The very best leaders are restless in their desire to elevate their impact on people and results. Learners at the core, they constantly seek opportunities for improvement in themselves and in their organizations. This workshop will engage participants in discussions to explore what leadership means to them and the impact they want to have as a leader. Participants will start to define a clear purpose and articulate their goals and objectives for this program and their leadership journey, setting the foundation for leaders to learn with and from each other as they take the first steps in realizing their purpose.

Facilitator: Debra Innes, High Impact Lab

Debra has 25+ years of experience consulting with a breadth of organizations going through change, and has been working exclusively in Leadership, Team and Organization Development since 2005.

Debra is deeply committed to helping leaders stand strong in who they are so they can confidently + capably, lead themselves and others to a place of wellness and performance.

Her strength is in how she listens: she is insatiably and genuinely curious. Debra is skilled at meeting her clients where they are at, while simultaneously stretching and inspiring them toward a high bar of what is possible.

Debra’s individual and team clients have come to count on her inside-out approach that deepens awareness, increases wellness and functioning – and builds their confidence, clarity and capability to sustain amazing leadership practices well into the future.

While her intuition serves as her strongest guide – Debra is always guided by the science of leadership and human interactions. Debra holds a Master’s in Applied Human Science (Human System Intervention) from Concordia University, a Bachelor in Commerce from Queen’s University and is a Professional Certified (PCC) coach through the ICF. She is qualified to deliver several assessments including The Leadership Circle 360, Learning-In-Action EQ’s, TKI and MBTI.  Debra loves to learn and continues to develop professionally in areas such as advanced mediation, relationship coaching, conflict facilitation, neuroscience of leadership, adult development – and wellness.  She is also PROSCI certified.

Communication has always been an imperative for leadership, but never as much as today. Massive change and persistent uncertainty in a distributed world, increases the need for relational communication not just transactional communication. More than ever people need human-centered leaders who are skilled and constantly investing in authentic communication to engage their teams, instill confidence and inspire performance. It is the quality of the communication that connects us and provides forward momentum and results, yet it isn’t given the priority it needs.  This interactive session explores our beliefs about communications and what gets in the way of communicating more.  It offers tools and focuses on communication practices that address our complex and distributed reality. We learn how to create the conditions for better communications and how a coach-approach to communications can build more self-sufficient, independent teams.

Facilitators:

Catherine Ducharme, PCC, CLC

Catherine, Founder and Principal of Fluency Leadership, is a certified coach and facilitator with over 30 years of experience in communications and leadership. She has led   Corporate, and Marketing Communications functions across various industries, including high-tech and health sciences. A past President of the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) regional board, she was named IABC’s Regional Leader of the Year in 2021. Fluency Leadership is a leadership + team development and coaching practice that builds future-ready, human-centric leaders and high-performing teams. Catherine’s mission is to empower leaders to create thriving workplaces and become the leaders they aspire to be.

Consulting Engineers and it’s time to recognize the shifting landscape of your profession. Technical expertise is crucial, but the ability to sell and maximize client relationships is equally important.

In a competitive market where the doer is often also the seller, sales and business development skills are essential for those seeking to advance their career and secure profitable work for their firm. The Professional Selling Skills workshop provides participants with a “tool kit” of resources to skillfully uncover client requirements and in response offer customized high-value solutions. Rather than dropping fees to secure business, attendees will learn how to create a value proposition that can be used in client meetings, interviews, and proposals.

On a personal level, participants will create a personal USP (Unique Selling Proposition) which highlights their unique and distinctive attributes and skills that can be used to differentiate themselves in interviews and applied internally to differentiate themselves for promotions and advancement.

Facilitator: Ralph Kison

Ralph Kison is president of Kison Inc., a consulting firm which provides coaching, training, and strategic planning services. He is also president of Growth Through Learning Inc., an e-learning firm providing courses ranging from leadership, management, and communication to business development, and sales.

