2010 Nominees For Council
Riaz Rehman started his civil engineering career after graduating in 1992 from the Military College of Engineering, National University of Science and Technology (Pakistan). He moved to Canada in 2003 and upgraded his educational credentials by completing a Master’s of engineering from the University of Western Ontario in 2006.
Riaz joined Alberta Transportation in 2008 and is working as a Transportation Engineer in Fort McMurray. His previous Canadian and foreign professional experience includes geotechnical, municipal, land development and challenging infrastructure engineering projects with key competencies of contract administration and project management. Riaz has worked in a variety of positions and roles encompassing economic, social and environmental aspects of engineering projects, as well as operations and organizational policies.
Riaz became a Professional Engineer in 2007. He has been helping new Albertans with engineering experience and education to apply and become licensed to practice in Alberta as Professional Engineers.
Riaz likes to travel and enjoys playing tennis and watching hockey. He is also actively involved in community support and sharing his knowledge and experience with young professionals. His family lives in Calgary and he commutes between Calgary and Fort McMurray.
APEGGA Activities
Attendee, Annual General Meeting (2008; 2009)
Member (2007-present)
Mentoring Program
Affiliations, Corporate or Community Service
Member, Canadian Society of Civil Engineers (2008-present)
Member, Council of Foreign Trained Immigrant Professionals of Alberta (2008-present)
Member, Project Management Institute (2008-present)
Member, Canadian Geotechnical Society (2006-2008)
Member, North American Society for Trenchless Technology (2005-present)
Professional Engineer, Pakistan Engineering Council (Life Member)
Is the concept of professional self-regulation of engineering and geoscience an outdated concept or an efficient and effective means of protecting public safety and well-being and the environment?
Self-regulated professional bodies (like APEGGA) ensure that services to the general public from their Members are provided in an ethical and most competent manner. In my opinion, the prime objective of protecting public safety is best achieved through self-regulation as the Members hold a body of knowledge and the expertise to develop specific rules and standards for efficient governance of the profession. Public, government and professionals all benefit by limiting the role of bureaucracy in regulating professional practice.
Should the need to facilitate international mobility of skilled knowledge workers to ensure Canada’s continued well-being and prosperity outweigh the need for due-diligence in evaluating the education and experience of internationally educated applicants for professional licenses?
Due-diligence is a must in evaluating the education and experience of all applicants for professional licenses in order to maintain professional prestige with the prime objective of protecting public safety. Applicants possessing international experience and education can contribute enormously in the progress of Alberta provided their potential is utilized appropriately. By adopting a consistent and uniform approach in this evaluation, both the international mobility of professionals and the economic prosperity of Canada can be ensured.