Gerry Doyle, Chair of the Professional Conduct Committee took the time to speak to Engineers Australia about his experience and his role as committee chair. He explains what the committee does and how it functions to uphold the Engineers Australia Code of Ethics.
The committee is looking for new members and invites qualified civil and structural engineering professionals to submit an expression of interest. You can learn more about the committee below and if you’re interested apply before expressions of interests close on Friday 31 May.
What is the Professional Conduct Committee and what is your role on it?
The Professional Conduct Committee (PCC) is a committee formed under the General Regulations of Engineers Australia to consider and determine complaints against members of Engineers Australia and those on the National Engineering Register that they have engaged in unacceptable conduct. Unacceptable conduct is defined in Engineers Australia’s General Regulations and includes breaches of the Engineers Australia Code of Ethics.
My role as the Chair of the PCC is to work with the Engineers Australia complaints team to review complaints, make sure the PCC has the relevant information to enable us to do our job and to Chair the deliberations of the PCC.
What does a typical PPC meeting look like?
In a PCC meeting we usually have a number of matters that are at various stages in the process for review. The bulk of the time is spent in deliberations on open cases that have all the information from both the complainant and respondent. The PCC gathers written evidence and for each matter we will discuss which parts of the Code of Ethics we believe the complaint relates to. Then we’ll go through them in turn discussing the information available to us to determine if the respondent member has breached that part of the Code of Ethics.
If we determine they have engaged in unacceptable conduct, then we will determine whether a sanction should be applied. We make decisions based on the best information available to us.
What skills or experience would be required to be a member of the PCC?
The committee comprises both engineers and lawyers to ensure that we are fully skilled to be able to address any issues. The committee can co-opt members with the relevant technical skills to be able to assess the complaints.
As a member of the PCC you need to have a good grasp on the Code of Ethics and the way in which matters can be investigated under the General Regulations. This means committee members need to be comfortable reading legal documents, while also possessing sound technical engineering skills. The majority of matters that the PCC deal with relate to civil and structural engineering.
Can you tell us a bit about yourself?
I am a civil engineer who has worked in consulting engineering for more than 20 years. I am currently the CEO of Tonkin, a role I've held for 13 years. I’m the current Chair of the Professional Conduct Committee and a member of the Professional Standards Committee for Engineers Australia.
In addition to my roles in engineering, I’m the CEO of a privately funded agricultural start-up called Agrisano Fresh. I am also an advocate for building better businesses to support people’s mental health and ability to thrive in the workplace.
What aspect of being involved with the PCC do you find most rewarding?
In a PCC role we are exposed to situations where engineers may have done the wrong thing, but the management of complaints is a key part of maintaining professional standards across our membership. I view this as an important role within the profession.
The matters that we deal with provide me with the opportunity to learn more about different parts of engineering - I am someone who loves to learn and I find this part enjoyable.