REGULATORY AFFAIRS
Professional Practice Tools for Professionals Working Remotely
This presentation will provide tools and considerations for professionals to meet expectations and obligations of professional practice while working remotely. The first portion of the presentation will cover how the traditional expectations of meeting quality management requirements for authenticating documents, field reviews, direct supervision, document retention and management, etc. can be adapted to working remotely and the second will include testimonials from a number of industry stakeholders and professionals to provide first-hand experience and lessons learned while adapting to working remotely.
Speakers
Allison DenToom, P.Eng.
As a practice advisor with Engineers and Geoscientists BC, Allison is responsible for managing the development of professional practice guidelines and advisories for a variety of areas of practice, providing practice advice, and liaising with industry stakeholders and supporting a number of advisory groups. Allison is a registered professional engineer with experience in the structural design of buildings. She holds a Bachelor of Engineering degree in civil engineering from McGill University. Prior to joining Engineers and Geoscientists BC, Allison worked as a project engineer designing a variety of buildings from high-end custom homes to recreation centres to mid-rise concrete towers.
Andrew Chad, P.Eng., Struct.Eng.
Andrew is a founding Principal of Aspect Structural Engineers, a firm at the forefront of the Mass Timber design movement in North America. Andrew's extensive career has allowed him to work alongside leading AEC industry professionals on a diverse range of buildings, structures and specialty structures spanning multiple sectors. Much of his current portfolio is dedicated to prefabricated and modular approaches to structures, oftentimes employing timber or timber-hybrid solutions. His comprehensive understanding of material science, construction best practices and the 'art' of framing, allows him to constantly look to improve upon existing systems, while regularly developing novel systems and approaches to structure. Andrew is a Designated Structural Engineer (Struct.Eng) in BC and holds engineering degrees from McGill University and The University of British Columbia. He splits his time between Victoria and Vancouver, BC.
Benjamin Haeusler, P.Eng.
Benjamin is an Engineer and Project Manager in Stantec’s transportation group, currently leading the Transportation Infrastructure Major Projects Team. His background includes multi-discipline highway and municipal infrastructure work for provincial, municipal and private clients in BC and Alberta. As the Primary Responsible Registrant for Stantec Consulting having over 1,100 staff members in British Columbia, which includes 400+ EGBC members, Ben is also responsible for leading his large organizations evolution to adapt to the new EGBC requirements.
Charles Tremblay
Charles Tremblay has worked for more than 25 years in information technology and cybersecurity and has more than a dozen years of service with Notarius. He has experience in the development of technologies and standards for document reliability and electronic transactions. He passionately contributes to the dematerialization of documents and transactions, business modernization, and digital transformation.
Kathryn Ekman, P.Eng.
Kathryn is Corporate QHSE Advisor and Manager, Nanaimo at Klohn Crippen Berger. She has experience in project management, risk management, quality, health and safety, and environment (QHSE) management systems, and geological engineering. Kathryn reviews and negotiates contract terms, leads development and delivery of training programs, audits for QHSE compliance, and is actively involved in KCB’s tailings dam Engineer of Record requirements and approval system. She is a registered professional engineer with a degree in geological engineering from The University of British Columbia.
Robin Parker, P.Eng.
Robin is the Chief Engineer at Kerr Wood Leidal Associates, where he has delivered technical expertise to major clients across British Columbia since 2003. Robin specializes in water and wastewater hydraulics, mine water management planning and design, and general civil design. Concurrently, he oversees professional practice management and OQM guidelines for over 200 employees while ensuring our technical systems and skill sets align with corporate goals and regulatory compliance.
How Engineers and Geoscientists Get in Trouble
Three speakers from the Legislation, Ethics & Compliance department at Engineers and Geoscientists BC will discuss the important discipline cases over the past year, including a discussion of the engineering services provided at the Mt. Polley tailings storage facility. You can learn what not to do to stay out of trouble! A brief presentation on how Engineers and Geoscientists BC protects against non-registrants using the protected titles or practicing engineering or geoscience will also be included. You can learn how to report non-registrants encroaching on title or practice. (Please note, the presenters will not be discussing ongoing investigations or active discipline cases.)
