The Board is Engineers Canada’s governing body. Its role is to provide strategic direction and ensure appropriate financial and risk management for the organization. Comprised of volunteer Directors and an advisor from the Chief Executive Officers’ Group, the Board’s responsibilities are outlined in the Bylaw and Board Policy Manual. In general, the Board is responsible for:
- Holding itself and its direct reports accountable.
- Sustaining a process to ensure ongoing engagement with regulators.
- Providing ongoing and appropriate strategic direction.
- Ensuring the development and periodic review of Board policies.
- Monitoring and managing risk.
- Providing orientation for new Board members and continuing Board development to current Directors and others who work closely with the Board.
- Maintaining a relationship with key stakeholder organizations.
The Board is composed of 23 Directors who are nominated by their engineering regulators and approved by all of the regulators at a Meeting of Members. Each Director may serve up to two 3-year terms, in addition to potential terms as President-Elect, President, and Past President.
2023-2024 Engineers Canada Board
Directors
Nancy Hill, B.A.Sc., LL.B., FCAE, FEC, P. Eng.
President
Ontario
Founding Partner, Hill & Schumacher
Nancy Hill is an engineer, lawyer, patent agent, and trademark agent. She is a co-founder of the firm Hill & Schumacher. For over 25 years, Hill has been managing intellectual property rights for clients worldwide, including many universities across Canada. Hill’s areas of focus are robotics, structural steel, healthcare, and green energy, and many of her clients have gone on to win prestigious awards for their innovations.
Hill has been an active volunteer throughout her career, contributing at PEO, universities, and other STEM organizations. She has a long history of volunteering at PEO where she served on a wide variety of committees, task forces, and Council. She was elected as the 100th president of PEO (2019-2020). Hill has worked tirelessly to effect positive change within PEO, and was instrumental in amending the Professional Engineers Act to include harassment as part of the definition of professional misconduct and in instituting term limits for all elected councillors.
In 2008 she was invested as a Companion in the Order of Honour. In 2014, she was inducted as a fellow of the Canadian Academy of Engineering, and in 2017, she was named one of Canada’s Top 100 Most Powerful Women.
Michael Wrinch, PhD, FEC, P.Eng., ICD.D
President-Elect
British Columbia
President, Hedgehog Technologies Inc.
Michael Wrinch holds a PhD from the University of British Columbia and as 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 Engineering and Geoscientists BC and is a Fellow of Engineers Canada. He has also contributed to several boards, such as Technical Safety BC.
Kathy Baig, MBA, FIC, ing., DHC
Past President
Quebec
Kathy Baig, MBA, FIC, ing., ASC, DHC, is Vice President, Positioning and Business Development, with Stantec’s Quebec team. Prior to joining Stantec, Kathy was President of the Ordre des Ingénieurs du Québec (OIQ) from 2016 to 2022. Under her leadership, OIQ developed and implemented the ENG2020 Plan and the ENG 20-25 Plan, becoming the reference for public protection within Québec’s professional system. These efforts have helped to restore confidence in the engineering profession following the findings of the Charbonneau Commission.
Kathy’s accomplishments have been recognized with an honorary degree from the École de technologie supérieure, the Mercury Award by the Federation of Chambers of Commerce of Québec for her leadership, and bein named Fellow of both Engineers Canada and by the Canadian Academy of Engineering. Additionally, in 2019 she received a Canada’s Top 40 under 40 Award.
Before being elected President of the OIQ, Kathy enjoyed an engineering career of over 10 years with companies such as IBM, Johnson & Johnson, Pyrogenesis and Aéroports de Montréal. She also serves on the boards of NAV CANADA and Fondaction.
Kathy has a degree in chemical engineering (Polytechnique Montréal) and in business administration (HEC Montréal). She also holds a corporate governance certification from the Collège des administrateurs de sociétés at Université Laval.
Alison Anderson, P.Eng.
