help other Members leverage their innovation and problem-solving abilities into industries and projects that perhaps aren’t traditional or obvious fits. We have such a pool President’s Notebook
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rates. This is of deep concern to your Council and APEGA staff. APEGA’s Mission Statement is: “Regulate the practices of engineering and geoscience to serve the public interest in Alberta.” That is the primary responsibility of the Association. However, we all recognize that something more needs to be done on the employment front. Our professions are often silent and go unrecognized by others in society. These others are the people running businesses or involved in industries that our Members do not normally interact with in a professional capacity. Therefore,
of expertise here in Alberta and so many areas of our economy that can benefit from our Members’ talents. Let’s put them together and see what happens. With that in mind, some of us have decided to try to set up a pilot project to see if we can begin to connect our Members to representatives
we may not even know about the challenges they face. They, in turn, may not even think of enlisting our services to find unique solutions to their problems but find ways to work around them. These solutions are not always safe or efficient. Several presentations I’ve attended recently have inspired
WE ARE TAKING PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY AND ACCEPTING LIABILITY. THIS SHOULD NOT BE DONE LIGHTLY, BECAUSE WE MUST NOT VIOLATE THE PUBLIC TRUST WE WORK SO HARD TO EARN AND MAINTAIN.
me and have a strong connection to this topic. I have heard speakers present on the need to expand our networks and to move outside our comfort areas (although, as professionals, we must always ensure our technical expertise fits any professional services we may offer). One of these presentations was from Chantal Lavoie, P.Eng., President of Dominion Diamond Ekati Corporation, about the technical advancements his staff have made in waste handling in the Northwest Territories. He spoke about the fuel savings and carbon reductions for each of the projects. For many businesses, improving their operating efficiencies to reduce carbon gases and future carbon levies is foremost on their minds for the continued success of their operations. When I look around at the businesses that operate in my local area, I see many opportunities for technical improvements our Members could help them make. When you consider the impact that carbon taxes will have on many operations, it isn’t difficult to imagine their need to become more energy efficient, reduce their operating costs, and minimize their carbon footprints. Then I thought about so many of our Members having been laid off and remaining unemployed, even though they have the skills, talent, and knowledge in
from some of these industries that can benefit from the skills and expertise of APEGA Members. Please let me stress — this is a grassroots effort and not an official, APEGA-sanctioned activity. I welcome you to contact me directly for more information on this initiative. This is something that is being done by our Members for our Members for the betterment of the people of Alberta. It is a grassroots effort done on behalf of our member- ship by Members who are connected through APEGA. We know that if you succeed, the Association succeeds, and the businesses you help will also find success through innovative solutions provided by you. After all, we are the problem solvers — it is what we are trained to do! Contact me at the email address below for ques- tions or comments about anything you’ve read here or anything else you want to bring to my attention or have me consider. I look forward to hearing your ideas, your concerns, and your stories — and finding ways we can move forward as an Association and as professionals.
Questions or comments? president@apega.ca
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APEGA Annual Report | 2016
STRENGTHENING OUR FOUNDATION
READ IT NOW
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The Summit Awards honour and recognize the contributions APEGA Members make to the engineering and geoscience professions and to society. Congratulations to all award recipients! 2017 Summit Award Recipients
Centennial Leadership Award Gary Faulkner, P.Eng., PhD, FEC, FGC (Hon.) In recognition of the highest distinction relating to engineering or geoscience as an executive or director of a continuing enterprise.
Environment and Sustainability Award Quest Carbon Capture and Storage Project In recognition of excellence in the preservation of the environment and the practice of sustainable development.
Outstanding Mentor Award Andrzej Slawinski, P.Geol., PhD
Community Service Award Tracey Stock, P.Eng., PhD
In recognition of exceptional achievement as a mentor.
In recognition of an outstanding contribution made to society.
Early Accomplishment Award Oliver R. Kohlhammer, P.Eng.
Excellence in Education Award Janet A.W. Elliott, P.Eng., PhD
In recognition of exceptional achievement in the early years of a professional career.
In recognition of exemplary contributions to teaching and learning.
Frank Spragins Technical Award Todd K. Simenson, P.Eng.
Research Excellence Award Josephine Hill, P.Eng., PhD
In recognition of integrity and expertise, and for outstanding accomplishments in fields related to engineering or geoscience.
