TECHNICAL LEARNING

 THURSDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2023

Extending Safety Engineering for Critical Systems to Take Account of Security Threats

9:00 AM - 10:00 AM

Safety-critical systems across a broad range of industry sectors depend on computer-based technology, which is increasingly exposed to security threats. Traditionally, functional safety engineering has focused on component failures as the source of safety risk. However, increasing exposure to security threats introduces new sources of safety risk as well as potentially invalidating assumptions made in a “safety only” approach to risk assessment. This presentation will briefly cover a variety of factors that increase exposure to security threats for safety-critical systems including higher levels of automation, increasing connectivity, changes in technology, and unintended consequences of using Generative AI. This presentation will also consider the relationship of safety engineering and security engineering, recognizing that they are distinct disciplines with a common goal of preventing harm. Finally, some steps towards managing safety-security risk will be mentioned including recognition of EGBC’S professional practice guidelines for developing safety-critical software.

Speakers

Dr. Jeffrey Joyce, P.Eng.

Structured Management of Climate Change Adaptation with ISO Standards

9:00 AM - 10:00 AM

Organizations must understand the potential impacts of climate change and be able to plan and implement climate solutions to survive and thrive. A structured and well managed climate change adaptation strategy is the key for success. ISO standards have long been used by most leading Organizations to manage their environmental risks and capture new opportunities. Recently, climate change adaptation standards have been developed to help organizations conduct climate risk assessments and plan for adaptation. From this presentation, you will understand how your organization can benefit from the application of these standards to mitigate climate risks and capture opportunities.

Speakers

Nelson Lee, P.Eng.

Nelson Lee, P.Eng., is the President of Green Sky Sustainability Consulting Inc. (www.greensky.ca). He provides climate action services, conducting climate risk and resiliency assessments and preparing sustainability plans as well as providing over 400 GHG verifications of compliance reports and offset projects globally. He is Vice-Chair of Canada’s Mirror Committee for the ISO Technical Committee 207 / Subcommittee 7 on Climate Change and GHG Management where he served as Working Group expert to draft several ISO climate mitigation and adaptation standards. He was an author of the White Paper: How to use ISO 14090 to support ISO 14001 – the seed document for this presentation. He is an avid volunteer at Engineers and Geoscientists BC, serving as Vice Chair of the Environmental Professionals and Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Divisions, and is a Member-at-large with Engineers and Geoscientists in the Resource Sector Division.

Cheryl Perdomo

Cheryl Perdomo has an M.Sc. Engineering Design from Master University, B.Sc. Agri-Industrial Engineering, and Environmental Professional Designation from Eco Canada. Cheryl is an Environmental Management System expert with 15 years of experience delivering sustainable solutions across the manufacturing value chain, driven by a passion for the environment and Climate Change. During her work experience in the Manufacturing Industry, Cheryl has developed a broad understanding of process improvement and enhancing Customer Satisfaction. Her work has included implementing Management Systems from the Environmental, Health & Safety, and Quality Assurance perspectives. She is now part of the Green Sky Sustainability Consulting Team as Senior Sustainability Strategist and along with an experienced multidisciplinary team, she has developed a new way to help organizations to implement a Mitigation and Adaptation Climate Change strategy easy to digest and aligned with international standards.

Traditional Indigenous Technology

10:30 AM - 11:30 AM

Have you ever wondered how the Indigenous populations of North and South America not only survived on these continents for over 20,000 years but also thrived? How they constructed vast civilizations that spanned thousands of miles with trade networks that crossed the continents? What type of engineering, technology and science did they practice and what can we learn from these examples. This presentation will discuss pre-colonized technologies of North and South America in areas as diverse as metal working, agriculture, weaving, medicine and dentistry.

Speakers

Randy Herrmann, P.Eng. (Manitoba)

Randy is the Director of the Engineering Access Program (ENGAP) at the University of Manitoba. ENGAP is a support program designed to assist First Nation, Metis and Inuit students seeking an engineering degree. He graduated from the University of Manitoba in 1988 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Geological Engineering. For ten years he worked as a geotechnical engineer and a project manager before taking on his current role. He is a Fellow of Engineers Canada, and a member of the Canadian Academy of Engineering. He is also a member of Engineers Geoscientists Manitoba.

