Innovation-March_April 2013

March/April 2013

Volume 16 Number 2

v iewpoint

As president of our association, one of the greatest privileges I have been given is to participate in the association’s induction ceremonies at which we recognize and welcome our newest professional members. Currently, we hold three ceremonies a year in Vancouver, attended by over 300 new members (out of about 1,100 new P.Eng. and P.Geo. members each year). I wanted to take the opportunity to share with you some of the thoughts I expressed in a speech at the most recent of these ceremonies. As I become familiar with the backgrounds and aspirations of our fellow members, I am struck by the sheer diversity of our activities—contributing to all aspects of our lives, including our homes, our transport, our energy production and usage, our health and well-being, our communications and our communities. The engineering and geoscience professions are key to addressing many of the major societal issues we hear about every day, including climate change, global warming, sustainability, poverty worldwide, economic growth and the development of our communities. I have spent my career as a professor and, as is typical, I have thereby been engaged in four kinds of activity: professional practice (as a specialist consultant), research, teaching and learning, and professional service. But, in fact, these four areas typically apply to all our members. Professional practice forms the core activity of our members. In my experience, in undertaking this, it is always important to remember the big picture, expect the unexpected, encourage diverse viewpoints, engage in continual improvement, and always be mindful of profes- sional integrity and our code of ethics. Our members also undertake research through continually questioning, exploring, not taking things for granted, and always looking for ways of doing things better. And, we are engaged in teaching and learning through professional development, broadening our skill sets both within and beyond our professions, mentorship roles, technical presentations, sharing project achievements and engaging in career awareness in schools. Finally, many of us are active in professional service with APEGBC itself—through its branches, committees and in other ways—or with technical or other societies that may be relevant to each of our needs. In return we benefit by getting to know some amazing people, broadening our contacts and connections, developing professional and personal skill sets, and enhancing individual recognition. I just want to end with a word about the association itself. Our engineers and geoscientists were crucial to the development of our province. We now have over 26,000 members and licensees who continue to grow and strengthen our province daily. It is worth reflecting on APEGBC’s mission: “To serve the public interest through the regulation of the practices of engineering and geosci- ence in British Columbia and, where consistent with this duty, pro- mote the professions and protect the interests of members.” That is, the association is a regulatory organization, and it is here to support our members and serve the public—in short, we are here for you in your service to the public good. So please do maintain regular and close connections with your association.

Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of BC Suite 200 - 4010 Regent Street, Burnaby, BC Canada V5C 6N2 Tel: 604.430.8035 Fax: 604.430.8085 E-mail: apeginfo@apeg.bc.ca Internet: www.apeg.bc.ca Toll free: 1.888.430.8035

2012/2013 COUNCIL, APEGBC P resident M.D. Isaacson, P.Eng., PhD, FEC V ice P resident M.B. Bapty, P.Eng., FEC P ast P resident J.H. Holm, P.Eng., FEC

Diverse and Key Activities

Councillors A.E. Badke, P.Eng.; S.M. Carlson, P.Eng.; J.J Clague, P.Geo. PhD; A Fernandes, CIM, FCSI; H. Hawson, P.Eng., FEC; D.M. Howes, P.Eng.; H.G. Kell,y P.Eng.; G.D. Kirkham, P.Geo.; J. Martignago; A.J. Mill, P.Eng., Struct.Eng., FEC; K.E. Savage, P.Eng., FEC; M. Waberski, BCLS; M.C. Wrinch, P.Eng., PhD, FEC; S. Wynn, PhD

ASSOCIATION STAFF A.J. English, P.Eng. C hief E xecutive O fficer and R egistrar T.M.Y. C hong, P.Eng. C hief R egulatory O fficer and D eputy R egistrar J.Y. Sinclair C hief O perating O fficer M.L. Archibald D irector , C ommunications and S takeholder E ngagement J. Cho, CGA D irector , F inance and A dministration D. Gamble D irector , I nformation S ervices A. Lim A/ D irector , M ember S ervices P.R. Mitchell, P.Eng. D irector , P rofessional P ractice , S tandards and D evelopment D. Olychick D irector , M ember S ervices G.M. Pichler, P.Eng. D irector , R egistration G.A. Thiele, LLB D irector , L egislation , E thics and C ompliance R.M. F ilipiak, P .Eng. A ssociate D irector , A dmissions V. Lai, CGA A ssociate D irector , F inance and A dministration J.J.G. Larocque, P.Eng., LLB A ssociate D irector , P rofessional P ractice

Dr. Michael Isaacson, P.Eng., FEC President

Melinda Lau M anaging E ditor

EDITORIAL BOARD S. Chiu, P.Eng.; R. Gupta, P.Eng., P h D; C.L. Hall, P.Geo.; S.K. Hayes, P.Eng.; K.S. Hirji, P.Eng.; M.A. Klippenstein, P.Eng.; I. Kokan, P.Eng.; M.E. Leslie, P.Eng.; B. Thomson, P.Geo., FEC (Hon)

president@ apeg.bc.ca

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