Ralph is a graduate of the University of British Columbia Marketing and Sales Management Program. He is also a Certified Marketing Executive (CME) and Certified Sales Executive (CSE). Ralph is past President of Sales and Marketing Executives International of Vancouver (SMEI) and past President of the Canadian Society for Marketing Professional Services of Vancouver (CSMPS).

Ralph has taught professional sales courses at the British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT), as well as for Sales and Marketing Executives International of Vancouver (SMEI).

He brings passion, insight, and experience to assist individuals and organization maximize their impact and achieve business success.

With the rate and complexity of change increasing in people’s personal and professional lives, understanding strategies for navigating and leading successful change is more important than ever. In this course, we’ll explore the different roles in organizational change as well as strategies that can be used to prepare for, implement and sustain change. The course is based on a combination of change management thought leadership and the Global Standards in Change Management.

Facilitator: Leslie Fast, CPHR, CCMP, Senior Consultant and President, Leslie Fast and Associates Inc.

Leslie helps clients successfully implement strategies through advice and support on business transformation, change management and organizational development. Leveraging experience with a variety of industries, companies and projects, Leslie partners with clients to develop strategies, plans and activities aligned to their business context, culture and desired outcomes. She is a Chartered Professional in Human Resources (CPHR) and a Certified Change Management Professional (CCMP). Leslie is trained in Change Management methodologies, including: Prosci (ADKAR) and Accelerating Implementation Methodologies (AIM) and is an Instructor with Sauder School of Business at University of British Columbia.

This workshop will provide participants with a foundational knowledge of financial statements and the use of key financial analysis methods/tools. These financial concepts will be discussed in the context of consulting engineering and will include example case studies, scenarios, and interactive activities to drive a practical understanding of the material.

Facilitators:

Jason Low, CPA, CA, CFA, CIA, PMP, Chief Financial Officer, McElhanney 

Jason currently leads 70+ staff as CFO at McElhanney, a company of 1,300+ team members across multiple integrated offerings including: surveying, engineering, GIS & remote sensing, community planning, landscape architecture, and environmental services. Jason currently oversees three separate teams at McElhanney: (1) Finance & Accounting, (2) Business Information Technology, and (3) Digital Business Transformation.

As a designated CPA, CA and a CFA charterholder, Jason has deep expertise in accounting and finance as well as specialist skills in strategy development, M&A, process improvement, enterprise program management, and information management/information technology (IM/IT). Jason is also a Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) and a designated Project Management Professional (PMP).

David Kuryk, CPA, CA, Chief Financial Officer, Associated Engineering

David is an accomplished finance executive with over 19 years of progressive experience across private, public, and international professional services firms. As Vice President & Chief Financial Officer of Associated Engineering Group Limited, he oversees treasury, corporate insurance, banking, and financial operations while playing a key role in the company’s strategic direction, including acquisitions and enterprise-wide process automation. Previously, he served as Corporate Controller at K-Bro Linen Systems, where he managed corporate and plant-level financial functions, internal controls, and tax planning. His earlier career at KPMG LLP included leadership roles in both tax and audit, working with diverse clients in corporate reorganization, tax minimization, and financial reporting.

A Chartered Professional Accountant, David holds a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Alberta and has completed the CICA In-depth Tax Program. He is an active leader in his community, serving as Vice President on the Board of Directors for the St. Albert Food Bank and mentoring aspiring CPAs through CPA Alberta. His expertise in financial management, tax strategy, and corporate governance, combined with strong leadership and analytical skills, has positioned him as a trusted executive in the finance industry.

Equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) are top of mind for most organizations and leaders, but in many cases, there is a gap between awareness and having the skills and knowledge required to lead meaningful action that will effectively cultivate inclusive workplaces. The facilitators will engage participants in exploring topics of personal responsibility, bias awareness, and effective inclusive practices. The workshop will lead participants to consider redefining EDI as an opportunity rather than as a challenge to be managed and will explore actions for creating inclusive workplaces at the personal, interpersonal, and organization level.

