Three UVic Connections, One National Engineering Board
The work of regulating engineering in Canada often happens behind the scenes, but it has a direct impact on the profession and the public it serves. The Canadian Engineering Qualifications Board (CEQB) develops national guidelines for the assessment and licensing of engineers, helping Canada's 12 engineering regulators maintain fair and consistent standards.
It's a relatively small board with a national reach. And, as it turns out, three people connected to its work share a common starting point: the University of Victoria.
Marcie Cochrane and Rishi Gupta serve as volunteer board members, while Ryan Melsom supports the board in his role as Engineers Canada's Manager, Qualifications and Secretary to the CEQB. Although all three have UVic ties, none realized how they were connected when they first became involved with the board.
We spoke with them about the work of the CEQB, the paths that brought them there, and the connections between their time at UVic and their contributions to engineering in Canada.
What does the CEQB actually do, and what drew you to the work?
Marcie: The CEQB develops guidelines that contribute to ethical and professional engineering practice across Canada. I saw a call for expressions of interest in an Engineers Canada newsletter and applied because I wanted to be part of that.
Rishi: I'd already spent about a decade on EGBC's Registration Examiners committee, so when senior staff there encouraged me to apply, it felt like a natural next step. I went through an interview with CEQB board members and staff before joining.
Ryan: I came to the role with a communications and interest-holder management background. I was drawn to the complexity of the work and the chance to collaborate with engineering leaders from across the country. Ultimately, we're supporting a safe and equitable engineering profession, which is a vital part of a healthy, prosperous Canadian society.
Did you know the other two were UVic alumni?
Marcie: I joined the board before Rishi, and I didn't know Ryan was a UVic alum until well into my time there. It's been a pleasure getting to know both of them.
Rishi: I knew Marcie was an alum, but I didn't know she was on the board until I joined. Ryan was a dinner-time discovery.
Ryan: Because of my role, I already knew both Rishi and Marcie were UVic alumni. But there are no favourites in the selection process. It's been a real pleasure working with them since they’ve joined. They're some of my favourite people!
Why does this kind of work matter, even though most of it happens behind the scenes?
Marcie: Regulation is a behind-the-scenes function, but at the heart of it is protection of the public and the environment. Engineering touches all of our lives. From power and water systems to bridges and buildings, we depend on these systems to be safe and reliable.
Rishi: Academic institutions don't just produce graduates, they produce graduates who go on to register with engineering regulators. I like to think the QB plays the next part of that journey, supporting people as they become engineers and throughout their professional lives.
Ryan: Engineers Canada's vision is "advancing Canadian engineering through national collaboration," and the CEQB's work is directly aligned with that. An applicant for licensure may never know the CEQB helped establish the fair assessment principles behind their process, but they benefit from it all the same.
Is there something about UVic that tends to produce people drawn to this kind of work?
Ryan: I can't say for certain, but my time at UVic broadened my sense of the contributions I could make. Without encouragement from professors and friends there, I don't think I'd have realized what was possible.
Rishi: Being on the island, it's easy to feel isolated from the rest of the country. Volunteering has helped me build and maintain connections with the mainland and the rest of Canada.
Marcie: In engineering, we're taught that our work affects people's everyday lives. UVic helped reinforce the idea that technical expertise comes with a responsibility to serve the public interest. For me, volunteering and giving back through the profession becomes a natural extension of that responsibility.
What's next for each of you on the board?
Marcie: I have just under a year left on my six-year term. I'm proud of what we've accomplished, and I'm looking forward to seeing newer board members carry the work forward.
Rishi: I'm in the third year of a three-year term, which is renewable for another three.
Ryan: I've supported the CEQB directly for six years, after three years in a communications role at Engineers Canada before that. A key focus going forward is the CEQB's role in a broader transformation in how academic requirements are assessed.
Shaping the profession together
The CEQB's work may be largely out of public view, but its influence extends across the country, shaping the standards and processes that help ensure engineers are prepared for professional practice. Cochrane, Gupta and Melsom contribute to that work in different ways, bringing their own experiences and perspectives to a shared national effort.
Their UVic connection may have been an unexpected discovery, but it offers a reminder of how a university community can extend well beyond campus. Graduates take different paths, build new connections and find different ways to contribute. Sometimes, those paths converge in places where their work helps shape an entire profession.