Episode 23: A Conversation with Dr. Marilyn Powers, P.Eng., incoming OSPE President and Chair

Host Jerome James speaks with incoming OSPE President and Chair Dr. Marilyn Powers. P.Eng., about her vision for the future of OSPE.

Transcript

[Start of recorded material 00:00:00]

Male Announcer:       This episode of Engineering the Future is brought to you by National Bank, OSPE's official banking partner. National Bank's offer for engineers just got even better. Now with exclusive access to virtual health care advisory and legal assistance services provided by its official partners, find out more at NBC.ca/engineer. 

Female Announcer:   This podcast is brought to you by OSPE. The [00:00:30] Ontario Society of Professional Engineers. The advocacy body for professional engineers and the engineering community in Ontario. 

Jerome:                      Welcome to Engineering the Future, a podcast presented by The Ontario Society of Professional Engineers. I am your host, Jerome James. Today I am joined by Marilyn Powers, the president and chair of The Ontario Society of Professional Engineers. 

                                   Marilyn, let's get right into it. Can you start by telling us a [00:01:00] little more about yourself? 

Marilyn:                     Sure. Thanks Jerome. It's a pleasure to be here tonight. I'm going to give you a couple of sides. I'll give you a personal side and a little bit of the typical resume that we always start with. I identify as CIS gendered heterosexual female, by the pronouns she and her. I am a mom of two kids who are 19 and 21, so they're on the [00:01:30] launching side. It's very exciting. I come from a – many people will be walking or driving while listening to this podcast, I come from a long line of Anglo-Saxon farmers, so I'm white. So it gives you a bit of a background as to where I've come from. 

                                   I obviously am an engineer, a mechanical engineer, a biomechanical [00:02:00] engineer. I can say those because I have done the studying in that. I've also studied or worked in German and in French, so been that awkward person who didn't really know the language when I was in some of the meetings. And it's really brought a lot to me as a person to have had all those experiences in Canada. I've worked as an engineer in Alberta and in Quebec and in Ontario so [00:02:30] been around a bit there. 

                                   And now I lead a team of innovators at Mohawk College who design and use technology to design great learning experiences for students. 

Jerome:                      Excellent. It seems like you have a nice breadth of interests and knowledge and experience. Why focus that experience into volunteering for the OSPE [00:03:00] board of directors? And more importantly, can you expand on your interests and maybe vision as why you wanted to be president and chair in the first place? 

Marilyn:                     Yeah, so a lot of the reason that I ended up doing all of those things, you know, going to Germany to study and to work in French within Quebec, comes a lot from my desire to really take part in anything [00:03:30] that interests me. And so when I was first talking with somebody from OSPE, because when I moved back to Ontario I didn't know what OSPE was, this would be about 2014, 2015, and I met a board member from OSPE and I remember having this conversation about the profession and how there seems to be a lack of representation about the profession at the PEO and how a lot of things are happening and there are great things in technology [00:04:00] and yet engineers aren't talked about at all. And wanting to kind of understand where we were. And so I thought the best way to do that was to join OSPE because she talked about that being the place where I could come, and that's really what I found when I got to OSPE was meeting a lot of fantastic people, making connections across industries, where people had the same interests in, let's say, data or technology transformation [00:04:30] those kinds of things but are coming to it from all different kinds of industries so making those connects. 

                                   And then, you know, I got very interested in what people were thinking and saying and I, you know, decided that joining the board would be one of the best ways to really get that experience and of course this year has been fantastic as vice chair, you are chair of the board development and strategy planning [00:05:00] and this was our strategic planning year. So. It felt like a good fit. 

Jerome:                      And what do you see as a strategic vision going forward for the year as holding the chair and outward facing president of the organization? 

Marilyn:                     Yeah, so what I really inspire OSPE to do is to continue the work in EDI that they've been doing, and especially in [00:05:30] inclusion. And this is something I feel strongly about is that we often talk about diversity and have for years talked about diversity as being getting diversity at the table, almost as if it's a numbers game. Like we need to have, you know, diverse people, I mean the research is there. We know we need to be diverse in order to have better outcomes to bring all the perspectives to the table, figure out, you know, how to work together. But once we get people to [00:06:00] the table we haven't talked much about how do we communicate with people that have very different interpretations of things we say? How do we actually work together in that respect? 

                                   So bringing that to the presidency as a big strategic vision for OSPE is something I feel strongly about. 

Jerome:                      Oh excellent. So in – let's pivot into the strategic plan that you mentioned, yes this was a year that [00:06:30] every three years OSPE renews its strategic plan. It was a really great opportunity for the board to get together and really brainstorm the direction – strategic direction that we want to adhere to for the next three years. And it's kind of boiled down into these pillars that we've agreed on and that we have a – like a [00:07:00] strategic goal in mind for each one of these pillars. I'm going to read them here right now. The pillars are engineers lead, engineers care, engineers grow, and engineers prosper. Can you tell us a little bit more about what these pillars actually mean as it relates to the new strategic plan? 