Facilitator:

Shona McGlashan, FCG GPC.D ICD.D

Shona is the principal at McGlashan Consulting Inc., specializing in values-based governance, EDI in leadership, and workplace mental health and wellbeing. She is a senior leader with over 25 years’ experience heading governance, public affairs, diversity and inclusion, and workplace mental health functions on both sides of the Atlantic. She is a Fellow of the Chartered Governance Institute, a governance thought leader, and a sought-after speaker and facilitator. She is the recipient of Governance Professionals of Canada’s 2023 Governance Professional of the Year award. Shona’s most recent executive roles were VP Governance & Corporate Secretary at Vancity Credit Union, where she also led the organization’s mental health strategy, and Chief Governance Officer at Mountain Equipment Co-op. She began her career advising the Speaker, MPs, and parliamentary committees in the UK’s House of Commons.

Shona is the board chair at Pain BC and vice-chair and Governance Committee chair at Bard on the Beach. She is a parent of teenagers, voracious reader, Gaelic learner, and student of mindfulness.

In this first of two workshops on the topic of contracts, participants will learn about key elements of contracts, agreements, and risk management. The facilitators will provide a diverse and comprehensive review of key elements of contract terms, contract timing, insurance, errors and omissions, claims, and fields reviews. Participants will learn about current contractual language challenges facing the consulting engineering industry. Contract terms will be explored, considering scope of work, standard of care, representation and warranties, intellectual property and ownership of work product, reliance on documents, as well as compensation and payment terms.

Facilitators:

Jeff McLellan, Professional Services Division, Practice Leader (Western Region), BFL Canada

Jeff joined BFL in 2005 and in his role as Practice Leader for the Professional Services Division, he works with engineering and architecture clients across Western Canada.  Jeff is committed to supporting the architectural and engineering community, presenting for different programs and events, including the Engineers and Geoscientists BC and AIBC annual conferences in the past as well as providing seminars for ACEC-BC’s general membership and YPG groups, presentations to the BCIT architecture students, and offering in house seminars to professional services organizations.  Jeff serves on the boards of the Architecture Foundation of BC’s board as well as ACE-BC.  He is chair of the ACEC-BC membership committee and the Architecture Foundation of BC’s golf tournament chair.

Tanya Sadlo, Executive VP and General Counsel, McElhanney

Tanya joined McElhanney in 2007 and is currently the Executive Vice President, Internal Operations and General Counsel.  Tanya is responsible for risk management at McElhanney, and is involved in major contract negotiations, insurance procurement, claims handling, corporate governance and all other legal matters and general business advice.  She also oversees the efficient and effective delivery of support services, including legal, human resources, marketing and communications functions, across McElhanney.  Prior to joining McElhanney, Tanya practiced law at Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP in the commercial real estate group.  She is also a founding member of the Woman Infrastructure Network (WIN), Commercial Real Estate Women (CREW), and active in the Employment, Construction, Corporate Counsel and Business subsections of the Canadian Bar Association.  Tanya is committed to community service and enthusiastically supports equity, diversity and inclusion in leadership, particularly in STEM roles.  She lives in Ladner with her husband and three amazing children, traveling the world, hiking, skiing, and cooking.

Cameron Elder, Partner, Harper Grey LLP

Cameron is a Partner with Harper Grey and chair of their Construction & Engineering Law Group. Cameron’s civil litigation practice is diverse, spanning the areas of health law, construction, commercial litigation, and real estate disputes.

Cameron’s construction law practice is focused on defending engineers and architects against error and omissions claims, and advising on risk management, including contracts, insurance, and pre-litigation dispute resolution.

He has many years of experience defending construction defect and delay claims relating to public infrastructure, residential, and commercial developments.  He has acted for architects, structural engineers, mechanical engineers and geotechnical engineers, among others.  He has particular expertise dealing with geotechnical claims arising out of erosion, differential settlement, landslides, and drainage.