Inclusive Design Principles

10:30 AM - 11:30 AM

Central to the practice of engineering and geoscience is finding solutions to improve the world around us. The work delivered by engineers and geoscientists – from the products we use, to the buildings we access, to the systems that provide reliable transportation, safe power, and more - impact people every day. Inclusive design practices account for the spectrum of human diversity, anticipating and designing for the widest range of end-user needs, ensuring that the work we deliver meets the needs and works for of as many people as possible. In this panel discussion, you will learn about inclusive design principles and how they can be applied to engineering and geoscience – both in the work we deliver as well as in workplace environments. Panelists will share examples of inclusive design practices and the impact that these practices have made in the work they deliver and the environments they work in.

Speakers

Lesley MacDonald

Lesley MacDonald, is the program manager for BC Hydro's Inclusion, diversity, equity and accessibility program. She would like to acknowledge that both at home and at the office, her work takes place on the unceded traditional territory of the Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh First Nations. She would also like to acknowledge the impacts that BC Hydro's system and operations has had on these Nations and the land that they have made use of since time immemorial. Her personal pronouns are she/her(s). Lesley is responsible for program strategy, design and implementation of inclusion, diversity, equity and accessibility at BC Hydro. She has been working in the area of workplace culture, specifically on inclusion & diversity at BC Hydro for the last 13 years. Her background and training is in communications and project/change management.

Yat Li

Yat Li is a Hong Kong-Canadian who was born without ears and is Deaf and Hard of Hearing. Despite facing immense obstacles in life, Yat persevered through challenges and discovered that self-disclosure unlocks a world of possibilities. He is now a highly sought-after speaker in North America, inspiring industry leaders that congenital disability does not define a person's career path. Yat is an accessibility and inclusion advocate who travels the world, speaking to thousands of senior leaders about the importance of diversity and inclusivity. Yat’s passion is to remove the stigma from hiring people with disabilities and inspire people to overcome every visible or invisible disability.

Marcie Cochrane, P.Eng.

Marcie Cochrane, P.Eng., MBA (She/Her), EDI Specialist, Engineers and Geoscientists BC, is an engineering sector leader recognized for her expertise and experience in project management and delivery, diversity and inclusion research, strategic planning, and leadership. Her MBA research, which examined retention of women in engineering in British Columbia, combined with her experience working in engineering for over 15 years, provides a strong foundation and unique lens for her EDI work within engineering. Marcie obtained her Bachelor of Electrical Engineering from the University of Victoria, and Master of Business Administration from Royal Roads University.

Colin MacIntosh, P.Eng.

Colin has worked with BC Hydro for almost 15 years, and currently leads a team of engineers responsible for asset management and sustainment of BC Hydro’s public fast charging network. Amongst other grid modernization initiatives, Colin and his colleagues in Future Grid and Modernization are also leading BC Hydro’s efforts to deploy grid-scale batteries to support diesel-reduction goals. Prior to joining the Future Grid team, Colin spent 13 years as an standards and equipment engineer, specializing on automated protection and control devices for the distribution system. Colin is a graduate of the University of Victoria.

Indigenous Perspectives to Project Experiences

1:30 PM - 2:30 PM

We live and work in an exciting time of change that recognizes and supports the role of indigenous peoples in decision making on their traditional lands. This is a time of truth and reconciliation, a time of inclusion and diversity. In today's panel, we will speak with senior representatives who have been working with indigenous nations to understand the importance of indigenous knowledge and understanding the role indigenous nations in decision making on their traditional lands. We will also hear from young indigenous engineers in training on their current work experiences and the progress made to-date. The panel will close with comments on reconciliation.

Speakers

Ted Molyneux, P.Eng.