Yukon
Instructor/Coordinator, Yukon Water and Wastewater Operator Program, Yukon University
Alison Anderson is a systems engineer and certified water professional. After graduating from the University of Waterloo with a Bachelor of Applied Science in Systems Design Engineering, they moved to the Yukon and managed the design, construction, and commissioning of drinking water systems throughout the territory while at Opus International Consultants.
As the Technology Innovation Officer at Yukon College, Alison led the creation of the Westcoast Women in Engineering, Science and Technology (WWEST) Associate Chair program to increase the awareness and participation of women in STEM in the Yukon. They are one of the founding members of the Engineers Yukon 30 by 30 Committee.
Alison is currently Instructor/Coordinator of the Yukon Water and Wastewater Operator Program at Yukon University. Their teaching and research interests include: drinking water system design and operation in northern climates; equity, diversity, and inclusion as a means for driving innovation and advances in technical professional practice; and, skills transfer between operators and engineers through hands-on co-training.
Alison enjoys an active life in Whitehorse with their husband, children, and dogs.
Arjan Arenja, MBA, P.Eng.
Ontario
President, Spectrum Business Development Inc.
Arjan Arenja is a highly accomplished professional with a broad range of experience in the engineering, construction, and electrical (generation and safety) fields. He holds a degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Waterloo and an Executive MBA from the Ivey School of Business, University of Western Ontario. Arjan is a licensed professional engineer with Professional Engineers Ontario (PEO) and has held senior management roles in various organizations, including Royal Group Technologies and Bruce Power.
Arjan is currently the President of Spectrum Business Development Inc., where he focuses on real estate investment and development in Grey and Bruce counties. In addition to his work with Spectrum, he is also an active volunteer and sits on the boards of several organizations. He is a board member and Chair of the People, Culture and Governance Committee at the Electrical Safety Authority (ESA), a board member and Chair of the Finance, Audit, and Risk Committee at Engineers Canada, a member of the Council of Professional Engineers Ontario (PEO) and Chair of their Governance and Nomination Committee, and a board member of Palette Skills.
Throughout his career, Arjan has demonstrated a commitment to excellence and has been recognized for his achievements. He is a respected leader in his field and continues to make significant contributions to the engineering and business communities through his work and volunteer efforts.
Natasha Avila, P.Eng.
Alberta
Senior Process Innovation Engineer, Cenovus Energy Inc
Natasha Avila graduated with a Bachelor of Chemical Engineering from the University of Waterloo in 2009. She has worked her entire career as a process engineer in industries such as automotive manufacturing, consumer goods manufacturing, and, currently, oil and gas.
She began her career as a Process Engineer EIT for Procter & Gamble, starting up the first commercial line for the Always Infinity FlexFoam™ material. She moved onto the oil and gas industry in 2013, when she started working for her current employer, Cenovus Energy. She is now a Senior Innovation Engineer for Cenovus’ Innovation Gateway (research and development) department.
Natasha got involved with the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Alberta (APEGA) in early 2014, and in that time has led a committee of members responsible for reviewing APEGA’s bylaws and proposing recommendations to council for the Legislative Review.
Natasha loves to travel and experience new countries and their cultures. Only rules for travel – next vacation must be to somewhere she has not been before!
Ernest Barber, FAIC, FCSBE, FEC, FGC (Hon.), PAg (ret), P.Eng.
Saskatchewan
Ernie Barber retired from the University of Saskatchewan in 2018. He holds degrees in agriculture and engineering from the University of Alberta and the University of Guelph, and is a past president of APEGS.
Following five years as an extension engineer in British Columbia, he joined the University of Saskatchewan in 1981. He was named Professor of the Year by students in both engineering and agriculture in recognition of teaching excellence. His research focused on design and testing of HVAC equipment, indoor and exterior air quality, environmental control, and human/animal health in livestock buildings. His scholarly work was characterized by a deep commitment to interdisciplinary collaboration and industry relevance.
Leadership roles at the University of Saskatchewan included department head of agricultural engineering, dean of engineering, dean of agriculture, vice-provost teaching and learning, provost and vice-president academic, and deputy director of the Global Institute for Food Security. In retirement, he served for one year as associate dean (engineering) at UNBC where he led the early development of the new School of Engineering. Over his career, he has served on a number of non-university boards as well provincial and national committees.
