CHAIR’S REPORT: Not doomed to follow, but obligated to lead

The 2002 ACEC Conference has an excellent theme: “Are We Leaders or Are We Doomed to Follow? Tomorrow’s Engineers.” The title is provocative and elicits a quick, easy response: “Of course we are leaders.” However, for many of us, the title leads to further questions.

If the answer is obvious, why is the question even asked? The answer: because many of today’s engineers are followers. We are followers when we resort to price-based competition. We are followers when we accept contracts that are contrary to the best interests of our business and our profession. We are followers when we agree to redesign (at no cost) for yet another change imposed by a client. ACEC opposes all of these practices! ACEC is an organization for leaders, not followers.

How will tomorrow’s engineers lead? Leadership has several requirements. First, leaders need to know where they are going. They need a vision and a mission. At ACEC, our mission is to make you, our members, successful. Our vision has five components: respected image, profitable remuneration, excellent business practices, active lobbying, and an ongoing review of future trends.

A second requirement for leaders is the willingness to lead: to be in front, to set the example, to inspire others. Leaders must be willing to speak up. Fortunately, as engineers, we are obligated to speak up on issues of public safety and welfare.

The final question is, where are the leaders to be found? Well, this June, they will be in Charlevoix working together and learning from each other. In other words, creating “a tide which raises all the boats.”

Indeed, as professional engineers inspired by the ACEC mission and vision, we will be demonstrating a lot of leadership in the future. Right?

ANDREW STEEVES, P.ENG., CHAIR, ASSOCIATION OF CONSULTING ENGINEERS OF CANADA