Ted graduated from The University of British Columbia Civil Engineering program in 1983 then worked for two decades with a Langley BC groundwater resource development company. There he worked with water treatment and distribution sales, service and contracting. In 2003 Ted became a senior water engineer with Indigenous Services Canada. There he works with British Columbia’s 200 First Nations supporting their 270 community water systems in supplying safe water. For a decade Ted has been striving to incorporate reconciliation into his work and life.

Freda Leong, P.Eng.

Freda has over 26 years of experience in the planning, management, assessment, and design of water, sanitary sewer, water and wastewater treatment, roads, drainage assets, community building, subdivision, and site servicing projects. She has been working with Indigenous communities since 2005. Freda’s projects have included feasibility studies, design projects, construction and post-construction period services. She has strong working relationships with Indigenous communities and understands the importance of clear, open, and honest communication for positive outcomes. Freda’s project Kluskus Village Domestic Water System Improvements recently won the ACEC-BC 2022 Award of Excellence for a project under $2.5M. She is currently assisting EGBC in the development of their Regulatory Learning module on Truth and Reconciliation.

Caden Wallace-Booth, EIT

Caden is a Project Engineer (EIT) from Whitehorse, Yukon. Caden belongs to the Tahltan Nation as a member of the Cawtoonma family. He has 3 years of experience in the mining industry and graduated from the University of Manitoba with a Bachelor of Electrical Engineering. Caden began his career in mining through the Tahltan Mentorship program at Skeena Resources. He has worked in various industries throughout his education such as process controls and automation for Shell Canada in Fort Saskatchewan, AB, and asset management at Manitoba Hydro in Winnipeg, MB.

Ashley Jay, EIT

Ashley Jay is a member of the Tahltan Nation and is part of the Cawtoonma family. She graduated from the University of Calgary, majoring in Chemical Engineering. Ashley started with Skeena Resources after graduating where she worked in different roles from the Environmental/Sustainability department to the Engineering/Projects team, where she works currently as a Project Engineer in Training.

Tyra Phillips

Tyra Phillips joined Associated Engineering a year and a half ago and works in the Indigenous Infrastructure Group. She has worked on a variety of infrastructure projects from domestic water, wastewater, roads, and community buildings. Tyra is a member of the Haisla Nation, whose traditional territories are near Kitimat, BC but she grew up in small communities across the province. She is also passionate about STEM outreach in Indigenous communities and showing future generations what engineering can look like.

Risk Management and International EPC from a Ride Manufacturer and Consultants Point of View

3:00 PM - 4:00 PM

As a seasoned risk manager, Professional Engineer, and project manager, Michael will explore the strategies and pitfalls associated with EPC within the engineering procurement and construction industry. Using a case study, he will share his success story of risk-based engineering and project management decision-making. Michael's vast experience in engineering leadership spans over two decades, having designed and built complex machines such as submarines, roller coasters, and renewable energy systems in remote locations. The seminar will also feature a fun ending where Michael will engage an AI - ChatGPT to provide insights into his decision-making. The seminar will delve into the professional compliance and risk assessment of using AI to support engineering decisions, providing attendees with a unique perspective on EPC and risk management in the industry.

Dr. Michael Wrinch, P.Eng., FEC, FGC (Hon)

Dr. Michael Wrinch, P.Eng. holds a PhD from the University of British Columbia and a B.A.Sc and M.A.Sc. from Memorial University of Newfoundland. He has established himself as a seasoned leader with over two decades of experience as the President of Hedgehog Technologies, an electro-mechanical engineering consulting firm. Dr. Wrinch specializes in energy delivery and safety-critical systems, having designed various innovative projects, including rail systems, roller coasters, solar farms, natural gas infrastructure, and electric submarines. He is certified by TÜV Rheinland, a German organization, for safety instrumented systems design, and he earned his ICD.D designation from the Institute of Corporate Directors. Dr. Wrinch has served as President and Councillor of Engineers and Geoscientists BC and is President-elect of Engineers Canada. He has also contributed to several boards, such as Technical Safety BC.