Menelika Bekolo, M.ing., ing.
Quebec
Member of the Ordre des ingénieurs du Québec since 2009, Menelika Bekolo holds a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in electrical engineering from Polytechnique Montréal, a DESS in management from McGill University, and a bachelor’s degree in law from Université de Montréal. Ms. Bekolo has been working in the energy and infrastructure project management areas for the past fifteen years, carrying out several key mandates for the Québec energy system. She has also worked internationally with governments and institutions, providing them with recommendations on major projects for their energy systems. She brings her technical and legal background, as well as her experience in the energy sector, to her current position as Director, Tenders at Hitachi Energy Canada. She has also held positions with the Régie de l’énergie du Québec and Hydro-Québec.
Ms. Bekolo currently sits on Board of Directors of OIQ and has chaired the regional committee of engineers in Montreal for several years. She is also a director on the boards of the Société Québécoise des Infrastructures (SQI), the Fondation et Alumni de Polytechnique Montréal and chairs the board of SAYASPORA.
Ms. Bekolo is a fervent ambassador of the engineering profession, contributing to Engineers Canada’s 30 by 30 initiative by leading activities to promote engineering to young girls, scientific workshops in schools, and in events such as Girls and Science, Expo Sciences. In 2022, she was named an EDI 30 in 30 Leader by Engineers Canada. Ménélika Bekolo is a woman of compassion and impact whose leadership and commitment earned her a place on the 2019 Top 100 Black Women to Watch in Canada list. She was also recognized as a source of inspiration to young women by the Electrical Industry Association of Quebec.
Christian Bellini, FEC, P.Eng.
Ontario
Principal, Blackwell Structural Engineers
Christian Bellini began his engineering career in 1995 at a small structural engineering firm called Blackwell. Today, he is a principal at the same firm, now with a staff of 60 with offices in Toronto, Waterloo, Victoria and Halifax. Blackwell encourages a high level of engineering engagement at all levels, allowing him to do engineering design daily in addition to his administrative duties.
He began volunteering at PEO in 2005, when he joined the Experience Requirements Committee, serving in later years as chair. He has served on and chaired many of PEO’s regulatory committees and task forces. In 2016 he was elected to serve on PEO Council as Councillor-at-Large. He has also served as Vice-President (Elected), President-Elect, President and now serves as Past-President.
Appointed to the Board of Directors of Engineers Canada in 2018 and again in 2022, he has served terms on the CEQB and FAR Committee. He currently chairs the Collaboration Task Force. He has contributed to various Engineers Canada initiatives, including competency-based experience assessment, the Canadian Framework for Licensure and as vice chair of PEO’s 30 x 30 Task Force.
Bellini has taught structures courses at the University of Waterloo and Laurentian University. He is also frequently invited as a guest critic at Architecture Studio Reviews at University of Toronto, Ryerson and Dalhousie.
Geoff Connolly, KQ.C. FEC, P.Eng.
Prince Edward Island
Lawyer, Stewart McKelvey
Geoff is a lawyer and professional engineer. He graduated from University of New Brunswick with his B.Sc. Civil Engineering and LLB. Geoff is a Partner in the law firm Stewart McKelvey where he has practised law since 1992. Geoff’s practice includes construction law and corporate commercial law.
Geoff has been a volunteer with Engineers PEI since 1995 and has served on the executive for five years, including president. Geoff has served on the Council of the Association of Canada Lands Surveyors for nine years and in the spring of 2021 was awarded an Honourary CLS designation in recognition of his service to the profession.
Geoff serves on a number of community volunteer associations and is currently president of Communities 13 Inc., which runs the community rink and gym, and is president of Queens County Residential Services (QCRS), a not-for-profit company that provides housing and day programming for adults with special needs in his community.
Crysta Cumming, FEC, P.Eng.
