With the support of Council, it was my responsibility and duty, as your 104th APEGA president, to provide leadership and support to APEGA Council as we navigated these exceptional circumstances. As always, Council and staff formed a united front to meet the challenges before us. And yes, we pivoted. We are constantly learning, reflecting, and turning the challenges we face into new opportunities. Many voices working towards the same mandate Experience has taught me that there’s always a better way forward—and that we can’t get there on our own. We will continue to work with our many external partners—including government, industry, other engineering and geoscience regulators, and Albertans—to ensure effective oversight. Ongoing engagement with our registrants and permits holders is also essential. When we hear from singular voices, we all benefit from each other’s wisdom and input. I saw this first-hand on my visits to APEGA’s 10 branches during the new President’s Visit forums, where I sat down face-to-face with registrants and permit holders to get a pulse on what’s happening in the different regions. These forums were a way to connect with registrants, and I want to thank people for sharing frank and candid thoughts and suggestions, and most importantly, their enthusiasm in supporting APEGA. Together, we can find solutions to any challenge.
In my travels, I also met with—and was inspired by—professionals near the end of their APEGA journey. At a milestone celebration in Calgary, we recognized 41 individuals with life membership. Combined, more than 1,000 years—a millennium—of triumphs, sweat and tears, knowledge, and experience were in that room. It’s amazing, astonishing, and remarkable when you think about it. I also spent time visiting engineering students in Fort McMurray and Lethbridge who will soon be embarking on their careers. I was impressed by their insightful answers when I asked them why professional self-regulation is important: “As a professional, you have high standards
of ethical and technical competency.” “You have peers and a community of knowledge and expertise.” “You hold each other responsible and accountable for your actions.”
At the end of the day, that’s really what it boils down to. APEGA and all our stakeholders have dynamic and diverse perspectives—but we’re all intertwined and work towards the same mandate. We all hold paramount the safety and public welfare of Albertans.
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