Speakers
Efrem Swartz, LLB
As Director of Legislation, Ethics and Compliance at Engineers and Geoscientists BC, Efrem Swartz oversees the effective management of the investigation, assessment, and resolution of complaints against individuals practising professional engineering and geoscience in British Columbia. He is also responsible for the education and promotion of ethical practice and for the interpretation and enforcement of the Engineers and Geoscientists Act. Efrem first joined Engineers and Geoscientists BC in November 2013 as the Acting Director of Legislation, Ethics and Compliance. Previously, he founded Swartz Law Corporation, an independent firm specializing in professional regulation, administrative law, and civil litigation. He provided a wide range of legal services toa variety of professional regulatory bodies. Efrem received both his LLB and bachelor’s of arts from the University of British Columbia.
Jesse Romano
Jess is the Associate Director, Investigation and Discipline at Engineers and Geoscientists BC, where he manages the investigation and discipline team and oversees the conduct complaint intake, investigation, and discipline processes.
Rohan Hill
As Associate Director, Legal at Engineers and Geoscientists BC, Rohan Hill is responsible for the management of unauthorized practice and misuse of title enforcement, as well as providing internal legal and strategic advice to staff, senior leadership, and Council, on all aspects of corporate governance, interpretation of and compliance with the Professional Governance Act, privacy matters, and contractual obligations. Rohan is a lawyer with a background in litigation and privacy and holds a JD from Dalhousie University. Prior to joining Engineers and Geoscientists BC, Rohan was a litigator in private practice at a national law firm. Rohan also holds a Certified Information Privacy Manager designation from the IAPP.
The Professional Governance Act (PGA) Implementation: What Have We Heard and What Have We Learned
Since the Professional Governance Act (PGA) came into force in February 2021, Engineers and Geoscientists BC and its registrants have faced a significant amount of change; add a global pandemic on top of that, and it was a perfect recipe for confusion, concern, and overwhelm. This session will take a look back at the implementation of the PGA over the past two years, including, what we heard from registrants, what went well, and what lessons we learned. We will cover some of the misconceptions regarding the PGA, the positive impacts, and what’s next for us as we move forward. This will be an interactive session with audience participation encouraged.
Speakers
Lindsay Steele, P.Geo.
As Associate Director of Professional Practice, Lindsay Steele is responsible for the development and management of practice standards for individual registrants. She oversees the Practice Advice Program, the Continuing Education Program, the individual Audit and Practice Review Programs and the initiation and development of professional practice guidelines and practice advisories. Lindsay is a registered professional geoscientist with extensive experience in mining and mineral exploration. She holds a bachelor of science degree with an advanced major in earth sciences from St. Francis Xavier University. Her past roles include project geologist and general manager of geotechnical services for a mineral exploration company, as well as junior mine geologist for a uranium mine in Saskatchewan.
Megan Archibald
As the Director of Communications and Stakeholder Engagement at Engineers and Geoscientists BC, Megan Archibald oversees internal and external communications for the organization, including publication production, consultations and engagement, marketing, advertising, awards, and media relations. Megan holds a BA in communications from the University of Winnipeg and has a background in hospitality, tourism, and event management.
Professional Practice Guidelines: Equity, Diversity and Inclusion
Engineers and Geoscientists BC updated the Professional Practice Guidelines: Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) in 2021. The purpose of these guidelines are to clarify registrants' obligations with respect to EDI, provide foundational information about key concepts and topics related to EDI and to support registrant understanding. This session will explore specific topics and concepts within the guidelines, focused on building understanding, awareness and competencies to support meaningful actions for individuals. The session will provide attendees with an opportunity to explore these key concepts by examining scenarios and take away tangible actions that they can apply in their workplace and other environments to support equity and foster inclusion.
Speaker
Kai Scott
Kai is a social scientist who has devoted his 15-year career to solving complex social issues, especially those facing equity-seeking groups. This has included Indigenous people in mining and, more recently, inclusion of transgender people in the workplace. He uses a blend of quantitative and qualitative methods to bring understanding and innovation for greater equity, diversity, and inclusion.