The Voice - Winter 2020 - 16

NEWS & EVENTS

JOIN OSPE TO DEMAND
REAL CHANGE FOR A
DIVERSE ENGINEERING
FUTURE

O

n November 26, 2020 the Ontario Society of
Professional Engineers (OSPE) launched a new
campaigned focused on advancing diversity
and inclusion in the engineering profession. We
publicly committed to a four-point action plan that
will address systematic bias in engineering culture, training, and
its licensure process.
We invited all engineers, Ontario's engineering regulator-
Professional Engineers Ontario (PEO), Engineers Canada,
the Engineering Societies' Student Council of Ontario, the
Association of Consulting Engineering Companies - Ontario
(formerly Consulting Engineers Ontario), government officials,
engineering school deans, vested community stakeholder groups,
to join us in this endeavor.
The Facts: Systemic Discrimination in Engineering
OSPE has been listening to the entire engineering community-
students, young professionals, engineering managers and
retirees-and have heard a loud demand for change.
Our research has found serious issues of systemic bias against
communities of diverse and underrepresented groups, including
women, that is discouraging some of the best talent from remaining
in engineering-based roles.
Did you know?
* One-in-three women currently get paid less than their male
counterparts in the engineering industry
* One-in-four women experience harassment, discrimination or
bullying at work within the engineering industry
* 45 per cent of women reported feeling undervalued or
disrespected in the workplace, when compared to 20 per cent of
their male counterparts
* 44 per cent of men compared to 18 per cent of women
claimed claim to having never felt barriers to their workplace
advancement.
Enough is Enough: Our Four-Point Plan for Action
In response to these findings, OSPE has made a vital commitment

16

THE VOICE Winter 2021

to acknowledging and uprooting all sources of bias in the system
that selects, educates, and registers professional engineers.
" Starting right now, OSPE is dedicating itself to unifying the
voices of Ontario's engineering community. Enough is enough
and we won't stop until we see meaningful change and movement
towards a diverse and inclusive profession that is vibrant and
ready to serve Ontario without bias. " says OSPE CEO, Sandro
Peruzza.
Our four-point plan is designed to kick-start real change for the
future of the whole engineering community of Ontario:
1. Taking concrete actions and reaffirming that diversity and
inclusion remain one of our core values,
2. O
 ffering regular diversity and inclusion training to any members
of the engineering community who seek it,
3. Launching a new featured Diversity and Inclusion Champion
Award in 2021 to honour OSPE members who are making real
systemic change, " and
4. C
 ommitting to convene a summit with all Ontario engineering
leaders in 2021 to develop an industry-wide action plan.
VISIT US ON THE WEB

Please visit engineeringforchange.ca to get involved and
to learn about the support we have received to date!
http://www.engineeringforchange.ca
The Voice - Winter 2020

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of The Voice - Winter 2020