Michael Florendo, Client Service Leader, West Pacific Group, CDM Smith

Michael Florendo is a consulting Civil Engineer with over 25 years of experience. He has developed and led multi-disciplinary teams for infrastructure planning, design, and construction projects throughout Western Canada and the US. He received a Bachelor of Applied Science in Civil Engineering from UBC and a Master of Science in Civil Engineering from California State University in Long Beach. He is registered as a Professional Engineer in BC, AB, SK, and the Yukon.

Since 2014, he has been an active member of ACEC-BC’s Municipal Engineering Committee and was committee chair from 2021-2023. He has also held Provincial and National Director roles with the Canadian Water Resources Association.

Having worked with various levels of government, he is familiar with a wide range of professional services procurement processes and is an advocate for Quality Based Selection (QBS), having direct experience with clients who have used this system.

In this workshop, participants will build upon the foundational material covered in Contracts Part 1. Contracts Part 2 focuses on the importance of fair agreements to consulting engineering companies. This includes detailed discussion of typical problematic contract clauses, and review of standard agreements that have been developed with the objective of being fair and balanced. The workshop also reviews emerging agreement issues arising from the implementation of the Professional Governance Act and the associated regulation of firms. The workshop will provide suggestions for setting up a system for contract management within a consulting engineering company, and tips for negotiating agreement clauses with clients.

Facilitator:

Mike Currie, Principal, Senior Water Resources Engineer, Kerr Wood Leidal

Mike Currie is an accomplished water resources engineer with over 40 years experience. His technical experience encompasses virtually all aspects of water resources engineering. He is one of the province’s leading experts in debris flow hazard mitigation, flood emergency response and recovery, flood protection and floodplain management. In his 34 years at KWL, he served as president from 2006-2015, and also developed KWL’s internal agreement management system which he still oversees.

Mike is a national past-president of the Canadian Water Resources Association and past chair of ACEC-BC. Three projects he managed have been recognized for excellence by ACEC-BC. He has also been recognized with service awards from the Canadian Water Resources Association, Engineers and Geoscientists BC, and Engineers Canada. Earlier this year Mike received the ACEC-BC Meritorious Achievement Award.

Wrapping up the leadership program, participants will reflect upon their experience in the program, share their learnings with each other, be encouraged to share real-time leadership challenges and support each other to solve them.  The program will close with an introduction to the importance of cultivating focus and energy in order to stay purposeful as a leader, inviting leaders to use the learning to refine their leadership purpose and chart the path for moving forward as their journey continues.

Facilitator: Debra Innes, High Impact Lab

Debra has 25+ years of experience consulting with a breadth of organizations going through change, and has been working exclusively in Leadership, Team and Organization Development since 2005.

Debra is deeply committed to helping leaders stand strong in who they are so they can confidently + capably, lead themselves and others to a place of wellness and performance.

Her strength is in how she listens: she is insatiably and genuinely curious. Debra is skilled at meeting her clients where they are at, while simultaneously stretching and inspiring them toward a high bar of what is possible.

Debra’s individual and team clients have come to count on her inside-out approach that deepens awareness, increases wellness and functioning – and builds their confidence, clarity and capability to sustain amazing leadership practices well into the future.

While her intuition serves as her strongest guide – Debra is always guided by the science of leadership and human interactions. Debra holds a Master’s in Applied Human Science (Human System Intervention) from Concordia University, a Bachelor in Commerce from Queen’s University and is a Professional Certified (PCC) coach through the ICF. She is qualified to deliver several assessments including The Leadership Circle 360, Learning-In-Action EQ’s, TKI and MBTI.  Debra loves to learn and continues to develop professionally in areas such as advanced mediation, relationship coaching, conflict facilitation, neuroscience of leadership, adult development – and wellness.  She is also PROSCI certified.