Advocacy Body
On June 27, 2023, Engineers and Geoscientists BC announced it was initiating the creation of an independent advocacy body for engineering and geoscience in British Columbia. The advocacy body is expected to be operational by July 2025.
The decision came following significant review and evaluation of Engineers and Geoscientists BC’s programs and activities as it worked to integrate the requirements of the Professional Governance Act into its operations, including adopting a more focused regulatory mandate that significantly restricts advocacy activities.
What’s Changing?
Over the next two years, several advocacy-oriented programs and activities will be changing, with the goal of maintaining some programs to support an eventual transition to the advocacy body.
Activities focused on community-building and registrant benefits programs are targeted to transition to the advocacy body:
- The Branch program, which provides a way for professionals across the province to connect and network.
- The Affinity program, which offers discounts on services for registrants, such as home insurance and car rentals.
- The Career Advertising service, which enables employers to recruit registrants for engineering and geoscience positions.
These programs will remain in place at Engineers and Geoscientists BC until an appropriate timeline for transition to the advocacy body can be determined.
Other programs that no longer fit within the organization’s mandate as a regulator will stop within the next two years:
- The Awards program, which honoured professionals who were nominated by their peers for career achievements. This program will be discontinued as of January 2024.
- Sponsorships, which provide financial support for external programs and events. This program has been discontinued.
- Our outreach program, which connects K-12 educators with engineers and geoscientists to promote interest in these professions. This program will be discontinued in 2024.
- Our technical Divisions, which serve as special-interest groups for specific areas of practice. Transition plans are underway to transfer division activities to current or new advisory groups.
Making these transitions will enable us to apply renewed focus to our core mandate of public protection and strengthen our regulatory processes.
Latest News from the Advocacy Body
The advocacy body has announced its inaugural Board, which was appointed in October 2023 by a steering committee established by Engineers and Geoscientists BC.
Board Members
Andrew Randell, P.Geo. – Chair
Katie Au, P.Eng. – Vice Chair
Damineh Akhavan, P.Eng., FEC
Pattie Amison, P.Geo.
Lucas Hallett, EIT
Victoria Morrison, P.Eng.
Julius Pataky, P.Eng.
Keith Recsky, P.Eng. (retired), FEC
Kirk Richardson, EIT
Nina Sutic-Bata, P.Eng.
Godwin Wong, P.Eng.
Uranbileg Yondon, P.Geo.
The advocacy body is currently focusing on legal incorporation and operational planning, with the goal of having all operational foundations in place by September 2024. The latest news about its progress can be found in the Staying Up to Date section below.
Future updates will be shared through Engineers and Geoscientists BC’s communications channels and posted on this webpage.
The Board of Directors is supported by an experienced consultant who will guide them through the initial stages of establishing their organization. Engineers and Geoscientists BC has also provided $250,000 in initial funding to support the establishment of the advocacy body.
Staying Up to Date
Latest News
Questions About this Change?
See our Frequently Asked Questions.