ACEC-Ontario will be hosting our Annual General Meeting with a new twist and in style at the Fairmont Royal York. We will be launching our first ever Forum, a day long event with cutting edge topics, from top engineering university faculties, insurance providers and PEO, our industry regulator. Topics include:
- Big Data and the Future of Engineering Management
- Sustainable Infrastructure: Design and Specification for Low-Impact and Resilience
- Protecting Your Business: Insurance & Risk Management
- Regulatory Compliance for Engineering Firms
Also, recognizing the volunteers that dedicate their time to our industry and the Consulting Engineering community, we have launched a new Volunteer Awards program. We will be celebrating our volunteers and presenting well deserved awards for the winners of distinct categories of recognition.
When: Tuesday, September 13th, 2022
Where: Fairmont Royal York, 100 Front Street W., Toronto, Ontario
AGENDA
8:30 – 9:00 – Registration, Networking & Coffee – Imperial Room Foyer
9:00 – 10:00 – Big Data and the Future of Engineering Management – The role of data analytics in engineering management and strategic decision-making
Speaker: Ali AbdulHussein, Program Administrator, Master of Engineering Management, University of Windsor
Data analytics techniques provide key insight to inform strategic decision-making. Engineering consultants and organizations can utilize such insight to learn more about their performance, growth potentials, clients, and the overall business environment. Over the last few years, data analytics techniques have advanced and become more user-friendly, as data became more readily accessible. Hence, organizations need to adopt a data-driven approach in strategic decision-making and stay competitive. This session will highlight the role of data in decision-making with real-life examples from industry.
View the University of Windsor Master of Engineering Management (MEM) Program Brochure.
10:00 – 10:45 – Sustainable Infrastructure: Design and Specification for Low-Impact and Resilience
Speaker: Peter Calcetas, Program Director CSCE Sustainable Infrastructure/ Professional Engineer
Infrastructure systems support our daily lives — from accessing reliable energy to accessing reliable communication; managing natural spaces to managing waste; moving people and goods to moving water. The future of infrastructure requires an approach that considers both sustainability and climate resilience at every stage, from design and construction to operations and maintenance. This presentation will speak to the best practices in green infrastructure, including building materials, energy, water management, waste management, stakeholder engagement and restorative design, and the role of engineering firms in the design and specification of such systems. Hear about the concepts, applications, and best engineering practices to create sustainable, climate-resilient infrastructure solutions that enhance the social, environmental, and economic well-being of the communities they serve.
View McMaster University Certificates of Completion brochure.
10:45 – 11:00 – Networking break – Imperial Room Foyer
11:00 – 11:30 – Protecting Your Business: Insurance & Risk Management
Speakers: Scott Belton, Vice President, Professional Liability, HUB International and Kirsten Anderson, Claims Specialist, AXA XL
Engineering firms face a broad range of risks. The liability associated with professional engineering services is a primary concern, but issues like cybersecurity and employment practices also have to be top of mind. Insurance is a fundamental form of risk mitigation through risk transfer. This presentation will provide an insurance industry perspective on the current threats to businesses in general, and to engineering businesses in particular. Insurance may be the one product you buy that you hope never to use, but understanding the risk landscape and available coverage is the first step to properly protecting your business. You’ll also hear case examples from insurance claims so you can learn from the experiences of others to better prepare your business.
11:30 – 12:00 Regulatory Compliance for Engineering Firms
Speaker: Arden Heerah, Lead, Professional Development, Professional Engineers Ontario and Bruce G. Mathews, Executive Director, ACEC-Ontario
Firms that offer and provide professional engineering services to the public must comply with the regulatory framework established under the Professional Engineers Act, administered by Professional Engineers Ontario (PEO). All such firms are required to apply for and maintain a Certificate of Authorization (C of A) from PEO, but do you fully understand the regulatory obligations the C of A imposes on the firm, and on the individual professional engineers named on the C of A? In January 2023, PEO will be introducing a mandatory continuing professional development program that will apply to all licensed professional engineers. Hear about what this program will mean for your firm and your engineering staff, and what you can do to ensure trouble-free compliance.
12:00 – 13:00 – Lunch
13:00 – 13:30 – ACEC-Ontario Volunteer Recognition Awards
14:00 – 15:00 – ACEC-Ontario Annual General Meeting
15:00 – 16:30 – Networking – Imperial Room Foyer
Event Supporters
ACEC-Ontario Allies
Speakers
Ali AbdulHussein, Program Administrator, Master of Engineering Management, University of Windsor
Bio: Ali AbdulHussein is a professor of engineering management and entrepreneurship at the University of Windsor. In addition to teaching several graduate-level courses, he is also the Director of the Master of Engineering Management program at the University. Prior to that, Ali also taught at McMaster University and Simon Fraser University in BC.
Peter Calcetas, Program Director CSCE Sustainable Infrastructure/ Professional Engineer
Bio: Peter Calcetas is a bilingual Professional Engineer with over 25 years of experience in sustainable infrastructure, structural engineering, research, product development, operations and applied sciences in the materials, building science and construction industries. Mr. Calcetas is the Executive Vice President with BEST Consultants Martin Gerskup Architect Inc., a multidiscipline design consultancy practicing in the building and infrastructure sectors.
Peter is a Fellow of the Canadian Society of Civil Engineering and 2022 recipient of the James A. Vance Award for outstanding contributions to Civil Engineering at the National Level, currently serving as the Director of Sustainable Infrastructure for Ontario with the CSCE.
James Lee, Senior Vice President, AXA XL
As Head of Professional Lines, Canada, James leads a team of experts offering insurance solutions for Cyber, Errors and Omissions, Design Professional, and Director’s and Officers risks. James has been in the commercial underwriting field for over 20 years, holding various leadership positions along the way.
His focus is always on developing relationships and finding innovative solutions for his clients’ insurance needs.
James completed his Juris Doctor (JD) from the University of Windsor, Faculty of Law, and holds a Bachelor’s degree (Hons) from the University of Toronto.