Engineer Ian Cox, BSc, Pg.Dp, PMP, MAPETT
The Board of Engineering of Trinidad and Tobago (BOETT) extends congratulations to Engineer Ian Cox on his election as President of the Association of Professional Engineers of Trinidad and Tobago (APETT) at the Association’s Annual General Meeting held on 28th March 2026.
In this exclusive interview with the BOETT, President Cox shares reflections on his professional journey, his vision for APETT, and the priorities that will guide his tenure. Drawing from his broad experience as a technician, engineer, consultant, contractor, client representative, and business owner, he speaks candidly about the evolving role of engineers in national development, the importance of Continuing Professional Development (CPD), and the need to strengthen public appreciation for the engineering profession.
The discussion also highlights APETT’s ongoing commitment to professional excellence, advocacy, leadership development, and the advancement of engineering practice in Trinidad and Tobago. President Cox outlines several strategic initiatives aimed at enhancing member engagement, expanding training opportunities, and positioning engineers as key contributors to a more resilient and sustainable built environment.
This interview provides valuable insight into the direction of APETT under its new leadership and the broader opportunities and challenges facing the engineering profession today. It reflects a forward-looking agenda focused on strengthening professional standards, expanding meaningful Continuing Professional Development opportunities, increasing member engagement, and enhancing the visibility and influence of engineers within national development. President Cox also emphasizes the importance of leadership, collaboration, adaptability, and public advocacy in ensuring that engineers continue to play a central role in shaping resilient infrastructure, sustainable communities, and a safer built environment for Trinidad and Tobago. Through this conversation, readers gain an appreciation of both the responsibilities and the opportunities that lie ahead for APETT and the engineering profession as a whole. Top of Form
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Q1. First, on behalf of the Board of Engineering of Trinidad and Tobago, congratulations on your election as President of the Association of Professional Engineers of Trinidad and Tobago. How do you feel about taking on this important responsibility at this time?
Thank you very much, I feel humbled to have been entrusted and empowered with the responsibility by the membership. I also feel fortunate to have an executive with significant talent and potential to work with and alongside me.
Q2. Can you share your professional journey and what inspired you to take on the leadership of APETT at this stage of your career?
Not typical, but not strange either. I started my engineering career as a technician. Even though I did A ‘Levels I did not have a formalized career path in mind. My interest in technical drawing as a core along with other complimentary pursuits formed the basis for my next steps but I was uncertain where to.
A friend encouraged me, no, she essentially strong armed me into John Donaldson Technical Institute’s BTEC part time civil engineering technician program. That along with specific work experience led me to decide that the next step would be the UWI Civil Engineering program which I graduated from in 2007. My career path before and after generally featured a mix of roles in consulting and contracting companies which provided a foundation for the creation of my own company. The experiences as client representative, service provider and business owner has provided a perspective of the industry which has highlighted many issues engineers and the engineering profession are confronted with. I believe APETT is the vehicle through which these issues can be addressed and leadership is the position that can make it possible.
Q3. How has your experience as an engineer shaped your approach to leadership within a professional body?
My specific experience from the client side, service provider and business owner has cemented the ideology of leading with intention and adaptability. Different conversations, groups and circumstances forces an aware professional to employ the most suitable approach for a given situation. As such when engaging with an APETT executive which comprises representatives from our four divisions – Civil, Chemical, Electrical and Mechanical, each with nuanced perspectives specific to their discipline and the sections of industry they inhabit; you will find that importing and applying that mindset of responsive adaptability is a key approach to achieve successful outcomes.
Q4. What does this appointment mean to you personally and professionally?
It’s an opportunity to lead a diverse, dynamic team of people from varied backgrounds to tackle issues larger than ourselves for the advancement of the engineering profession. I am therefore personally humbled and professionally challenged. I foresee both personal and professional growth as a result of the experience and hope that during this time my executive team grows with me.
Q5. In your view, what is the most important role that APETT plays in the engineering landscape of Trinidad and Tobago today?
I am uncertain I can whittle the landscape I see down to the most important role. I see APETT in its traditional role of continuing education for engineers as well as needing to adopt more advocacy to address shortcomings in the industry as it relates to engineering professionals. Another aspect of advocacy is to increase the profile and value of the engineer to the public. The engineer’s value is not truly understood nor appreciated as safeguarding structural integrity, serviceability, durability and life safety. Increased visibility of what engineers can offer and how it can be impactful and beneficial would be key to expanding engineering engagement by the general public. This in turn helps to create a far more resilient and robust built environment.
Q6. What value should engineers expect from active membership in APETT?
When engineers graduate, they are armed with a specific set of tools relevant to their discipline. As they advance in their career, either expansion or refinement of those tools are needed; APETT assists in this regard along with providing forums in which they can interact with and learn from each other through exchange of ideas and experiences borne of the professional work domain.
After all, how many spaces can an engineer go into and relate to other similarly minded professionals and emerge enriched.
Q7. As President, what do you see as your primary responsibility to the membership and to the wider society?
Society requires professionals who are well prepared and oriented in the correct mindset to perform in their respective roles, whether they operate in the public or private arena. Providing the membership with an array of learning and enhancement opportunities that are both technical and beyond the academic, such as soft skills. Soft skills must be incorporated into the engineer’s portfolio to prepare the engineer for leadership roles. The intention is to enable engineers to conduct their duties as a complete professional thereby being of more value to their peers and to society as a whole on any project in which they may be engaged.