In recognition of innovative research in the professions that improves our economic and social well-being.
Honorary Membership Award Pat Lobregt, FEC (Hon.), FGC (Hon.) In recognition of service to the engineering or geoscience professions resulting in the betterment of society.
Women in Engineering and Geoscience Champion Award Jocelyn L. Grozic, P.Eng., PhD
In recognition of achievement as a champion of women in engineering and geoscience.
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APEGA 2017-2018 Executive Committee and Council
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Past-President Steve E. Hrudey, P.Eng., PhD, DSc(Eng), FEC, FGC (Hon.) FCAE, FSRA
President Jane Tink, P.Eng., FEC, FGC (Hon.)
President-Elect Nima Dorjee, P.Eng.
Vice-President John Rhind, P.Geol.
PUBLIC MEMBERS OF COUNCIL
COUNCILLORS
Claudia Villeneuve, P.Eng., M.Eng.
Jeff DiBattista, P.Eng., PhD, MBA
Jason Vanderzwaag, P.Eng.
Mary Phillips-Rickey, FCA
Jennifer Enns, P.Eng.
Timothy Joseph, P.Eng, PhD, FCIM
Susan McRory, BA, LL.B., ARCT
Brad Hayes, P.Geol., PhD, FGC, FEC (Hon.)
Manon Plante, P.Eng., MDS, CD1
Natasha Avila, P.Eng.
Georgeann Wilkin, RN, LL.B., MBS
George Eynon, P.Geo., FGC, FEC (Hon.)
RaeAnne Leach, P.Eng.
Emily Zhang, P.Eng.
Darren Hardy, P.Eng.
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Meetthe President
-photo by J.W. Tink
Why did you run for President of APEGA? Why is it important to you to serve the public, APEGA, and the APEGA professions in this role? Jane Tink I have enjoyed and continue to enjoy my career as a Professional Engineer and a volunteer with APEGA. I strongly believe that we each should give back to our communities and society whenever and wherever we can for the betterment of both. I was honoured to be asked to run for President of APEGA and pleased to be in a position personally to allow my name to stand. It was a truly humbling experience to be given this opportunity by our membership.
What are your top priorities as President and why are they important? JT To work with Council and APEGA staff to better engage with our Members and Permit Holders. To assist in moving APEGA towards being a more proactive regulator. To assist in moving our proposed legislative changes forward with the Government of Alberta. On a more personal note, I am working on ideas that may ultimately help more of our Members become tomorrow’s leaders and innovators. I think we have the skills, talent, and knowledge in the APEGA membership to do more for the betterment of people here and abroad.
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“We have such a pool of expertise here and so many areas of our economy that can benefit. Let’s put them together and see what happens.”
Could you expand on that? JT Right now, it’s a concept rather than a concrete plan. My hope is that APEGA can help Members leverage their innovation and problem- solving abilities into industries and projects that perhaps aren’t traditional or obvious fits. We have such a pool of expertise here and so many areas of our economy that can benefit. Let’s put them together and see what happens. Your engineering practice experience is in oil and gas from consultancy through to international player. How will this range of experience inform your presidency? JT I believe my experience allows me to see issues in different ways. I understand how we think in this province and country. Having worked with people from almost every continent, I also understand how other people view various situations, how they view us, and how they view our professional qualifications. The reputations of our Members and Permit Holders, both domestically and internationally, are important to all of us and they need to be protected. When you take this need to protect our reputation and combine it with our overriding role of protecting the public, you can see why APEGA has undergone such an extensive review of our legislation. We are moving from being less of a reactive regulator to more of a proactive one, and that benefits everyone.
