Inside the DPPC Advisory Council’s Inaugural Meeting

Damage Prevention Professional Certification (DPPC): Program Update

- Coral Lukaniuk, Executive Director - Damage Prevention Professional Certification, Utility Safety Partners 

Our inaugural Advisory Council meeting was held on June 25. Before sharing highlights from that session, it’s worth answering a question many people have: What exactly is an advisory council in the context of the Damage Prevention Professional Certification (DPPC)?

For the DPPC, our Advisory Council provides strategic guidance in complex areas during development and early implementation. This includes validating direction and advising the DPPC Leadership Team on geopolitical and cultural considerations, the value proposition for organizational adoption, and pathways to accreditation and professional status recognition.

Other organizations may use different names, such as Advisory Panel, External Panel, Advisory Forum, Advisory Group, and so on, but the function is similar. These bodies offer insight and guidance that inform direction and decisions. While influential, they are not part of an organization’s formal governance structure.

Having previously formed and served on advisory panels, I had a clear understanding of how this Council needed to be structured to guide the DPPC and ensure diversity and balance. Through a series of one‑on‑one virtual meetings, specific individuals were invited to serve on the DPPC Advisory Council. During those conversations, several themes emerged, reflected in comments such as:

• “This is long overdue.”
• “I’m fully moving into retirement, but count me in.”
• “Pleased to join.”
• “I look forward to contributing.”
• “I would be happy to serve on the Advisory Council.”

Council member Scott Landes captured the sentiment particularly well, noting the significance of the work underway:

“The work to create the DPPC will have the most positive impact on damage prevention of any effort ever undertaken… making damage prevention a true profession that draws new people into the industry and elevates its importance with all stakeholders.”

- Scott Landes, Advisory Council Member

Today, our diverse Advisory Council brings together senior leaders from regulators in Canada and the United States, higher education, adult education, public safety, environment, notification centers, and industry. As the vision is for a global certification, contributions are already coming from Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia.

Our inaugural meeting opened with a welcome to members of the DPPC Advisory Council and an emphasis on the importance of the Council’s broad knowledge and diverse perspectives for a certification program built by industry for industry.

By the end of the session, relationships were already forming and effective collaboration was underway. Members gained clarity on roles and expectations, and the Council was grounded in the DPPC’s strategy, current state, and the four immediate challenges. The Advisory Council provided valuable insight on increasing DPPC awareness and participation, dispelling misconceptions, and exploring accreditation pathways and certification models.

“We will know the certification has value when we see it listed as a required or desired qualification on a job ad.”

- Michele Braun, Advisory Council Member 

Before closing, the Council reviewed whether its current composition adequately reflects the breadth of damage prevention. There was clear agreement that pipelines constitute high-consequence infrastructure, whereas telecommunications and other buried utilities often pose high‑frequency or emerging damage risks. Through the discussions, a few associations were identified for future consideration.

One misconception we continue to encounter is that the DPPC is Alberta‑centric. By learning more about the Advisory Council, including its composition, its global perspectives, and the direction it is helping shape, we hope it becomes clear that the vision for the DPPC is a globally recognized certification that elevates the damage prevention profession.

We are deeply grateful for the depth and experience of our Advisory Council and for the guidance they provide in complex areas for the Damage Prevention Professional Certification (DPPC). Their insight, leadership, and commitment are helping ensure that the DPPC is built by industry, for industry, and positioned for long‑term global relevance.

The Council will meet again in September. As the DPPC advances toward accreditation and broader industry awareness, the Council’s insight will remain essential.

Up next, a survey will be issued to gather insights on the education and learning experience expected by future DPPC participants. The results will inform the upcoming workshop in August. 

If you are reading this and want to be involved, please join our Community of Volunteers. Whether you participate in a single workshop or contribute throughout the process, your voice matters. Diverse perspectives are essential. If you’re ready to help shape the future of damage prevention, email me at info@utilitysafety.ca.