Q8. What are your key priorities for APETT during your term of office?
The Goals for this term are as follows:
- A successful APETT Technical Conference – May 12th and 13th 2026 at the HYATT.
- Engineering Week 2027.
- Recognitions days
- International Women in Engineering Day – 23rd June 2026
- Engineers Day – 15th September 2026
- Focused training with a broader range of topics for engineers – Contracts (FIDIC), CV writing, leadership workshops, Technical Topics – Seminars – do less but with a higher quality of seminar both complementary and paid.
- DAB list rebuilding and growth there of;
- Validation/ Exploration of HR requirements for registration of engineers (in responsible charge) and membership in APETT.
- A Corporate/Business discussion forum
- Better Organizational Efficiency and Operational Policies.
- Green Initiatives
Q9. Continuing Professional Development (CPD) remains a central focus for the profession. How do you see APETT strengthening its role in this area?
I would like to increase the quality, focus and diversity of continuing professional development opportunities for engineers. Short courses that will deliver more than one to two hours of overarching review or introduction to a topic. These will allow deeper dives into discussions on topics of interest and be structured in such a manner that will allow them to be easily repeated and therefore accessible to more persons over time, which in turn will be more impactful.
Key to this, is to partially shift away from complimentary seminars so that we can engage presenters on a paid basis. It has always been difficult securing presenters for seminars on a pro bono basis. To do more we will have to increase offerings and outcomes. We have tested the appetite regarding paid seminars and seen positive results; it is now time to grow. Another key component to strengthening CPD action is to ensure that employers through their HR practitioners recognize the value of CPDs earned by engineers in their organization.
Q10. What are the main challenges currently facing engineers in Trinidad and Tobago, and how can APETT help address them?
I touched on it a little earlier, perceived value and engagement, those things must be addressed in both the public and private domain. I think once headway is made in this regard many other items of import will align.
Q11. How do you see APETT contributing to the protection and advancement of professional engineering practice in the local market?
We must acknowledge that engineers can and are often bypassed or deemed unnecessary in many circumstances which actually do require technical input. Favour is instead given to other industry players who, whilst knowledgeable, do not possess the actual training that informs the full picture decision making considerations of an engineer. Educating the public on the role and value of the engineer in achieving resilience and long-term performance sets the stage for engineers to also be more responsive by being more accessible. The public often does not know where to look to find an engineer for their particular issue followed by the perception that the engineer is expensive.
Structuring engagement fees in a manner that is more relatable to the public would be a key area of attention. As you know the fee structure for services is based on the interpretation of a graphical chart in the APETT terms of engagement booklet. The general public and even possibly large procuring entities are not inclined to interrogate such a format to determine what is the potential cost to engage an engineer for services. We can take heed of examples set by other professionals and adjust accordingly thereby demonstrating market responsiveness. This will contribute to engineers being easier to be included in a wider array of project value chains.
We can start the discussion and pursue the engagement of engineers in roles which would allow them to be external support to the construction permitting and financing ecosystem. This will position engineers to be of more value to society, allowing exploitation of a standing technical resource that will convert into economic benefit through faster permitting, a more resilient built environment as well as allow additional earning potential for the engineer.
Q12. What role should APETT play in influencing national policy or development initiatives?
APETT should play a major role as some of its members are leading subject matter experts in their respective fields who can assist by advising on national policies. APETT is already called upon as a national stakeholder to appear at Joint Select Committees and several special committees with the Trinidad and Tobago Bureau of Standards. It would not then be a strange leap to expand the national level engagement of the organization. Many policies are essentially borne of research carried out by people who are not necessarily the appropriate subject matter expert. APETT is and can be an expanded repository of such experts.
Q13. What opportunities do you see for strengthening engagement and participation among APETT members?
Decades ago, a sense of professional responsibility would have been enough as a valid reason for people to appreciate why they should belong to a professional organization. In recent times the dominant mindset is transactional in nature. In other words, what’s in it for me and the focus quite often is on something tangible. The beneficial APETT membership experience is an intangible one, it is the experiences and sharing of knowledge between professionals that an individual takes away personally. That is the crucial and real benefit once obtained cannot be taken away but it can be repeated as often as that individual participates.
One thing I have learned is that the best way for anyone to benefit from APETT membership is through proactive and intentional participation at all levels. As such, every APETT event is an opportunity for members to engage and participate. The onus is on the member to be proactive and intentional to exploit these opportunities from the upcoming Technical Conference to other technical seminars, training and social events hosted by APETT. Another opportunity for membership interface and growth is by participating in the membership divisions. There are four divisions with their own structures for Chemical, Civil, Electrical and Mechanical/Industrial Engineering who spearhead many of the initiatives for membership. This becomes another tier of participation for a member willing to meaningfully expand on their participation.
Q14. In what ways can APETT enhance its presence and influence both locally and regionally?
Participation and Engagement – being seen and heard on matters of importance in multiple forums.
Q15. Finally, what message would you like to share with engineers across Trinidad and Tobago as you begin your tenure?
Reach out to us, participate with us, be intentional in your professional growth alongside your peers.