Similar question. You’re a rancher, a community volunteer, and a promoter of women in science. How will your experiences in these areas inform your work as President? JT I believe that I bring a unique perspective to the table. I live in a smaller community, in a rural setting, but I have worked and lived for years in an urban setting. So I understand many of the challenges that impact rural Albertans and urban Albertans. As a rancher, you protect the land, your livestock, and your water supplies. You understand what it is like to go without power in a storm; fixing your line impacts only 10 customers, whereas fixing a line in the city impacts thousands. You learn to appreciate the simpler things in life and celebrate what the big city might look at as minor successes. My family have volunteered in various capacities from the earliest time I can remember to today. I was raised to believe that we each have the power to create change. It is our choice. We can sit on the sidelines and complain or get involved and make the world a better place. I have worked over the years to encourage our youth, both male and female, to enter the engineering and geoscience professions. Our society needs these bright minds helping shape the world. We need to support our youth in reaching their maximum potential, regardless of gender and background. I think that I will be able to make a positive contribution to the Association and our Members. I look forward to the next year and what we — Council and staff — can accomplish on behalf of our Members, our Permit Holders, and the public of Alberta.
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“The reputations of our Members and Permit Holders, both domestically and internationally, are important to all of us and they need to be protected. When you take this need to protect our reputation and combine it with our overriding role of protecting the public, you can see why APEGA has undergone such an extensive review of our legislation.”
JT We aren’t the only ones speaking about the scrutiny self-regulating organizations are under across Canada. Each of our sister associations, as well as the other self-regulating professions within the province and elsewhere in Canada, recognize the need to ensure that their Members continue improving their skills through professional development. They, like us, are also striving to ensure that complaints against their Members are promptly and thoroughly investigated, that discipline action is taken when required, and that the process follows the course of natural justice. The public and the government need to be confident that the services we provide and roles we perform are the very best they can be. During your time as President-Elect, APEGA developed a system of scaling Permit Holder dues according to the number of Members they employ. Because of the timing of the increase, you will undoubtedly be speaking about it often during your time as President. Could you explain the rationale for this new system? JT After much deliberation, Council concluded that it was necessary to change the Permit Holder dues structure to reflect the
In your Annual General Meeting speech, you emphasized how much you enjoy meeting Members and Permit Holders. What are you hearing from them? JT From our Members-in-Training: “How are you going to get our Members back to work?” “Where am I going to get a job or enough experience to become a Professional Member?” From Permit Holders: “How can we assist APEGA to communicate with our employees?” And, from the public, one of my favourites: “Wow! You’re a woman!” I am always happy to explain to anyone who will listen that there are women engineers and geoscientists. I do believe we can get Members back to work and facilitate their transitions into new initiatives. Put a problem in front of our Members or Permit Holders and they will find a solution. They personify a can-do attitude! Your predecessor spoke and wrote about the amount of scrutiny self-regulating organizations are under across Canada. He also mentioned the public’s lowered confidence in experts, regulators, and their institutions. How should APEGA prepare for the risks these trends represent?
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“I am a bit of a straight shooter. I try to treat each person the way that I would like to be treated, and when I am wrong, I admit it.”
-photo by J.W. Tink
number of Members each Permit Holder employs. The more Members employed by a Permit Holder, the higher the real and potential costs to APEGA, so we’ve come up with a more equitable approach to Permit Holder dues. It was also necessary to increase Member dues, which are still by far our largest source of income. These increases help ensure that the Association has the resources to become a better
regulator. We can’t afford not to improve, because the risks are too significant. These resourcing decisions were not reached easily. Every attempt was made to minimize the impact to our Members and Permit Holders, particularly in light of the downturn in the Alberta economy. I can assure Members that we are still looking for ways to reduce costs and increase efficiencies.
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“I have worked over the years to encourage our youth, both male and female, to enter the engineering and geoscience professions. Our society needs these bright minds helping shape the world. We need to support our
youth in reaching their maximum potential, regardless of gender and background.”
Keeping Members engaged in their professional association and its business is often a challenge. Should APEGA do more to engage Members, and if so, what? JT We need to keep Members engaged and to ensure they are meeting our Continuing Professional Development program requirements. We need to continue to provide opportunities for Members to engage with the Association, their peers, and members of the public. The Association has done a lot of work engaging Members during the legislative review, and we need to continue to improve this engage- ment. We need to share ideas and presentations in a manner that allows our Members, even those in remote places or time-constrained situ- ations, to learn and become engaged. The legislative review is nearing a new phase, with the final Member and stakeholder consultation now complete. What’s your perspective on the review and its potential impact on the public, Members and their professional practices, and APEGA? JT Many of the proposed changes will, if accepted by the Government of Alberta, allow the Association to better and more effectively regulate our professions. These changes will be good for our Members, Permit Holders, the public, and the government. Improving efficiency, effectiveness, and engagement represents positive change. Our Members should be celebrating this.
