RC110 JanFeb 2024 - Magazine - Page 41
OTTAWA
ALBERTO PONCE PHOTOGRAPHY
Transportation Association of Canada Conference
THE TRANSPORTATION ASSOCIATION of Canada’s annual three-day conference in Ottawa
emphasized lessons on leadership and how
to drive change in transportation.
The opening plenary session at the Shaw
Centre including a panel discussion on
leadership, featuring senior executives from
some of Canada’s leading companies and a
keynote address from the former chief city
planner for the City of Toronto.
“We’re working in a time of great infrastructure,” said Sylvain Montminy of
Parsons, during the Lessons in Leadership
panel. “We want employees to be happy so
that they’ll recommend our company as a
great place to work.”
A shortage of engineers is a昀昀ecting the
entire industry, said Ralph Ehlers of AtkinsRéalis. “We’re all struggling with resources.”
When it comes to creating an organizational culture, the biggest in昀氀uence is when
senior leadership can mentor and empower
others, according to John Sibthorpe of Arcadis IBI Group.
Uniting behind a vision is also important,
said EXP’s Magdy Samaan. “You must have
a company vision. Without a vision no one
knows where they’re going.”
The plenary session wrapped up with
Jennifer Keesmaat delivering the keynote
address: Within Reach—Driving Transformational Change in the Transportation Sector.
Keesmaat discussed the King Street transit
corridor pilot, a project she drove, as an
example of what can be accomplished by
focusing on your allies as opposed to those
who won’t support your goals. “Don’t waste
your time on trying to change their minds,”
she said.
Leadership is also key, she added.
“A leader is someone who looks at the
world and says, ‘It doesn’t have to be this
way and I’m going to do something about
it.’”
City planning expert Jennifer
Keesmaat delivered the keynote
address at the Transportation
Association of Canada’s annual
conference.
SUBSCRIBE TO THE EMAGAZINE FOR
FREE AND NEVER MISS ANOTHER ISSUE OF
You asked for it, and we heard you. ReNew Canada is excited to
unveil a brand new interactive eMagazine option that:
Is easy to share; no download necessary
Links to related articles
Enables immediate engagement with advertisers
Includes video and other rich media
Cloud-based – access your issue anywhere
SUBSCRIBE HERE: ReNewCanada.net/subscribe
RENEWCANADA.NET
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2024 – RENEW CANADA 41
