Candidate for Councillor, Ken Hawrelko, P.Eng.
Candidate Overview
- Energy and utilities executive with more than 35 years of experience in the utilities, consulting, contracting, regulatory and education sectors in North America and South Asia
- Extensive knowledge of utility operations, engineering, project management, and regulatory strategy
- APEGA volunteer since 2001 on various boards and committees, including the Mentorship Committee, Practice Review Board, Joint Appeal Board and Appeal Board, which I currently chair
Personal Statement
I’ve worked as a professional engineer in the energy and utility sector, as well as the education sector, for more than 35 years.
I have worked within large corporations, mid-sized consulting firms, and as an individual consultant. I’ve held positions ranging from junior designer to vice-president to corporate board chair.
I have also been a volunteer with APEGA for more than 20 years, most recently as chair of the Appeal Board. I am also a Fellow of Engineers Canada and an Honorary Fellow of Geoscientists Canada.
Our profession is challenged by pending government legislation that may impact our current privilege of self-regulation. Additionally, many of our members, particularly our smaller permit holders, face significant economic and resource challenges in navigating our increasingly complex regulatory and legal environment.
I am results oriented, and I have a collaborative, team-oriented style and am a good listener. I strongly believe in the value of maintaining a positive team dynamic while concurrently challenging assumptions and driving for useful, sustainable change.
I believe my style, experience, and passion for improvement will allow me to make a positive contribution to Council as we move through these challenging times.
I would greatly appreciate your support.
Thank you.
Candidate Resume
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Connect with me on LinkedIn
Get to Know the Candidate in Four Questions
What does self-regulation mean to you as a member of APEGA?
To me, self-regulation defines our ability to test, certify, develop, regulate, and when necessary, police and discipline our professionals. I believe this is essential to our professions as our skill sets are broad and complex and having these functions performed by those outside our professions would be problematic.
What would you bring to Council?
My management style and experience. My style is to broadly consult to understand issues from multiple perspectives then work collaboratively with teams to develop, challenge, and implement solutions. My background ranges from a senior leader in a large company to an individual consultant and this helps give me perspective and experience that could assist Council as they work through the issues facing us.
As the regulator of engineering and geoscience, what challenges does APEGA face?
Council must balance risks and costs while working to ensure it maintains the support of both our membership and the public. If any regulator loses the confidence of those it regulates, or the public perceives that the regulator is failing to protect societal interests, the regulator will lose its ability and right to regulate. In our case, our professions would also then be at severe risk of losing the privilege of self-regulation.
What is the value of a professional licence with APEGA?
Our licence gives the public, as well as our peer professionals, confidence in our training, experience, and professionalism. They can have confidence that we can perform the duties we undertake and will stand behind our products. They can also gain assurance that should a practitioner fail to meet a professional standard, APEGA is available to review and potentially sanction the practitioner.