Nova Scotia
Manager of Engineering DesignProgram Engineer, Halifax Regional Municipality
Ms. Crysta Cumming is a Professional Engineer, and Fellow of Engineers Canada with 17 years of progressive applied experience in Municipal and Provincial government, consulting engineering, and regulation. She currently works in Nova Scotia as the Manager of Engineering Design with Halifax Regional Municipality’s Public Works Design & Construction team. Her expertise includes civil infrastructure design, property planning and development, environmental stewardship and habitat protection, policy development, regulatory compliance, research, reporting, technical review, team management, project management, and executive leadership.
Crysta has volunteered with Engineers Nova Scotia since 2016, serving as a member of the Emerging Professionals Committee, member of Council (2016-2018), and President (2020-2021). Crysta has a personal interest in how engineering affects society and impacts the lives of those practicing and is strongly motivated to collaborate with her peers and industry stakeholders to uphold, and continuously improve, Canada’s excellence in engineering self-regulation.
Ann English, FCSSE, FEC, FGC (Hon.), P.Eng. (retired)
British Columbia
Retired CEO & Registrar
Ann is a retired CEO & Registrar and current Board Director. She is known for bringing together her skills in organizational effectiveness, operational excellence, financial acumen, and risk management in collaborative settings to create effective stewardship and organizational progress. Under Ann’s leadership, Engineers & Geoscientists British Columbia was recognized as one of the 2021 Top Employers in British Columbia and Ann was recognized as the CEO of the Year in Public Accountability by Business in Vancouver. Ann was also recognized as a nominee for the BC YWCA 2021 Women of Distinction Award.
She is a professional engineer with a degree in mechanical engineering and has significant experience working on projects in the private and public sector. In addition to substantial regulatory expertise, she also has experience in utility operations and multi disciplinary project management. Under her leadership as Director of Olympic Planning for BC Hydro, the project won multiple government and industry awards for sustainability and innovation. She also has extensive training in corporate governance and enjoys board work in her community and in industry.
Sudhir Jha, M.Eng., FEC, P.Eng.
Northwest Territories and Nunavut
Manager, Risk management, Government of NWT
Sudhir Kumar Jha is currently Manager, Risk Management and Safety for the Department of Infrastructure, Government of the Northwest Territories. He previously worked as Manager, Community Infrastructure Planning.
Jha volunteers extensively and has received the 2021 Government of Canada Community Leader Award for British Columbia and the North, the Government of NWT Outstanding Volunteer Award, the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal, NAPEG’s Professional Service and Community Service Awards, Concordia University’s Alumni of the Year Award, and is a fellow of both Engineers Canada and the Canadian Institute of Quantity Surveyors.
He holds a M.Eng. (Civil) from Concordia University Montreal, and diplomas in arbitration, construction estimating, and software technology. Jha has completed risk management and business analysis courses at George Washington University.
For NAPEG he has served as councillor, vice president, president and now past president. He has also served on the boards of the Canadian Institute of Quantity Surveyors, Canadian Network of Asset Managers, Canadian Regulatory Council of Plumbing, Smart Communities Society, and Skills Canada NWT. He is a member of NAPEG, PEO, and the PMI.
Tim Joseph, PhD, FCIM, P.Eng.
Alberta
Principal Engineer, JPI Mine Equipment & Engineering
Tim Joseph is in consulting engineering practice as the Principal Engineer, JPI Mine Equipment & Engineering, servicing the global mining industry and its mining equipment manufacturers. The firm is active on four continents, providing engineering solutions and professional development. Since 2015, Joseph has been active in working with Canada’s missions to Latin America, enhancing and promoting environment and community, as well as responsible mining operation activities.
Dr. Joseph is Professor Emeritus, Mining Engineering, formerly at the University of Alberta. A past Vice-President of the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists Alberta (APEGA) and Ambassador of the Canadian Institute of Mining, Dr. Joseph is a recipient of the SMART Distinguished Service Award, the CIM Distinguished Service Medal, and the CIM Past President’s Medal for contributions to the global mining industry and mining engineering education.
