INNOVATION September-October 2016

pres i den t ’s award s 2016 President’s Awards Recipients The annual President’s Awards recognise excellence in professional, technical and community service by our members. On October 21, at the President’s Awards Gala, APEGBC honours eight recipients for their contributions to BC’s engineering and geoscience professionals and communities. C.J. Westerman Memorial Award Dr. Matthias Jakob, P.Geo.

Matthias is a world-renowned specialist in geohazard and risk assessments, and has pioneered and promoted practical applications and new guidelines with respect to landslide and flood hazards. He is routinely retained as a project manager and senior investigator for geohazard and risk assessments, and has worked on more than 100 such projects around the globe. From carrying out risk assessments and disaster relief in tropical Bolivia to studying rock glaciers in Nepal’s Khumbu Himalayas and the Chilean and Argentine Andes, Matthias demonstrates success as both a specialist practitioner and as a researcher. His contributions include authoring and co-authoring nearly 40 peer-reviewed scientific articles, being lead author for APEGBC professional guidelines for legislated landslide assessments for residential development and legislated flood assessments in a changing climate, and working with an independent filmmaker on documentaries about climate change and landslides for the Knowledge Network. He is often invited as a guest lecturer at universities, is an adjunct professor at UBC, and is a sought-after keynote speaker at international conferences. His overall contribution to and influence on the discipline of applied geomorphology is multi-faceted. For his significant technical achievements in geohazard and risk assessments, and for his exemplary service to his profession and community, APEGBC is pleased to present Dr. Matthias Jakob with its highest award for a geoscientist, the C.J. Westerman Memorial Award. Mukesh is a well-recognised expert in the field of power-system relaying and protection systems. He has provided innovative and creative engineering solutions that have had significant influence on industry efficiency, including huge capital savings through the interconnection of numerous customers and renewable sources of power generation. His technical expertise has led him to serve on several committees and working groups with the Institute of Electronics and Electric Engineers (IEEE), which also recognises him as a distinguished lecturer. Keen to share his solutions and knowledge, Mukesh is principal author or co- author of more than 50 technical papers, including IEEE’s Guide on Protective Relaying of Utility-Customer Interconnections. He has also been a contributor to community associations like the Society of Punjabi Engineers and Technologists of British Columbia for more than 17 years. A leader by example, Mukesh mentors not only students and professionals through his instruction and guest lecturing, but also new immigrants whom he has assisted in securing admission in graduate engineering programs at Canadian universities. He has been recognised by BC Hydro, winning awards for ingenuity, safety, and mentorship. For his exceptional leadership in developing practical and effective ways to connect renewables to grid and to improve utility power system protection in the industry, APEGBC is proud to present Dr. Mukesh Nagpal with its highest engineering honour, the R.A. McLachlan Memorial Award. R.A. McLachlan Memorial Award Dr. Mukesh Nagpal, P.Eng.

11

S E P T E M B E R /OC TO B E R 2 016

i n n o v a t i o n