2026 Outstanding Mentor Award Recipient
This award is presented to an APEGA member who has excelled as a mentor and who has supported and contributed to the ongoing development of their mentees or proteges.
Olugbenga Ibikunle, MBA, PhD, P.Eng.
A Legacy of Service and Guidance
Dr. Olugbenga Ibikunle, a professional engineer, has mentored engineers across academia and industry for many years and helped strengthen the engineering profession in Alberta and around the world.
Based in Edmonton, Alberta, Dr. Ibikunle is the founder and managing principal of Avodahtec—a multidisciplinary engineering, consulting, and advisory services firm—where he embeds mentorship into his staff’s daily routines by pairing engineers in the early stages of their careers with more experienced professionals. These relationships expose new employees to full project lifecycles, from design and fieldwork to client engagement and safety planning, while building strong connections among peers.
From his early work as a researcher and lecturer in Edinburgh, United Kingdom, to his professional and leadership roles in Alberta since immigrating in 2017, Dr. Ibikunle has personally guided and inspired more than 650 students and professionals, fostering technical excellence and professional growth.
Since arriving in Canada, Dr. Ibikunle has focused his mentorship on internationally trained engineers seeking to establish their careers in Alberta. Through working with newcomer agencies, as well as one-on-one mentoring, he has provided hands-on guidance on subjects including APEGA licensure applications, interview preparation, job shadowing, and professional networking. Many of Dr. Ibikunle’s former mentees now contribute to engineering projects across Alberta and the country, and they mentor others within their own organizations.
Guided by a leadership philosophy rooted in service, Dr. Ibikunle has created a lasting culture of mentorship—one that endures as those he supports step forward to guide the next generation.
“I am honoured to receive this award, which recognizes the impact of mentoring others—a principle that has guided my career and life,” says Ibikunle. “I believe that guiding people to realize their full potential and helping them grow is both my responsibility and a privilege, because we rise by lifting others.”
Notable Achievements and Recognition
- Member, Engineers & Geoscientists British Columbia (2023–present)
- Member, Engineers Yukon (2023–present)
- Member, Professional Engineers Ontario (2023–present)
- Winner, Stantec Water Sector Project of the Year Award (2022)
- Member, Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Saskatchewan (2021–present)
- Winner, Tereo National Asset Management Ambassador Award, Canadian Network of Asset Managers (2021)
- Winner, NxtGen Award, Institute of Asset Management Global Awards (2020)
- Member, APEGA (2019–present)