Board Candidate
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Kirninder S. (Kirn) Dhillon, P.Eng. | Sechelt, BC
I am honoured and humbled to have been selected by the nominating committee as a Board nominee to serve the professions. Working on EGBC’s Board is one of the best ways I can contribute to our professions with my diverse experience and skills. I believe I possess the right strengths for the work that lies ahead. Board participation is a profound privilege. I will endeavour to act in the best interest of the organization and commit to protect the public interest at every opportunity.
My two consecutive terms on the council of Engineers Yukon from 2011 to 2015 were rewarding. There were many important initiatives we tackled during my time with Engineers Yukon, including amending the Engineering Profession Act (Yukon) and the introduction of mandatory continuing professional development requirements. Our organization’s relatively small size allowed us to be nimble and progressive – often moving ahead with initiatives sooner than our larger counterparts. I approached my time on the Engineers Yukon Council with enthusiasm. Throughout my career, I have strived to be an ambassador for engineering and geoscience through service and the promotion of our professions. I intend to do this with renewed vigour in the face of external pressures and the challenges before us.
Your support as peers and professionals is greatly appreciated. Engineers and geoscientists can drive the change and innovation to tackle society’s issues. I hope to bring my positive energy and innovative perspectives to EGBC’s Board!
Education
BASc (Civil Engineering, Water Resources Option), University of Waterloo, 2000
Professional History
Director of Engineering and Operations, District of Sechelt, 2020–Present
Manager of Infrastructure, City of Vernon, 2019–2020
Senior Program Manager, Government of Yukon, 2009–2019
Related Professional Activities
Councillor, Association of Professional Engineers of Yukon, 2011–2015
Working Group Member, Community Drainage System Planning, Design and Maintenance, Canadian Standards Association, 2015
Community Involvement
Board Director, Sunshine Coast Golf and Country Club, 2024
Board Director, Riverdale Community Association, 2010–2014
Committee Member, Racism and Discrimination Advisory Committee, City of Whitehorse, 2014–2018
Awards and Honours
Team Finalist for Technical Achievement Award – Rural and Small Communities Category and Active Transportation Category, Transportation Association of Canada, 2024
Recipient of the Ken Dobell Public Service Education Fund Scholarship, Local Government Management Association (BC), 2022
Team Award for Asset Management, Vernon’s Drainage Infrastructure Prioritization Project, Federation of Canadian Municipalities, 2020
Team Award for Engineering Excellence, Carcross Water Treatment Plant, Engineers Yukon, 2014
Team Award for Brownfield Redevelopment, Whitehorse Waterfront Revitalization, Canadian Urban Institute, 2013
Q&A with Candidates
Engineers and Geoscientists BC is the regulatory authority charged with protecting the public interest with respect to the practice of engineering and geoscience in the province of BC. What is the key challenge facing the organization?
There will be political pressures to expedite and streamline practices and the approval of new registrants. We need to ensure that in the current drive to address the housing shortage that sound engineering and geoscience practices are still at the forefront and do not become footnotes. As an organization, EGBC needs to do this in such a way that it does not become labelled as one of the “gate keepers” that obstructs solutions. Engineers and geoscientists are highly innovative people. Harnessing our collective strengths can be used to address Canada’s challenges in areas such as housing and climate change adaptation.
There continue to be underrepresented groups in engineering and geoscience. As of May 2024, according to Engineers Canada, the percentage of newly licenced engineers who are women is 21.2% in British Columbia. We are falling short of our goal to have women as 30% of new registrants by 2030. In the Yukon, where I was a councillor with Engineers Yukon, I am proud to say that the territory has achieved 50%! It should be a renewed focus of EGBC to achieve the 30 by 30 goal.
British Columbia is arguably a national leader in indigenous reconciliation. EGBC has made great strides on the path to reconciliation. However, First Nations people continue to be underrepresented within our professions. I believe we should actively examine this and develop a task force to address the barriers First Nation people encounter to entering the professions.
What are the key issues facing the engineering and/or geoscience professions?
Our professions are at an inflection point. How engineers and geoscientists contribute to solving societal issues, while respecting our duties and ethics will be the topic of many discussions. There is a societal expectation that engineers and geoscientists will look at alternative means to make judgements. First Nations traditional knowledge is a highly valued aspect to achieving social licence for the projects we build. Our professionals must be equipped with guidance to incorporate these tools into our traditional math and science based framework.
The emergence of artificial intelligence (AI) and its role in our professions is a topic of great concern to me. There are already conversations within other professional groups about whether artificial intelligence will make aspects of their roles obsolete. AI might be a tool, but it cannot and will not replace the experience, judgement, and ethical considerations engineers and geoscientists bring to their work. Understanding the potential applications of AI and how best to regulate its use is an issue that professionals should proactively address, and present their concerns and ideas to EGBC.
Looking five years ahead, what is your vision for Engineers and Geoscientists BC as a professional regulatory body in BC?
EGBC has articulated its vision for the future within its five-year strategic plan for 2022 to 2027. I expect that the EGBC Board will continue to deliver actions related to that strategic plan. Toward the end of the planning cycle, in 2026, EGBC will examine the results over the past five years and pivot to the creation of a new strategic plan. The current five-year plan highlighted stakeholder engagement, efficient processes, people and culture, and social responsibility as strategic imperatives.
In the post-pandemic world, I see new challenges that were perhaps not contemplated in the current strategic plan. Our social responsibility will extend to new areas such as contributing to the redress of financial imbalances in society, working harder to include underrepresented groups in our professions, and addressing the national housing shortage.
AI is an opportunity and a challenge when it comes to regulatory innovation. I see EGBC as being a leader in this area. The pace of innovation and technological change could be exponential as AI tools become more prevalent and refined. EGBC needs to position itself to avoid a situation where the pace of technological change outstrips EGBC’s ability to regulate it.
Finally, EGBC will need to focus on our performance as a regulatory body when it comes to national goals being advanced by Engineers Canada. In five years, we will be close to 2030. I see EGBC making lots of progress toward achieving our 30 by 30 goal.
For the Board to achieve its goals and meet its fiduciary responsibilities, the Board has identified the need for diverse voices on the Board, with a blend of the following skills and competences: leadership, financial literacy, risk management, human resources, strategy, regulatory understanding, governance and technical proficiency. Please highlight the areas of strength you bring to the role.
I have a solid foundation from my certifications as a Professional Engineer and Program Management Professional. I am in the process of obtaining my Change Management Certification. These skills, in combination with my experience serving on Engineers Yukon, will serve me well in a Board role with EGBC. I would be able to bring many valuable lessons I learned to EGBC’s Board.
The extensive experience I have with strategic planning initiatives is critical for this role. I have conducted multi-year capital program planning across organizations in complex stakeholder landscapes. Recently, I have undertaken very important strategic planning initiatives such as a major overhaul of the District of Sechelt’s Development Cost Charge Program, Liquid Waste Management Plan, Transportation Master Plan, and Subdivision Servicing Bylaw.
In addition, my experience and training in local government, human resources, and finance will be big assets. As a seasoned local government professional that attends municipal council regularly and works as part of the senior leadership team for the District of Sechelt, I am exposed daily to the complexities of public body governance and meeting the expectations of stakeholders. Work experience has provided me wide exposure to the many program areas and functions of public sector organizations. The skills I have gained in community engagement and technical expertise gives me the confidence to lead teams in the planning, development, implementation and evaluation of programs and projects.