Heather Kennedy, FCAE, P.Eng.
Alberta
Heather has a metallurgical engineering degree from Queen’s University and a certificate in administrative tribunal justice from the Foundation of Administrative Justice. She is a fellow with the Canadian Academy of Engineering.
Heather’s career has been in the resource sector across Canada with senior roles in government, a regulator, and in the private sector. Her diverse work experience is in external relations, major projects, operations, human resources, and regulatory. Heather currently focuses on board work including with Canadian Critical Minerals Inc. and the Calgary Airport Authority. She is also active as a volunteer with several engineering-related organizations including APEGA, the Canadian Academy of Engineering, and the Canadian Science Policy Centre. Her focus is promoting diversity and innovation within the profession, raising the profile of science in sound policy development, and tribunals. Heather enjoys volunteering and has, for more than 30 years, chaired or was on the board of many local community organizations. She also provided leadership and support to multi stakeholder groups and initiatives in northeastern Alberta.
Tim Kirkby, FEC, P.Eng.
Ontario
During his decades of service to both the Upper Canada Chapter as well as PEO Council, Tim Kirkby has served the profession with unfailing dedication and passion. Known for his infectious enthusiasm, as a consummate professional advocating for engineering, and for his self-deprecating humour, Tim has contributed much to his local chapter and the community of Cornwall. Some highlights include:
He successfully pitched, applied for, and organized the successful 1998 PEO Annual General Meeting in Cornwall. The “Green Engineering” theme featuring former Green Party leader Elizabeth May as keynote speaker was timely and prophetic. He has also organized (and drove) a PEO float for the 1983 Cornwall Santa Clause Parade. He has received the PEO Upper Canada Chapter’s Engineer of the Year Award for 2000. This was awarded for Recognition of Outstanding Service to the Community and to the Advancement of the Engineering Profession. Since he 1988, he has volunteered for all chapter executive positions, including two terms as chair.
Tim has served as a Lieutenant Governor-in-Council Appointee (LGA) on PEO Council from 2016-2020. As an LGA councillor, he served on several committees, including: Discipline, Finance, Government Liaison, Human Resources, as well as the Public Information Campaign and Council Composition task forces.
He continues his volunteer efforts as the PEO representative on the Ontario Association of Certified Engineering Technicians and Technologists Council.
Sophie Lariviere-Mantha, MBA, ing.
Quebec
Since 2022, Sophie Lariviere-Mantha has been president of the Ordre des ingenieurs du Quebec (OIQ), an organization comprised of approximately 70,000 engineering professionals and candidates to the engineering profession in Quebec. Ms. Lariviere-Mantha was appointed to the OIQ Board of Directors for the first time in 2015. She is committed to the development of the engineering profession, and she attaches great importance to initiatives to protect the public, meet the challenges of sustainable development, and promote diversity in engineering.
Before being elected President of the OIQ, she worked for over ten years in the field of biomedical engineering. Sophie Lariviere-Mantha has solid expertise in governance and strategic planning. She has held various management positions at the CIUSSS de l’Est-de-l’Île-de-Montréal , including head of Technology and Medical Equipment in the Major Real Estate Projects department. She also worked as a biomedical engineer for SNC Lavalin, Groupe Biomedical Monteregie, and Planifika, a subsidiary of Groupe Regis Cote.
Sophie Lariviere-Mantha holds a bachelor’s degree in Automated Manufacturing Engineering from the Ecole de technologie superieure and a Master of Business Administration from UQAM’s School of Management (ESG UQAM).
Dawn Nedohin-Macek, FEC, P.Eng.
Manitoba
Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) & Cyber Security and Enterprise Architecture Director, Manitoba Hydro
Dawn Nedohin-Macek graduated from the University of Manitoba with a Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering. She has worked for Manitoba Hydro since graduation in a variety of roles, and has over 20 years experience working in the power utility industry. Ms. Nedohin-Macek is currently the CISO Director of Cyber Security and Enterprise Architecture. In this newly formed role, the CISO Director is responsible for transforming an operational, technology-focused, and reactive security group to a strategic, principle-driven, and risk-managed, enterprise-level Division that is enabled by a federated enterprise architecture practice.