Although the APEGA President is deeply involved in the governance of APEGA, you still carry just one vote at the Council table. What does being a good Council leader mean to you? How would you describe your leadership style? JT I would describe my leadership style as participative or democratic. I hope my leadership style invites Council, staff, and our Members and Permit Holders to express their opinions candidly and honestly. I am a bit of a straight shooter. I try to treat each person the way that I would like to be treated, and when I am wrong, I admit it. What are some final thoughts you would like to share? JT This is your Association. Become involved, treat each other and the public with respect, continue to be diligent in the work you perform. And take pride in your work, too!
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Meet the Registrar & Chief Executive Officer In April this year, Jay Nagendran, P.Eng., QEP, BCEE, became APEGA’s Registrar & CEO, bringing with him a strong resume in the government and regulatory worlds. Mr. Nagendran’s experience includes six years as an Assistant Deputy Minister with Alberta Environment, and Alberta Tourism, Parks and Recreation. Prior to that, he served as the director of the northern region with Alberta Environment, dealing with development of the oil sands and other industrial expansion. He is a past member of Alberta’s Natural Resources Conservation Board and a past President and CEO of the Alberta Environmental Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting Agency.
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Mr. Nagendran has served on the Board of Governors at the University of Alberta, and he’s been the Manager of Environment and Engineering for the Alberta Special Waste Management Corporation. He’s also worked for the Canadian International Development Agency in Indonesia and was a consultant to the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank on projects in India, the Philippines, and Thailand. An APEGA Member for 40 years, Mr. Nagendran is the first person to lead APEGA in the newly created position of Registrar & Chief Executive Officer. Following are the results of a question-and-answer session with Mr. Nagendran.
Much of your experience is in the regulatory and government worlds, but this is your first foray into self-regulation (beyond being, as a P.Eng., a Member of a self-regulated profession). How do your past leadership positions prepare you for your APEGA roles? How about your more technical past positions? Self-regulation is a privilege allowing Members to regu- late themselves and be regulated by their peers. Yet the rules of engagement have many similarities to direct, government-regulated activities. In both instances, regu- lations need to be firm, fair, consistent, and predictable. The rules of engagement must be transparent. A regulator needs to be compassionate. The idea is not to see how to punish people or industry but rather to see how we can incentivize adherence to the Engineering and Geoscience Professions Act and General Regulation, including our Code of Ethics , and provide the tools Members and Permit Holders require — pertinent
and current professional development, for example, and current and pertinent professional standards, guidelines, and bulletins. The APEGA position of Registrar & Chief Executive Officer is an extension of my career and the opportunities I’ve enjoyed. Leadership positions are a privilege and a platform to make life a little better for the people around you. This position provides me with a unique opportunity to enhance the image of our 97-year-old Association, while always remembering that its prime purpose is to protect the public and sustain the high quality of service our Members provide to all stakeholders. The technical positions I have had along my career journey have been an opportunity to contribute to my profession. I have been very fortunate to work with some tremendously talented people, from whom I have learned much. Throughout this journey, it has been the people who have made this worthwhile.
This position provides me with a unique opportunity to enhance the image of our 97-year-old Association, while always remembering that its prime purpose is to protect the public and sustain the high quality of service our Members provide to all stakeholders.
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Your last comment is telling, because you do come across as a people person — that is, someone who likes making connections and speaking with people. Is that a fair characterization? If so, how is it beneficial to APEGA? What are some other traits you possess that will be useful and beneficial? If I do come across as a people person, I am very pleased. I do enjoy connecting with staff and working as a team. I truly believe that our success is based on a motivated workforce. If the organization is kind and compassionate, the productivity will be much higher than it is in a more rigid organization. But my being a people person does not make this a free-for-all. Those who do not consider working for APEGA a privilege or those who are not
performing their duties should not be here. It is a disservice to our hard-working colleagues, and to our Members and other stakeholders,
if there are some who are not contributing their fair share. I never lose sight of the
transient and finite journey of our mortal existence. I look at my job as a temporary privilege to make life a little bit better for those around me, and I hope that my actions show that.
