Innovation Fall 2026

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Those gains stem from the program’s built-in alignment with competency requirements. Because training, mentorship, and validation are structured from the outset, applications are often more complete and easier to assess when submitted. The benefit goes beyond speed, as participants say the process feels clearer and more predictable overall. “It was clear that it wasn’t going to take seven years, eight years … to actually get all of the paperwork done,” Hutter says. Preparing for professional practice While timelines matter, both geoscientists emphasized that the AEP’s greatest value lies in how it prepares them for practice. And a key piece of that preparation is mentorship. One of the biggest benefits, says Hutter, is being immediately paired with a mentor. These relationships are often structured with weekly to

” You can lay out the plan, and at the end of this roadmap, you have your P.Geo. That’s a big benefit to prospective employees. Alex Hutter, P.Geo., Aggregate terrain geoscientist, MOTT

bi-weekly check-ins and defined learning goals. That consistency helps ensure that mentorship doesn’t fall away as workloads increase. Another defining feature of the AEP is its emphasis on varied, intentional experience. Participants are often rotated through different teams or project types to ensure they meet competency requirements. These rotations expose registrants to different aspects of their organizations and the broader profession earlier in their careers. For example, Fogg knew project management, which often combines hard, technical, and soft skills, was one area she needed to develop to advance in her career. With the help of her AEP mentor, she was able to identify and capitalize on those collaboration opportunities. “I was able to find a rotation… to help fulfil those [competencies],” Fogg says. “That was definitely something I probably wouldn’t have been able to do so fluidly if it hadn’t been for the program,” she says. Those experiences broadened her understanding of professional practice beyond technical work. “There’s so much more to being a professional than just being able to write a report that makes scientific sense,” she explains. “My communication with various different disciplines grew exponentially in that one year. I think I’ve become a stronger employee because of it.” For Hutter, similar opportunities expanded his understanding of how to work with external consultants and multidisciplinary teams. “You really get to see a lot

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Fall 2026

Innovation