Marilyn:                     Right. So these pillars are really the core values that [00:07:30] after much consultation with members and looking out at the market that we've landed on our core values for the engineering community. Now of course some of you will recognize that at least two of those are the same as were in the last strategic plan. The last strategic plan had engineers lead and engineers care. We've added two more pillars. We've added engineers grow and engineers prosper [00:08:00]. And we added engineers grow – well we add pillars whenever – you know, this is why you look at strategic plans every three years is because the market and the dynamics of the world has changed and no one can argue that that's true. This year we're heading hopefully, fingers crossed, we're heading out of the pandemic and we're heading into a new world where we will be able to meet face-to-face more often, we will be able to – but we've already learned [00:08:30] that a lot of the hybrid things that we were doing and being able to reach people through telecommunications has been fantastic for engagement. People have been able to join because it doesn't matter where you are you can join a lot of these activities. 

                                   That's what's changing in our dynamic. But also our regulator, the Professional Engineers of Ontario, has also been pushing forward with their transformation, and [00:09:00] they are not mandating continuing professional development or CPD starting in January 2023. So, we've continued to work on the strategic plan to make sure we realize those new dynamics. 

                                   So let's start with engineers grow, because that's the one that really applies for the continuing professional development. So as they bring – as [00:09:30] PEO brings that in, although we don't know the details of what maybe that's going to look like, we do know that engineers are going to have to log in proof that they have done something to continually improve their professional life. So their career, whether it's technical, I've heard it's mostly technical. Maybe they'll get some power skills in, we used to call them soft skills but they're really not that soft, they're very powerful skills. So more and more engineers [00:10:00] are going to be looking for help in reaching those targets that they need to make. And OSPE has built out the Ontario Engineering Academy and they’ve done a lot of partnering with leading institutions, so educational institutions. They've partnered with associations, so some of these are technical associations, and some of them are learning and development organizations. 

                                   And we've built out a portfolio that can manage the distribution of this education [00:10:30] called Learning Management System and people can now come to OSPE and take a look at everything that's offered specifically for engineers. So leadership for engineers. Management for engineers. Project management for engineers. We can really look at a lot of those when it comes to emotional intelligence we have that specifically for engineers. So – 

Jerome:                      So what I'm hearing is – 

Marilyn:                     - we really [cross talking 00:10:57]. 

Jerome:                      Right. So what I'm [00:11:00] hearing is we are essentially a hub collecting opportunities to grow from established partners and not reinventing the wheel, is that right? 

Marilyn:                     Exactly. So imagine that in the world before if you were trying to find some continuing education you would go onto your local university, maybe the one you attended, maybe the one that you live closer [00:11:30] to now. And you would look for some course, if you don't find what you're looking for you go to another university or other institution and you kind of look around. What OSPE is doing is putting that all in together. So you go to OSPE and you can find what you're looking for. 

                                   And one of the great things is that this starts out to be part of your membership so that you can really start exploring this without having to outlay a lot of money. So that also is going to be key as we start seeing [00:12:00] how we're going to work with this continuing professional development. 

Female:                      We hope you're enjoying this episode so far. At OSPE we're here for you making sure government, media and the public are listening to the voice of engineers. You can learn more at OSPE.on.ca. 

Jerome:                      Excellent. What about lead, care, prosper? The other pillars. 

Marilyn:                     Yeah, let's go onto engineers care [00:12:30]. This is very much around the equity, diversity and inclusion. So we'll continue the work we're doing there. We're going to move into beyond what I was just talking about. You know, of diversity let's start looking at neurodiverse people and how are they getting included in engineering and how are they presenting? So we're doing some work in that area. We also have the engineering conference [00:13:00] that started out as an EDI conference is now an engineering conference that's coming up in November. So looking forward to that. 

                                   And another area of that is that we want to make sure that we raise the level of awareness so that engineers – because engineers deeply care about how engineers are perceived. So working on how we create that awareness in the public about engineers. So that's engineers care. 

                                   When we look at engineers lead [00:13:30] this is one of the core values of OSPE, advocacy. How do we give more of our opportunities to lead in engineering, in getting technical expertise to – into policies affecting governments and their change, looking at the interconnectedness of many of the programs and what is an engineer's contribution to those [00:14:00]? So we've seen some great advocacy articles come out in the past year and so that we will just continue and making sure that we give the opportunities to our members to have a chance to join task forces and write some of those papers for policy right here at OSPE. 

                                   And then the last pillar that we haven't covered yet, engineers prosper, this is new. And a new pillar and really when we went out and we talked [00:14:30] to members, I can't remember any conversation that ever happened that engineers weren't concerned about or scope of practice, the things that matter to our own pocketbooks, you know, are we being paid enough, as much as other professions. There's always been questions like that. So we've dedicated a whole pillar to making sure we're looking at that. We're also looking at our benefits, making sure that we're able to give [00:15:00] the members benefits that actually affect their pocketbook. 

Jerome:                      Excellent. Excellent. What do you – how do you define success? What would you say, looking back after a year on the job you can sit back with your head held high and saying that I had a successful year as president and chair of OSPE? 

