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this page President's Perspective: An Interview with APGO President Maureen C. Jensen, P.Geo. Maureen C. Jensen, P.Geo., became APGO's fifth president on June 1, 2006 at the annual meeting of the members held in Toronto. The term of her presidency is one year. Ms. Jensen was the Association's vice president in 2005-06, and was a Councillor-at-Large before that. She contributed to the establishment of APGO. Ms. Jensen was a part of a committed group, led by founding president Bill Pearson, P.Geo., that saw the need to have geoscience regulated in this province. As APGO's president, Ms. Jensen acts as chair of the Council and the Executive Committee. Her past APGO volunteer work includes membership on the Executive Committee (2005-06), Governance Committee (2004-06), Strategic Planning & Budget Committee (2005-06), and Discipline Committee (2005-06). Her strong leadership and management decision-making skills are attributes from which APGO will benefit. Prior to her present position as Vice President, Market Regulation for Market Regulation Services Inc. (RS), an independent Canadian equity markets regulator, she held positions of Director, Mining Services and Director, Strategic Development with the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) from 1998 - 2002. A University of Toronto geology graduate, Ms. Jensen's experience includes more than 20 years in the mining and exploration industry.Field Notes had a chance to talk with President Jensen recently. Field Notes: Before we begin, I'd like to thank you for taking the time for this interview. Now, tell us a little bit about yourself: What would you like the APGO membership and others to know about you? Maureen Jensen: I am an Ontario-trained geoscientist who has worked in the mining and exploration industry in Canada, the US, Central America and Southern Africa. As a geoscientist, I worked in the mining industry from 1976 -1998 and then left and joined the TSX before moving to RS in 2002 as the VP of Market Regulation. I have run several businesses, both public and private and have been a member of several public and not-for-profit boards. I think this varied background ranging from exploration and mining projects to working at the corporate levels in the mining and financial industries has allowed me to have a different viewpoint from many other professional geoscientists concerning some of the issues we face today at the APGO and has given me the experience to find solutions for these several issues. FN: Very interesting. Why did you choose to study geology at university? MJ: I grew up in several mining towns in Ontario. My father was a mining engineer and so, I guess, it was natural for me that I took a geology course as an elective in my first year of university. By Christmas I was hooked and my mother was lamenting that she would never have a medical doctor in the family! FN: From what you've shared, it seems fair to say that genetics and your environment were strong influences. How would you say your early training shaped and prepared you for the career path you've followed? MJ: As a geoscientist we are trained to think of the big picture as well as analyze the known detail in any situation to determine what needs to be measured or tested so that we can truly understand the big picture by putting things into context. I believe this is great training for life. This type of analysis enables you to make decisions with the big picture in mind, and, at the same time, it allows you to test for or anticipate all of the issues or repercussions of these decisions. This skill allowed me to try new things and learn new industries while still applying the principles I learned early in my career. FN: Why did you agree to let your name stand for the vice presidency of APGO last year? MJ: I think APGO plays an important role in Ontario and that the geoscience community is important and we all need to give back to it. In addition to this, I have to say that past President Scott McLean, P. Geo., had a lot to do with it. He is very insistent and does not take no for an answer! FN: Now that you are the president, what excites you about the job? MJ: The opportunity it provides to work with the members of the Council, the committees, staff, the leadership of the other associations and CCPG to address issues that are important to the profession is very exciting. It also excites me to be able to give something back to a profession that I have been a part of for 25 years. FN: By all accounts, we are experiencing an economic boom in both the resource and environmental sectors. What special challenge, if any, does it present for APGO members and to the Association? MJ: The inability of our members to participate fully due to the impediments presented by a lack of true mobility comes to mind. Conflicting standards in different jurisdictions present another challenge for our members. For the Association, I'd say enforcing against non-compliance with the Act and especially focusing on illegal practice is important. FN: What would you say are the main challenges facing the membership? MJ: The membership continues to express concern about mobility. Our members tell us about the problems they face when they wish to practise in other Canadian jurisdictions on short notice. In particular, the delay they experience in obtaining a licence makes it very difficult for them to take advantage of work opportunities. Based on the findings of the recent PDAC-commissioned survey, conducted by the Institute of Governance, it is clear that the problem must be addressed without any undue delay. Geoscience is very mobile compared to the other professions in this country, and, therefore, the development of a mobility model that addresses this reality is crucial. FN: What are the two or three things that you'd like to see accomplished during your tenure as APGO president? MJ: One thing I'd like to see is the mobility issue addressed. I believe it's extremely important for our profession. I'd also like to see an enhanced linkage established with the university geoscience departments and APGO to foster collaboration. A viable university-APGO relationship is important. It has the potential to increase the membership base of the APGO. FN: What do you envision in the next five years for the geoscience profession, in general, and for APGO in particular? MJ: Over the next five years I see APGO working closely with CCPG, and the other associations, and achieving full geoscience mobility across Canada. I see APGO working closely with PEO, the Ontario engineering regulatory body, and other professional regulators to ensure that any new legislation recognizes the professionalism of our members, global standards for the practice of geoscience and APGO's jurisdiction. I believe APGO membership will continue to grow and that our geoscientists-in-training membership will grow substantially as students recognize the value of professional licensure in geoscience. I also expect that recently introduced government initiatives aimed to help international geoscience graduates obtain employment in their fields will contribute to the APGO membership growth. FN: What can and should members do to support the profession and the Association? MJ: I'd tell them to get involved: volunteer for a committee! FN: Thank you very much. MJ: My pleasure. |
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