|
Leila Notash, PhD, PEng, FEC For President-Elect A Proud PEO Volunteer for over 20 years (since 2003)
Other Issues |
 |
|
Other key issues that I have spoken out and would like to continue pursuing, include the following.
v Value of Continuing Professional Development (CPD): While regulatory bodies need access to information about members and current professional ethics standards, the value of PEAK-based CPD (Practice Evaluation and Knowledge-based Continuing Professional Development) must be enhanced. If it fails to provide real value to both members and the public, the process of collecting self-declared data—whether voluntary or mandatory—may become costly and ineffective. I invite your input on developing a more meaningful and relevant approach to continuing competency that truly benefits both members and the public.
v Leadership Term Limits: I strongly support the implementation of term limits for the leadership roles on the Council and statutory committees. However, I also recognize the importance of balancing term limits with the need for member expertise, experience, and organizational memory that extends beyond archival records. In recent years, many positions have been acclaimed without the candidates sharing their platforms with license holders. Despite some candidates' public statements about “meaningful consultation” and “stakeholder engagement,” their actions on the Council and governance committees have often contradicted their words.
v Recognizing Teaching Experience: The current system no longer acknowledges teaching upper-year technical courses as part of the engineering experience requirement. Many junior engineering faculty members in Ontario are now seeking licensure through other associations, even if their teaching responsibilities include “planning, designing, composing, evaluating, advising, reporting, directing or supervising that requires the application of engineering principles and concerns the safeguarding of … public welfare…, or the managing of any such act”. Notably, professional engineers can fulfill their CPD requirements by taking technical courses taught by these faculty members. This inconsistency calls for clearer and more nuanced guidance from the Council.
v Professional Practice Exam (PPE) Concerns: have spoken out on issues related to the members and chapters, and will continue communicating my concerns (shared by many members/chapters). I am responsible for the decision to allow the applicants a last change to write the Professional Practice Exam PPE (including those who failed one of law and ethics), after the switch to the NPPE. This decision, approved by Council without consultation with stakeholders—particularly the Academic Requirements Committee, which had overseen the PPE for decades—overlooked potential consequences and concerns shared by many members and chapters. I will continue to address these concerns and seek a more collaborative approach in the future.
v Promoting Gender Diversity in Engineering: I am encouraged by Engineers Canada’s 30 by 30 initiative (which was also adopted by the PEO Council) to increase the representation of women in engineering. The goal is to raise the percentage of newly licensed women engineers to 30% by 2030, up from approximately 20%. As a regulatory body, PEO must ensure that there is no bias—whether unconscious or implicit—in its operations and regulatory activities, including licensing, complaints, and enforcement. Attracting and retaining women engineers requires inclusive academic programs, workplaces, committees, and boards that genuinely support gender equity.
v Professional Practice Certificate: I have supported the idea of issuing a certificate to applicants who complete the Professional Practice (Law and Ethics) exam, after meeting academic requirements and fulfilling the experience criteria. This certificate would signify the applicant’s familiarity with engineering ethics and law and their commitment to the profession, enhancing their credibility with employers. It would also empower applicants by acknowledging their progress as they meet each requirement. Additionally, this certificate could bring the entrepreneurs under the PEO umbrella and allow them to practice engineering-related work without requiring PEng supervision. The certificate could be issued digitally through the Member Portal on the PEO website, minimizing costs and enhancing transparency....
v Chapter Elections and Governance: I believe that every Chapter member has the right to vote and to run for Chapter Officer positions. It is essential to hold elections at the Chapter level to ensure that Chapter By-Laws are followed and, where necessary, revised to ensure they remain relevant and effective.
v Emerging Issues and Future Revisions: There are several ongoing issues that must be revisited in the near future, including the Industrial Exception, secure online voting credentials via multi-factor authentication (MFA) on the member portal, whistleblower protections for members, volunteers, and staff, and the regulation of emerging disciplines in engineering. These matters require thoughtful attention and action moving forward. ..…
These are critical issues I am committed to addressing in order to ensure that PEO continues to evolve in a way that serves both its members and the public interest effectively.
Ø Back to my PEO Council Election Page
|
|
I am a good listener and an active, informed Councillor. Throughout my career, I have consistently advocated for maintaining PEO's relevance in an ever-evolving world through a commitment to: Trust, Transparency and Accountability.
|