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My international assignments have enhanced my understanding of working with different cultures and being effective under different circumstances. I’ve learned to ramp up quickly, understand issues, and deliver results in an effective and timely manner.
Tell us about the international work you’ve done. How does that inform your APEGA roles? My international assignments with the Canadian International Development Agency and the World Bank have enhanced my understanding of working with different cultures and being effective under different circumstances. I’ve learned to ramp up quickly, understand issues, and deliver results in an effective and timely manner. These assignments have also made me proud to be a Canadian, because we are so widely respected. Canadians are considered peaceful citizens of the world. Finally, working with talented people, as I mentioned before, is always educational. What (or who) piqued your interest in this position and why did you apply? Through my decades of APEGA membership, I have felt that the respect our professions garner with the public has a lot to do with APEGA’s Professional Members. Each of us has a designation that is, in fact, our licence to practise with the confidence of the public as a foun- dation. Membership symbolizes the professional ethics that we pledge to uphold. At times during my career, it has provided me the courage to refuse to do things I judged to have contravened our professional obligation.
Seeing this opportunity present itself, I was excited about the possibility to lead within my own Association. What a highly coveted opportunity to have a positive impact this is. What are your early impressions of APEGA, as a staff member and leader? What are its strong points? What areas need improvement? My early impression of APEGA is that it has many talented and committed staff. It has gone through several recent leadership and structural transitions, and I have an opportunity to bring in some new and talented people. I am also aware that lessons learned in other provinces tell us that APEGA needs to continually improve and be vigilant about being an outstanding regulator. It is very encouraging that our elected Council and staff are aligned in this goal. I am excited about working with our talented and committed staff. In seeking a new staff person to lead the organization, Council combined the roles of Registrar and Chief Executive Officer into the singe position: Registrar & Chief Executive Officer. What’s the significance of that? The Association had a separate CEO and Registrar before my appointment. Our legislation assigns many
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APEGA
My personal philosophy is that when one accepts a job, one accepts all the responsibilities that come with it — even if some aspects are not pleasant.
on how APEGA can meet economic and continuous improvement challenges, as we continue along this path? Provincial economic conditions are outside our control, so we need to be nimble enough to adjust accordingly. We need to constantly prioritize our work and ensure that the areas of higher risk are resourced adequately and acted upon. I am also hopeful that our province is resilient and will find a path forward, through a severe recession. We at APEGA have paid a price by having two successive, annual wage freezes, which in some cases has lowered staff morale. Many of our Professional Members have also suffered through this period. We should take the view that what cannot be helped must be endured. However, we need to keep our spirits high and continue to perform at a high level. In the big picture, we are very fortunate as Albertans and Canadians — we should not lose this perspective. At the time of this interview, you’ve been in the position for a little over 60 days. Characterize those days. And what do you see your next 60 days being like? The early days have been a big and busy learning curve. I joined at a busy time of our annual cycle, just before our Annual General Meeting and the annual change in our leadership at the elected Council level — with a new President and five new or re- elected Council members. It was also a time when I reorganized and had vacancies in three of four
specific duties to the Registrar but contains just one mention of the CEO! This construct can at times place these two positions in conflict. I believe that Council was wise to combine these positions and make one person responsible for the entire mandate of the Association. In my view, this limits the potential for conflict and allows the Association to move forward with one voice in a unified direction. How would you define your leadership style? I define my leadership style as a servant leader who enables others to act. I also subscribe to being a situational leader — someone who is willing to take decisive and firm action when necessary. I do not enjoy or seek out confrontation, as I am sure applies to many people, but when others do not act ethically or when our Association’s reputation may be at risk, I am willing to tackle the matter head on. My personal philosophy is that when one accepts a job, one accepts all the responsibilities that come with it — even if some aspects are not pleasant. However, I also want to be accessible to staff at all levels of the organization and work as colleagues with a common purpose. You’ve come to this role at an interesting time. The organization embarked on ambitious goals, about five years ago, in terms of improving processes and becoming a better regulator. With the downturn in the economy, funding those improvements through dues increases became a major issue. Any thoughts
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APEGA
executive positions. Filling two out of three critical positions in the first 60 days was very satisfying. Also, having suggestion boxes in Calgary and Edmonton for staff to provide me honest feedback and input enabled me to get a handle on the general mood of staff quickly. It also allowed me to act right away on some critical issues. I am hopeful that the next 60 days will allow us to fill the final executive position and provide further stability. I am hopeful that I will understand the different parts of our organization better and provide the guidance necessary to allow APEGA to become a better regulator and be on a continuous improvement path. I want to serve our elected Council well and serve our Members well, too, as we work together to fulfill our mandate to protect the public in our diverse professional activities. One of those improvement projects has been a complete review of APEGA’s governing legislation, the Engineering and Geoscience Professions Act. As that process enters its later stages, what are your thoughts about it? The Engineering and Geoscience Professions Act is the guiding legislation of our self-governing professions. No major update of this legislation has occurred for more than 30 years. To become a better regulator and to continue to protect the public, certain aspects of the EGP Act need to be updated and modernized, such as the of fines we can sanction and our discipline process. Because our legislation is also one Act, two associations, there are additional challenges. ASET, the Association of Science and Engineering Technology Professionals of Alberta, is also included in our Act. In our view, the ongoing desire of ASET to expand scopes of practice in a manner that would infringe on our professions jeopardizes some aspects of public safety.
