Council Competencies

Each year, APEGA’s Council and the Nominating Committee identify key priorities for recruiting new Council members, ensuring that the Council remains equipped with the right mix of skills, experience, and perspectives to effectively govern APEGA. The competencies outlined below are essential for those considering a role on Council. They help guide APEGA in fulfilling its mandate of protecting the public while advancing the engineering and geoscience professions in Alberta.

These competencies have been divided into core and specialized competencies. To be considered for the 2025 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 are now closed.

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. The skills we’re looking for may differ depending on whether you’re applying to be a councillor or an executive (President or Vice-President).).

For Council to operate effectively, it’s essential that, collectively, its members possess all these specialized competencies. However, not every Council member needs to excel in every area—strength in one or more specialized competencies is what we’re looking for.

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

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.
Ponders concepts and possibilities; probes, questions, and explores ideas with intellectual independence; provides thought leadership; and thinks laterally in multi-dimensional contexts.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Understands basic non-profit accounting, budget development and management, audits, and the monitoring of an organization’s financial resources.

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.