Paul Ballantyne, P.Eng
613-687-2259
p.ballantyne @ sympatico.ca

I have spent many years working at the chapter level in the Algonquin Chapter.  From my first days as secretary in 1985, I have taken on many of the roles of the chapter including four years as chair.

Many past and current Eastern Region chapter executive are familiar with my efforts and dedication to PEO and chapter activities.

› PEO Central Committee Experience.

From my bio you can see that I have 10+years of experience on PEO central committees.  (These include: Communications, Website Subcommittee, Evolution of Engineering Admissions Task Force (E2A), Advisory Committee on Volunteers (ACV), and Oversight Sub-Committee (OSC).  I have participated as a General Visitor in a CEAB engineering program accreditation visit. I have attended three Council meetings as an invited guest.

This experience helps me to better understand some of the processes and decisions Council needs to make.

› 30+ years of Public Safety Experience.

30+ years of safety in the nuclear industry – checking designs, justifying failure consequences, investigating events and failures, checking safety interlock performance.  All to support the safety of the public as well as the benefit to society.

› International assignment Experience.

I have some international work experience with assignments in Vienna, Korea, and US. I had a long-term assignment in UK at the UKAEA Culham lab.  This along with working in an company that deals with many foreign trained engineers provides some insight into the related issues

› Dedication to PEO.

I have been a PEO volunteer since 1985.  I am dedicated because I am still here despite the ups and down, successes and frustration.  I am optimistic that we can work together to improve PEO

› Time to devote to the cause.

There are some wild estimates for the time demand expected of councillors. Time that full time working engineers have trouble meeting unless very dedicated and have a very understanding and supportive employer.

› To make PEO a more vibrant, relevant, and responsive association.

While rules and process are part of a regulatory world, PEO needs to be more responsive.  Broader engagement of younger members is vital.  I am very impressed with the increased vitality and enthusiasm that I see as recent grads are becoming involved and keen to become licensed.  That is very encouraging.  We need to keep this momentum going.

› Continue to strengthen communication with government, public, employers and users of engineering services.

First off communication with our stakeholder groups is vital in making progress in a number of areas of improvement.  Awareness of the role of PEO and benefits of Professional Engineers to our society will strengthen our association, increase PEO membership, strengthen relevancy of the P.Eng, and improve participation in chapters.  Also, PEO must demonstrate their concern for Public Welfare by speaking out on issues affecting our Province such as decaying infrastructures, air quality, looming energy crisis, and climatic change.  The GLP is part of this effort but we need expansion in other areas of communications.

› Get serious about enforcement.

We devote a lot of effort ensuring that new members are qualified while we allow non-engineers to perform engineering.  We must be vigorous in seeking out people who are practicing engineering without a license.  The communication program “License Please” has made great headway into educating members and employers.  We need to continue to press the issue of P.Engs doing engineering. 

› Chapters are the local presence of PEO. Promote and improve Chapter operations and member involvement in chapter activities.

Chapters need to be strengthened. They provide outreach to public, elected officials and the current and future licensed members. They also provide the breeding ground for introduction and training of members to participate in PEO’s statutory functions.

› Enhance participation of volunteers in central committee operations and support Council in its regulatory role.

See above role of chapter as the grass roots for PEO volunteers.  They provide the energy at the local level as well as the provincial level (Council and central committees).  ACV and Council along with others in PEO are working to broaden volunteer participation. Let’s see some movement here.

› Improve 2-way communication with Council.

Council needs to improve communication with committees and probably other groups within PEO. Committees work for Council but without improved communication some councillors have weak understanding of what the roles of these committees are. There have been some frustrating moments when council appears to not really understand what committees are working on.  We are making some progress with accountability tools.  We need to work at better and more frequent communications. Currently committees make presentations to council only once in three years.  That doesn’t work.

› Identify problems with PEO operations and relevancy and work to solve them

We all need to listen, work together, and solve the problems together as a team.

› Provide introduction and training of members to better participate in the statutory functions of the profession.

Improved education of all members at local and regional events will develop better understanding of the role of PEO and how members can support PEO in this self-regulatory role.  Training can take place at chapters, regional and provincial meetings such as Congresses, AGM and Chapter Leader Conferences.  ACV is currently working with committees to identify specific and generic training and tools that can support this initiative.