This represents a large challenge in modernizing the legislation expeditiously. Tell us a bit about who you are, outside of the office. What are your interests and hobbies? Are there details about family you’d like to share? I feel very fortunate and blessed to have grown up in Sri Lanka, studied in California and Alberta, and settled in Edmonton, our home for the past 42 years. I have been active in our community associations, environ- mental credentialing institutions, and academics. I was an avid runner at one time, participating in track and field. I also played table tennis and once won the University of California Davis Table Tennis Championship. I took up tennis at a later stage of life and enjoyed it. And I ran two marathons later in life, in recreational mode, enjoying Edmonton’s river valley during training. My wife completed all her university education in Alberta. She and our two sons all have PhDs earned at the University of Alberta. In addition, my two sons are heart surgeons at the Edmonton Mazankowski Heart Institute, a unique blessing. Interestingly, my younger son graduated in chemical engineering before turning to medicine. Also, my father, who came to Canada, passed six exams and obtained his P.Eng. at the age of 50. So I am proud to say that engineering crosses three generations in our family. What else would like to tell Members and other PEG readers? I have used the word privilege many times in this interview. I will use it again, now. I sincerely feel that my life and the exciting career I have enjoyed thus far, along with the extraordinary people I have met along the way, have been a true privilege.
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PROGRESS AND RENEWAL
Self-Nominating Process Begins Now
Serving on Council is one of the most important volunteer opportunities APEGA offers. If this challenging, rewarding, and fulfilling commitment is for you, now is the time to make your decision — the search for candidates to run in the 2018 APEGA Election starts now. Members seeking election must submit their nominations in time to be considered by APEGA’s Nominating Committee. Nominations close Friday, September 29 , but you should get to work now. Strong preparation will give you the best chance of being endorsed by the Nominating Committee and elected by your peers. Details here and over the next five pages provide the basics of what you’ll need to prepare a nomination and what a Council commitment requires. Full information appears online at apega.ca and in a special nomination area of the Member Self-Service Centre, accessible through the website. The self-nominating period begins Monday, July 10, 9 a.m. APEGA no longer accepts paper nominations. Instead, we accept them electronically through the Member Self-Service Centre. You’ll need to prepare a variety of materials, some mandatory and some not. The APEGA Nominating Committee is charged with ensuring recommended candidates represent a strong combination of attributes for good governance and succession. Through its own networks, the committee searches for potential candidates to endorse. It also draws upon self-nominated candidates. Before the election, the committee arrives at its list of candidates — Members the committee has decided are willing, suitable, and available for Council governance and succession. Names of all qualified and properly nominated candidates will appear on the 2018 ballot, regardless of whether they receive the Nominating Committee’s endorsement. Every year, at least four Professional Members are elected to Council. Members also choose a President-Elect and a Vice-President each year. With
Potential Candidates’ Key Dates & Times Self-Nominating Begins
Self-Nominating Closes
4:30 pm
Septembe
the President and the immediate Past-President, they will lead Council on the APEGA Executive Committee. Not including the Executive Committee, Council is made up of 12 Professional Members and up to three public members appointed by the Government of Alberta. APEGA must receive nominations by Friday, September 29, 2017 , at 4:30 p.m. That allows time for nominations to reach the Nominating Committee 180 days before the next APEGA Annual General Meeting, on Friday, April 20, 2018 , as APEGA’s bylaws require. Once the Member Self-Service Centre begins accepting nominations on July 10, each potential nominee will be able to go in and out of the site to develop his or her nomination in draft, before finalizing it and clicking submit. Once submit is clicked, the nomination is final and locked from changes. The collection of signatures takes place digitally, which makes it easier for potential nominees in areas without a large pool of Members in their local network. APEGA runs background checks on all potential nominees, a term you will need to accept during the electronic nomination process. Also, two or more Members of the Nominating Committee will, as a panel, interview each nominee to review the information provided. Interview results become part of the committee’s process in deciding who to endorse.
