As OSPE celebrates 25 years of representing Ontario’s engineers, we are celebrating some of the members who have made an impact on OSPE, and for OSPE and the engineering profession over our history.
One of those members is Dr. Marilyn Powers, P.Eng., ICD.D., an OSPE member currently sitting on the Board of Directors. Marilyn has played an active role in shaping OSPE’s direction and objectives, while contributing to community events and thought leading discussions around the future of engineering.
Marilyn has become a recognizable face of the Ontario Society of Professional Engineers, serving as OSPE Chair in 2022-23. Like so many board members and influential volunteers, the beginning of her journey with OSPE was unassuming.
“I joined OSPE because it was an inviting and inclusive organization for those of us who don’t identify as a traditional engineer. My engineering degrees have created the technical knowledge I need to have a great career, but in many roles, I was often the only engineer on the team. OSPE was the place I could meet more people like me,” said Dr. Marilyn Powers, P.Eng., Dean of Engineering and Technology at Conestoga College.
Marilyn’s journey with OSPE began at a networking dinner, where she happened to meet a board member who introduced her to OSPE’s mission.
Having earned her engineering license in Quebec, Marilyn was unaware that an organization like OSPE even existed in Ontario—one that actively advocates for all engineers.
On joining OSPE, Marilyn said, “I probably did what most people do, join and then wait to see what would be of interest. The real value came when I got involved in the events and started meeting people.”
Marilyn has countless fond memories from events such as the annual conference, National Engineering Month (NEM) activities, and P.Eng. Day at Queen’s Park.
Her involvement and belief in the organization only deepened over time. For Marilyn, OSPE has been a source of both professional and personal fulfillment. eventually leading her to a leadership role on the OSPE board.
“I’ve been on the board of OSPE for the past 4 years, serving as Chair in 2022-23. We accomplished a lot as a board by improving governance and ensuring we had a strategic focus. I think that is visible in the new strategic plan [Strategic Plan 2025 – 2030] that has a vision of creating a profession with a reputation and respect we can all get behind.”
OSPE has evolved and continues to evolve to serve the profession, far beyond just driving individual member value.
Looking ahead, Marilyn is excited about OSPE’s future and the broader impact we can have on the engineering community and its culture.
“I think OSPE has reached a maturity to truly influence engineers, employers, government, and society at large. I see a profession that makes young people say, ‘I want to make the world a better place, so I’m going to become an engineer.’”
To create this change, Marilyn said, “The culture needs to shift in engineering companies and society as a whole. We can’t afford to drive people from the profession, we need to draw more people to the benefits of working better, differently and inclusively.”
At OSPE, we are committed to being the driving force behind this transformation in engineering. OSPE envisions a merit-based profession, free of biases, where Ontario’s engineers can reach their full potential without barriers to entry and progress. Through educational programs, thought leadership, collaboration with other engineering groups, and advocacy for a Qualifications-Based Selection procurement model, we’ll be working to shift attitudes and change the culture of the engineering profession.
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