FOR COUNCIL Art Washuta, P.Eng.
APEGA Activities • Member, Nominating Committee (2011–2012) • Member (1975–present)
Art Washuta, P.Eng., is a first- generation Canadian, born to Polish immigrant parents in McLennan, Alta. A 1973 graduate with distinction from the University of Alberta (B.Sc., civil engineering), he has spent most of his life in Edmonton. Art’s 40-year professional career has focused on the consulting engineering industry. He’s practised in firms from very small to medium-sized, such as Bolter
Affiliations • Honorary Director representing Past Presidents, Consulting Engineers of Alberta (2013–2015) • President, CEA (2009-2010) • Representative, Practice Standards Committee, CEA (2007–2012) • Board Member, CEA (2007–2011) • Chair, Liaison Committee, CEA/City of Edmonton (2005–2007) • Member, Liaison Committee, CEA/City of Edmonton (2001–2011) • Liaison Committee, Association of Consulting Engineering Companies, Department of National Defence/Defence Construction Canada (2000–2011) • Board of Directors, Centre for Transportation Engineering and Planning (2003-2004) • Member, APEGBC (1994–present), NAPEG (1987–present), APEY (1987–present)
Parish Trimble and UMA Engineering, to a huge global company, AECOM. At AECOM, Art was responsible for driving the growth, strategy and delivery of transportation services across Western Canada, with a total staff of 350. He was also previously responsible for the 400-person, multi-business line, northern Alberta operations. Over the course of his career and in addition to his corporate responsibilities, Art intentionally maintained an oversight role in the management of major projects to ensure client satisfaction, quality deliverables and value for money. Over the past 10 years, Art led the delivery of numerous City of Edmonton LRT projects. They include the south tunnel from University Station to Health Sciences Station, and preliminary design of the extension from Century Park to Ellerslie Road, the north extension from Churchill Station through Station Lands to NAIT, and the $1.8-billion Valley Line from downtown to Mill Woods, which is currently in the P3 procurement stage. Art has also been involved with major projects for the Department of National Defence, including short-range radar sites, forward-operating location for CF-18 aircraft in Inuvik, and the environmental clean-up of distant early warning line sites across the Canadian Arctic. As Design Manager for the Oldman River Dam Spillway (the largest in Alberta), Art was deeply gratified when the project was recognized with an Award of Excellence at the first Consulting Engineers of Alberta Showcase Awards Gala in 1997. Over the course of these major projects, Art became a strong proponent of structured team building, implementation of formal partnering, prudent risk management and value engineering. The process of forming and developing collaborative, accountable and effective teams has been a cornerstone of Art’s multi-firm project successes and contributed to the leadership and sustained growth of corporate business units. His leadership style is also adaptable to the needs of a situation, whether it’s democratic consensus building, coaching or authoritative. Art currently serves as Senior Vice-President, Operations, for OPUS Stewart Weir, a 550-person geomatics and engineering firm operating in Alberta and British Columbia. Responsibilities include focusing on sustainable growth, strategic diversification and people leadership. Art is a proud father of three adult children and is known as “Gramp Art” to six young grandchildren. He and his wife, “Chef Tanya,” love to host family dinners and solstice celebrations, as well as spend time on Salt Spring Island. Art enjoys doing home renovations and looks forward to his regular Saturday co-ed “mud-wrestling” sessions at the Edmonton Potters’ Guild!
• Member, American Concrete Institute • Member, Project Management Institute
Community Service • President, Edmonton Potters’ Guild (2006–2008) • Member, Edmonton Potters’ Guild (1997–present) APEGA Priority Issues Art has been following some of the key issues currently challenging APEGA. • Review of The Engineering and Geosciences Professions Act — this significant endeavour will be guided by the Champions Collaborative Program and will address regulatory expectations and governance practices • Application/Registration — efforts to increase staff and streamline processes to make this important activity more efficient • Member mobility — with the use of virtual teams for major projects, mobility across Canada and the United States is critical • Other issues — such as ongoing efforts to increase revenues and reduce operating costs, improve the process and timeliness of investigations, and revamp the APEGA website “Having led business-line operations within privately held and publicly traded corporations, and assisted in the implementation of a governance board for the $1.8-billion Valley Line P3 project, I believe that I could contribute to many of the above-noted initiatives in a meaningful way. In addition, as an Honorary Director of the Consulting Engineers of Alberta, I could help to facilitate collaboration between the two associations. One example is the CEA priority initiative of seeking legislation for qualifications-based selection of professional services.”
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