June 17, 2015 – Back in March, we informed you Standards Council of Canada (SCC) put out a call to all young electrotechnology professionals for a chance to win a trip to the 6th Annual International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) Young Professionals workshop in Minsk, Belarus. Congratulations to this year’s winner, Dustin Tessier!

“I’m proud to have been—and continue to be—a staunch advocate for standards,” said Tessier, who is 34 and the managing director at Tesco Automation in Regina, Sask., and the Canadian chair of the SCC mirror committee to the IEC Smart Energy Systems Committee.

Check out Dustin’s video entry above.

“Standards are becoming more interrelated and dependent upon each other, and young professionals will be the means to provide the continuity that is required to bind these emerging standards over the long term.”

Tessier believes that empowering young professionals with the funding and authority to host international events can help recruit and retain other young professionals.

“Networking events—such as the Belarus [IEC Young Professionals] event—are ideal locations to explore potential synergies and compare notes with global colleagues,” added Tessier. “Young professionals are the future pioneers of the standardization industry, so it’s important they get involved and get involved early.”

Each year, SCC selects one young electrotechnical professional who is involved with standards, conformity assessment—or is involved in IEC work—to attend the workshop.  Countries around the world hold individual competitions for their own young professionals.

SCC says it sends young professionals to IEC’s workshops or Annual General Meetings every year to encourage Canadian young professionals to become more involved in IEC work.