Marilyn:                     Yeah. When [00:15:30] I think about success I think about getting feedback about – I didn't feel included until I came to OSPE. Being able to hear that kind of thing. Really it's you know, if I want to talk about numbers I'd like to see members join so more members come because of what OSPE is offering. Because that is showing that we're actually giving value to our membership [00:16:00]. So hearing personal accounts will make me feel great. 

                                   But also I think I'll know it was successful if not every conversation ends up being about how we – you know, how engineers are not regarded as highly as doctors or lawyers in the public. So if I could have more conversations that weren't about that then that would make me feel like we had some success as well. 

Jerome:                      Excellent. Yes, it seems like every conversation [00:16:30] when it comes to board work or conversations around OSPE and PEO is about membership growth. How do you think – is there a magical acorn to crack in the regard? Or what would you say is the main pillar that focuses squarely on growing membership [00:17:00]? Do they work in concert with each other? Is one more important than the other? Talk to be about growing membership of OSPE? 

Marilyn:                     Interesting. That – it's – there isn't one thing that's going to crack that acorn. That's for sure. It's a hard one because there is some interconnectedness. There's short-term and long-term. The short term I think the pillars engineers grow is going to bring people there. If they are the professional engineers [00:17:30]. If they're not the professional engineers then I think it's probably going to be more in the engineers prosper. They'll join for short-term reasons. Short term, I get something out of this right away. 

                                   I think our engineers lead is definitely our long-term play. So our effect on policy and our ability to advocate on behalf of the engineering profession will create [00:18:00] value for all of us, but it takes longer to do that. That's not something that people are going to join short term and feel the difference of, unless they're one of the people who are an expert in something that the government's interested in at that moment. So if you're an expert in some area that affects climate change then there might be a short term play for you in that. 

                                   And when it comes to engineers care, especially around [00:18:30] equity, diversity and inclusion, I think that is where people are going to feel the difference. So they might not join because of it, but they might join because it looks open or something. 

                                   So I'm postulating a lot. They're all hypothesis that I'm drawing upon some of the conversations I've had with people, I hope to have many, many more conversations over the coming year [00:19:00], especially as we get back to face-to-face events. 

Jerome:                      Excellent. I can't wait for that. I'm waiting to have more in-person events, side conversations, hospitality suites, the whole nine yards. I had a question about the passing of institutional knowledge from one step to another, from one presidency to the next. You're [00:19:30] just coming out of the vice chair role, stepping into the president and chair. Next year you're going to be past chair. What is your responsibility with passing on information that you've learned in the role to the next generation, the next team, supporting the next president. How does that – do youth that the system is currently functioning for that [00:20:00] transfer of knowing or is there ways to improve that? 

Marilyn:                     So it – definitely there's a system there. As vice chair, one, you are asked to lead a board development and strategic planning committee. You're asked to be on some other committees for continuity. So there is that learning curve when you're on those committees or chairing those committees to learn some [00:20:30] of the role of the chair of the board. And when it comes to president – because to me I think they're two different roles, right? Chair of the board is all about facilitating discussion and making sure we're making good decisions. Whereas president is much more of a – how do you say that? The figurehead, so the person that's out speaking with the members [00:21:00] and with the public and advocating on behalf of the members. So almost two different – one is very outward facing and one is very much focused on, you know, is the team that's leading that you know, the board, is the whole board working together well? So slightly two different jobs there. 

                                   So passing the torch, of course you know, going from vice chair to chair, [00:21:30] that is well structured because of the committee meetings and the committees that you're in and you're running. And the presidency – so Mark Frayne is our current president that's passing this over to me. And he started including me in December in many of his meetings so that I had a chance to observe what was going on. So it's really there. [Ray Jong? 00:21:55] of course has also informed me of many things, as have other past presidents I've talked to. [00:22:00] 

Jerome:                      So it's a well-oiled machine is what you're saying. 

Marilyn:                     You know, I wouldn't even call it a machine. It's all about personal relationships and developing those and everybody wanting to make sure that everyone else is successful. So they're more than – everybody has been more than willing to chat with me, give me advice, you know, tell me what to watch out for and you know, and spur [00:22:30] me on. So – and cheer me on. So it's been good getting to this part. 

Jerome:                      Excellent. Well you're off the hot seat. That was my last question. I really appreciate you taking the time to come in to talk with me today about the year ahead as it were. And it sounds like you're excited to take on the role and make the 2022, 2023 year a successful one. Thank you again, [00:23:00] and I hope that you have a great years. 

Marilyn:                     Thank you, Jerome. It's been a pleasure chatting with you about this today. And I'm looking forward to meeting you more often in person and then many, many more people in person as we come out of this pandemic and are able to connect again. 

Jerome:                      Marilyn Powers is a professional engineer and currently the director of Academic Technology and Innovation at Mohawk College. She holds a master's and PhD in [00:23:30] mechanical engineering from the University of Calgary. And as of today she is also OSPE's new president and chair. 

                                   I am your host, Jerome James. Thanks for listening. 

Female Announcer:   From all of us at OSPE, The Ontario Society of Professional Engineers, thanks for listening. Please be sure to subscribe so you don't miss an episode. [00:24:00] 

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