The combination of the cyber security and enterprise architecture functions is strategic for Manitoba Hydro because of the planned investment in digitization within the context of the utility industry-wide and its elevated cyber risk profile.
Ms. Nedohin-Macek served as President of Engineers Geoscientists Manitoba from 2012 to 2013 and has been active in many of its committees. Ms. Nedohin-Macek is also a past Chair of the University of Manitoba Alumni Association and lends her time to various other organizations including WISE Kid-Netic Energy, and the University of Manitoba’s Faculty of Engineering.
Marlo Rose, MBA, FEC, P.Eng.
New Brunswick
Area Technical Manager, Irving Oil
Marlo is originally from Newfoundland and proud of her east coast roots. She moved to New Brunswick to study Chemical Engineering. In 2003 she graduated from the University of New Brunswick with her Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering and later obtained an Executive MBA.
Marlo has spent 20 years of her career working at the Irving Oil Refinery in Saint John New Brunswick. She started as a summer student which led to full-time employment as an Area Contact Engineer. Marlo has followed a technical career path and is currently an Area Technical Manager of a suite of operating units within the refinery. She is responsible for maintaining safe reliable operation of the equipment and identifying capital investment projects to mitigate risk and improve unit performance.
After moving to Saint John, Marlo wasted no time in getting involved in her community and her professional organization. Marlo has been a long-standing volunteer with APEGNB-SJ local branch and has been busy organizing engineering and geoscience outreach at the elementary and high school levels. Marlo served nine years on the APEGNB provincial council and was elected as the 101st president of APEGNB (2020-2021). In her spare time, Marlo enjoys participating in Triathlon and cani-cross dog running events. She is also a volunteer with Triathlon New Brunswick and Fundy Extreme Triathlon Club.
Darlene Spracklin-Reid, FEC, P.Eng.
Newfoundland and Labrador
Director of Student AffairsLecturer, Memorial University
Darlene Spracklin-Reid is a the Director of Student Affairs for the Marine Institute of Memorial University. She is an engineer and educator with a background in project management, curriculum development, and accreditation. She is a past chair of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Newfoundland and Labrador (PEGNL) and has served on the boards of the Canadian Engineering Education Association, the Newfoundland and Labrador Construction Association, and the American Concrete Institute. She is currently a director on the board of the Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation. She received the PEGNL Outstanding Community Service Award, the President’s Award for Exemplary Service to Memorial University, the Fry Family Foundation’s “Top 1% Elite Award” in recognition of commitment to community service, and the Memorial University Alumni Award for Community Service.
Marisa Sterling, FEC, P.Eng.
Ontario
Assistant Dean and Director, Diversity, Inclusion and Professionalism, University of Toronto, Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering
Marisa Sterling is a distinguished engineer and academic administrator with over 20 years of experience working and volunteering in the private and public sectors. She was elected the 101st president of Professional Engineers Ontario (PEO) and is currently the assistant dean and director of diversity, inclusion and professionalism at the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering.
Her extensive strategic and operational stewardship positively impacts students, engineers, and the public. During her eight-year presidency of the Ontario Professional Engineers Foundation for Education, she helped over 1,000 students. Since 2009, she has advanced EIT leadership development by creating PEO’s G. Gordon M. Sterling Engineering Intern Award, named after her late father, an Engineers Canada president. And since 2015, she has been championing the Engineering Change Lab to transform the engineering community to better serve Canadians.
A chemical engineer and member of the Oxford Business Alumni Network, Sterling received the Engineers Canada Meritorious Service Award for Community Service in 2016 and was named a Woman of Distinction by the Canadian National Exhibition Association. In her spare time, she enjoys being a Warden of Camp 1 and annually obligating students and graduates who have the academic qualifications for the P.Eng. licence.
Nicolas Turgeon, M.Sc., EMBA, ing.
