Council Competencies

Each year, APEGA Council and the Nominating Committee identify Council’s top recruitment priorities for the upcoming election year. These recruitment priorities are based on a gap analysis identifying the needs of Council, and the Nominating Committee reviews each applicant’s competencies based on these priorities to confirm they have the necessary skills and experience not only to contribute to the governance of APEGA, but also to fill any gaps in the current Council competency profile.

These competencies have been divided into core and specialized competencies. To be considered for the 2023–24 Council election, an applicant will possess all core and one or more of the specialized competencies that are recruitment priorities for this election year.

Applications for APEGA Council closed on Thursday, September 21, 2023

Core Competencies (Required for all applicants)

All applicants must possess the following core competencies. These competencies are the baseline of skills and experience required to be a member of APEGA Council.

 
  • Works effectively in a group environment, sees and values different perspectives, and finds common ground to accomplish goals. Freely exchanges information and demonstrates flexibility in putting the group’s goals ahead of individual ones.

  • Hears and understands others and presents one’s own thoughts in a professional and articulate way so as to be clearly understood. Engages in respectful and progressive discussion while being open to changing one’s opinion.

  • Demonstrates an inquiring mind, reason, and sound judgment to seek out and thoughtfully consider relevant information from different sources. Draws connections to understand how parts interact within the whole. Asks insightful questions and looks beyond the obvious to approach situations with an eye to finding better ways. Willing to be a constructive critic.

  • Freely expresses thoughts with courage, objectivity, and honesty. Is objective and impartial and can form opinions without bias or prejudice.

  • Demonstrates an accumulated breadth and diversity of experience, technical knowledge, wisdom, proficiency, and credibility as a fully competent professional in an engineering or geoscience discipline.

  • Consistently models the values of APEGA, honours group decisions, and demonstrates fiduciary, social, and ethical responsibility in personal and professional conduct. Complies with all applicable laws and regulations and treats others with respect

  • Has knowledge of the association from involvement and interactions with APEGA, which provides insight into the association, the membership, the stakeholders, and the operating environment. Prior service, such as an APEGA branch executive or statutory board, is considered the highest level of involvement, but is not mandatory.

  • Has full commitment from their employer (if applicable) and the personal ability to put in the time and effort to prepare for, attend, and constructively participate in meetings and Council activities. Is dedicated to stewardship and fulfilling the organization’s public service mandate.

  • Is self-aware of personal behaviour, biases, and emotions and how these may impact others. Demonstrates personal leadership and accepts responsibility for conducting oneself in a mature, respectful, conscientious, and inclusive way. 

Specialized Competencies

In addition to all core competencies listed above, those applying for consideration to be elected to APEGA Council must possess one or more of the specialized competencies that are recruitment priorities for this election year. These recruitment priorities are different when applying to be a councillor than when applying to be an executive (President or Vice-President).

To function efficiently and effectively, Council as a whole must possess all these specialized competencies. However, it is not required that every Council member have strength in every competency.

Please note: the competencies below are listed in order of highest need, based on the priorities for this election year.

For Councillor Applicants

  • Possesses knowledge of regulation, self-regulation, and APEGA’s roles and responsibilities in regulating the professions. Has strong foundational knowledge of relevant legislation and APEGA statutory boards. Understands the risks and challenges associated with self-regulation.

  • Has a solid understanding of director and board accountabilities, responsibilities, and liabilities, and experience establishing and implementing the processes and policies required to ensure effective oversight of an entity at a non-operational level. Has prior experience on an oversight board, not necessarily in the regulatory space (although this is preferred), such as a university board, condo board, or school board.

  • Understands a board’s role in overseeing the complex and interconnected types of risks and vulnerabilities an organization must think about. Has a working knowledge of risk management tools and processes for identifying, monitoring, and managing the various types of risks that an organization may encounter.

  • Ponders concepts and possibilities; probes, questions, and explores ideas with intellectual independence; provides thought leadership; and thinks laterally in multi-dimensional contexts.

  • Understands basic non-profit accounting, budget development and management, audits, and the monitoring of an organization’s financial resources.

For Executive Applicants

  • Possesses knowledge of regulation, self-regulation, and APEGA’s roles and responsibilities in regulating the professions. Has strong foundational knowledge of relevant legislation and APEGA statutory boards. Understands the risks and challenges associated with self-regulation.
  • Has a solid understanding of director and board accountabilities, responsibilities, and liabilities, and experience establishing and implementing the processes and policies required to ensure effective oversight of an entity at a non-operational level. Has prior experience on an oversight board, not necessarily in the regulatory space (although this is preferred), such as a university board, condo board, or school board.

  • Understands a board’s role in overseeing the complex and interconnected types of risks and vulnerabilities an organization must think about. Has a working knowledge of risk management tools and processes for identifying, monitoring, and managing the various types of risks that an organization may encounter.

  • Ponders concepts and possibilities; probes, questions, and explores ideas with intellectual independence; provides thought leadership; and thinks laterally in multi-dimensional contexts.

  • Thinks about the big picture with creativity and insight. Envisions different potential future states and the strategies that will best position the organization to thrive in the shifting landscapes of self-regulation.

  • Has demonstrated experience maximizing the efforts of others to accomplish a desired outcome through formal or informal leadership roles.

The below competencies are not recruitment priorities for the current Council election cycle. Specialized competencies may shift in relative importance from one year to the next based on Council’s needs and environment.
  • Possesses an understanding of general business operations and the interconnectedness of systems and functions. Identifies and considers layers of trade-offs and adapts plans and priorities in response to environmental shifts. Understands the types of businesses that operate within the engineering and geoscience practices and the nuances of non-profit operations.

  • Has worked as a volunteer or with volunteer-driven organizations either within or outside of APEGA. Appropriately acknowledges, appreciates, and motivates the work of volunteers.