REGULATORY LEARNING

 THURSDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2024

Practical Strategies for Complying with the Professional Practice Guidelines – Development of Safety-Critical Software 

9:00 AM - 10:00 AM

Safety-critical software is an integral part of many engineered systems and products across a range of BC industries including critical infrastructure, shipbuilding, mining, transportation systems and medical devices. However, many BC organizations are either unaware of the Engineers and Geoscientists BC Professional Practice Guidelines – Development of Safety-Critical Software, or lack the knowledge or skills to comply with these guidelines. This presentation highlights several specific challenges and suggests practical strategies to overcome these challenges. This presentation should be of interest to participants representing organizations that develop safety-critical software, as well as organization that procure or outsource software development. 

Speakers

Dr. Jeff Joyce, P.Eng. 

A Discussion on the Impact of Professional Liability Insurance Claims   

10:30 AM - 11:30 AM

Errors and Omissions Liability Insurance for Professionals is a hot topic in claims. During this session we will dive into professional liability claim trends, risk management practices to reduce your risk, and the impact both will have on the industry as a whole. The objective of this session is to provide an in-depth information regarding understanding of Professional Liability Insurance and to provide insight into the Insurance market overall.  This will be combined with provide comprehensive information regarding about claims trends and discuss what risk management practices should be considered to reduce the frequency and severity of these claims. 

Speakers

Madison Britz 

Madison Britz, Vice President, Client Executive at Marsh Canada, is one of the Insurance Brokers on the Professional Liability Affinity program for Engineers and Geoscientists BC registrants. She is specialized in E&O Placement and her main focus is now offering support and placing coverage for various Engineers and Geoscientists. 

Marlowe Mercado 

Marlowe Mercado, B.A., CAIB is Vice President, Client Executive in the Commercial Lines Unit of Marsh Canada.  He holds a Canadian Accredited Insurance Broker (CAIB) Designation and is working towards his CIP Designation (Chartered Insurance Professional). Marlowe is a trained diplomat with a degree in international relations and business.  He specializes in Professional Lines Insurance with 11 years of experience working in both North American and Asian Insurance Markets.  His role is the upkeep and placement work on the Engineers and Geoscientists BC Affinity program.  Marlowe brings a fresh perspective to the team with his multinational experience and local market understanding. 

Daniela Fuda 

Daniela is the Director, Specialty Lines Complex Claims at Berkley Canada. A lawyer by training, Daniela joined Berkley Canada in 2016 and is a Director in the Claims group. Daniela’s primary focus is centered around working on complex claims arising out of Berkley's specialty lines products, which includes errors & omissions, directors & officers, technology and cyber, life sciences, employment practices, and environmental.  Prior to joining Berkley, Daniela practiced as a lawyer in New York for eleven years. She has successfully represented insurance carriers and acted as coverage and monitoring counsel.  Daniela is a standing member of both New York and Connecticut bars. 

Brian Rhodes 

Brian Rhodes is a senior partner at Dolden Wallace Folick LLP and practices exclusively insurance law.  He has appeared as counsel at all levels of court in British Columbia and Alberta, as well as the Ontario Superior Court and the Supreme Court of Yukon.  Brian’s practice has a particular emphasis on construction law, professional liability and product liability.  He has been peer-reviewed and recognized by Lexpert as one of Canada’s leading practitioners in the area of commercial insurance litigation.  He has also been selected for inclusion in multiple editions of The Best Lawyers in Canada for his work in construction law and insurance law. 

Firm Audit and Practice Review Trends – How to Avoid Common Findings 

1:30 PM - 2:30 PM

The audits and practice reviews of registrant firms have been taking place under the Professional Governance Act since 2021, and trends have emerged in the findings. Kayla and Kelly will present the trends, identify the highest occurring findings, discuss the requirements, and provide advice on how to avoid these findings. Ample time will be provided for a Q & A session at the end of the presentation. 

Speakers

Kelly Dayman, P.L.Eng. 

As Associate Director of Regulation of Firms, Kelly Dayman, P.L.Eng. is responsible for the Permit to Practice Program including the education, support, auditing, and practice review of registrant firms. Kelly is trained as an ISO 9001:2015 Lead Auditor and has audited firms across Canada, both for ISO 9001 and OQM compliance. He joined Engineers and Geoscientists BC in 2012 to launch the OQM Program and brings the value-added approach of the OQM Program to the regulation of firms. 

Kayla Vantriet 

Kayla is the Manager, Permit to Practice at Engineers and Geoscientists. In this capacity, Kayla is responsible for operations of some of the Permit to Practice Programs including Practice Reviews into Registrant Firms. Prior to her current role Kayla worked in Engineers and Geoscientists BC’s Legislation, Ethics and Compliance Department for nine years as the Compliance Officer. Her intimate knowledge of the complaint, investigation and discipline processes has enabled her to bring a proactive, practical approach to the Permit to Practice Programs. Kayla is also a qualified paralegal who worked for a senior health College prior to joining Engineers and Geoscientists BC. 

One Down, Many to Go: Lessons Learned from the First Year of the Individual Audit Program 

3:00 PM - 4:00 PM

The Compliance Audit Program for individual registrants started in July 2023 and is Engineers and Geoscientists BC’s proactive and educational process for helping registrants understand and meet their professional requirements. In this presentation, we will give an overview of the program and discuss the trends, observations, and lessons learned from the first year of individual compliance audits. The program team will provide insights into how registrants can prepare for their compliance audit, review the most common findings and how registrants can address them proactively, and discuss recent and proposed program updates. Attendees will be invited to ask the program team any questions they have about individual audits. The session is intended to give attendees all the information they need to understand the compliance audit process and ease any fears about undergoing an individual audit.

Stuart Nash, P.Eng. 

Stuart is the Manager of Individual Audits and Practice Reviews at Engineers and Geoscientists BC. Stuart oversees the Compliance Audit Program for individual registrants, which started in July 2023, as well as the Practice Review Program for individuals that started in 2022. He also provides strategic direction and oversight for the Continuing Education Program. 

Krupal Pal, P.Eng.

Krupal is the Compliance Auditor for Individual Compliance Audit Program at Engineers and Geoscientist BC. Krupal conducts individual audits and provides insights to continuously improve the compliance audit program.  She is a Professional Engineer and ISO 9001:2015 certified Lead Auditor. 

Mira Nasser 

Mira a compliance auditor with over a year of experience at Engineers and Geoscientists BC, certified as an ISO9001:2015 Lead Auditor. I have successfully closed more than 90 compliance audits, evaluating registrants from various industries and areas of practice.