Québec
Director, Investissement Québec - CRIQ
Nicolas Turgeon holds a Bachelor's degree in civil engineering from Laval University (Quebec) in collaboration with the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne (Switzerland), a Master's degree in civil engineering (environmental option) and a Master's degree in business administration, management for practicing executives (EMBA), also from Laval University. He has more than 20 years of experience as a technical expert in the field of industrial innovation (Air and Climate Change) and as a manager at Investissement Québec-CRIQ.
Nicolas was elected as a director of the Ordre des ingénieurs du Québec (OIQ) in 2017 for a three-year term. As a member of several committees at OIQ, he was President of the Professional Development Committee in 2018-2020.
Proud to be an engineer, Nicolas is actively involved in Quebec's innovation ecosystem as Chairman of the Board of Directors of Réseau Environnement, the largest group of environmental professionals in Quebec. He was president of the Association for the Prevention of Air and Soil Contamination (APCAS-A&WMA Quebec Chapter) from 2016-2020. He also acts as a mentor for the next generation, a subject that is particularly close to his heart for the future of the profession.
John Van der Put, FEC, FGC (Hon.), P.Eng.
Alberta
Project Manager, Pipeline at Woodfibre LNG Ltd.
John is an Energy Industry Executive with 38 years of accomplishments in upstream oil, gas, and pipeline development across the Americas. He has been consistently recruited to be at the pointed end of the spear on high-risk, complex business challenges. Sometimes a constructive disrupter – John is known for both challenging and unifying teams that deliver above expectations. As an innovator he has pioneered new approaches to secure stakeholder buy-in and earn social acceptability for challenging projects. John is committed to knowledge sharing and valued by his senior peers as a teacher and mentor, contributing to their professional development.
John has been very active at the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Alberta (APEGA) over the past fifteen years as a Councillor, on the Discipline Committee and most recently as the President (2020-2021).
Advisor
Lia Daborn
Chief Executive Officer, Engineers Geoscientists New Brunswick
An award-winning Association Executive, Lia Daborn possesses two decades of experience in managing self-regulated professions. Her work experience is complemented by volunteer service at the national, provincial and local level. She is past Chair of the Canadian Society of Association Executives and obtained her designation as a Certified Association Executive (CAE) in 2008. She currently volunteers as a government-appointed public representative for two self-regulating bodies in New Brunswick, in addition to serving as the CEO and Registrar for APEGNB. Throughout her career, Lia has focused on member service while balancing the needs of the public and other stakeholders. Versatile and adaptable, she has earned the respect of members, volunteers and stakeholders through her dedication and hard work.
Chief Executive Officer
Gerard McDonald, MBA, P.Eng., ICD.D
Chief Executive Officer, Engineers Canada
Mr. McDonald obtained his undergraduate degree in Civil Engineering at the University of Waterloo and complimented this with a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Ottawa.
Prior to joining Engineers Canada, Mr. McDonald was Registrar of Professional Engineers Ontario (PEO), after spending over 31 years in the Public Service of Canada. While with the Public Service, he worked primarily in the transportation sector, where he held various positions including Assistant Deputy Minister of Safety and Security at Transport Canada; Executive Director of the Transportation Safety Board; Director General of Marine Safety at Transport Canada; and Director of Regulatory Affairs at the Privy Council Office.
Secretary to the Board
S.B. Light Go, LL.B. (Hon.), M.Sc., CIC.C
General Counsel and Corporate Secretary
Light completed B.Sc. and M.Sc. in Mathematics at Memorial University and LL.B. in Law at King’s College London. He’s lived many different cities around the world before arriving in Ottawa to join Engineers Canada.
Prior to this, Light worked as a legal counsel and corporate secretary within the technology sector where he provided legal expertise in due diligence, contract negotiation, compliance and board services.
As Legal Counsel for Engineers Canada, Light provides strategic solutions to all legal matters impacting the organization, including trademark protection, contracts, privacy, employment, policy development, intellectual property, and regulatory compliance. As corporate secretary, Light provides operational and oversight support to the Board.