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PROGRESS AND RENEWAL
What Does it Take to Be a Good Councillor?
TOP COUNCIL NEEDS Council and APEGA’s Nominating Committee have identified the top 15 needs for the 2018- 2019 Council. You don’t have to meet all 15 criteria — or any of them — to run in the election. This is simply meant as a guide to what the Nominating Committee is looking for when it arrives at its endorsements. 1. Governance experience 2. Business and organizational experience 3. APEGA/ASET experience 4. Risk management understanding 5. Regulatory experience 6. Strategic planning experience 7. Work experience (minimum 10 years) 8. Policy experience — public or not-for-profit organization 9. Financial literacy 10. CEO or other senior management experience 11. Professional discipline diversity — e.g., academic, industry, government 12. Variety of experience and background
If you’re elected, your first term on Council is, in most cases, three years long. It’s a big commitment — one that goes far beyond attending four regular meetings a year. Before you start, it’s a good idea to be certain the job is for you. Following are two lists to help you decide. CHARACTERISTICS OF A GREAT COUNCILLOR 1. Experience in professional practice 2. Basic understanding of the principles behind professional regulation 3. Familiarity with board management and governance 4. Balanced perspective and problem-solving attitude 5. Particular knowledge of important issues or underrepresented groups 6. Strong champion of professionalism
and of APEGA 7. Track record as a contributor 8. Willing to commit time to APEGA
13. Visionary qualities 14. Strong professional network 15. Functional experience
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PROGRESS AND RENEWAL
Creating a Great Self-Nomination
You’re certain that you’ve got the time, dedication, and personal attributes to be an effective participant in the governance of your professions. You qualify as a candidate, and you think you have a reasonable chance of being endorsed by the Nominating Committee. Sounds like you’re ready to prepare your self-nomination. On July 10, you can start the actual process of uploading your nomination materials to the Member Self-Service Centre of apega.ca. But you can start preparing now. Before your materials are accepted for publication and advancement to the Nominating Committee, APEGA will review them for professionalism and appropriateness. And now — get busy! WHEN NOMINATIONS OPEN The nominations site in the Member Self- Service Centre opens on July 10 at 9 a.m. Follow the step-by-step process. There’s a save-draft function. If you’ve already begun preparing your materials, that’s great. Regardless, you’ll need to: • read the materials on the site • fulfill all mandatory requirements • consider non-mandatory requirements and fulfill those you decide are important • work offline as necessary to get everything ready
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SELF-NOMINATION MANDATORY REQUIREMENTS 1 | Reach out to 25 Professional Members in good standing to support your nomination. Let them know that they’ll be contacted electronically to confirm their support. 2 | Find or have taken a print-quality photograph of yourself — a headshot. 3 | Write a personal statement that's 800 to 1,000 words long. Make sure it includes the information you think is important for voters to know about you. 4 | To help the Nominating Committee in its review, write an explanation of why you want to run for Council. 5 | Also for the Nominating Committee’s review, rate yourself on the provided skills and attributes from 1 to 7 (1 being lowest, 7 being highest). The list of skills and attributes will be available when the nomination site goes live on July 10. NON-MANDATORY REQUIREMENTS 1 | Polish your curriculum vitae for posting. 2 | Gather any other supporting documents you would like to submit and have available for voters to review. 3 | Have a video shot of you promoting yourself as a candidate, which we will also post. We recommend that you keep it short and to-the-point — up to two minutes long.
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