In a first of its kind, the IEEE Toronto Section and the Project Management Institute’s Southern Ontario Chapter signed a memorandum of understanding that calls for both groups to hold joint technical activities and share knowledge among their members. The three-year program began on 1 April. PMI is a global nonprofit organization dedicated to project management, training its members on how to ensure their projects are delivered on time, within budget, and aligned with their clients’ strategic objectives.

According to Andres Diaz, PMI’s Southern Ontario Chapter director, the essence of the agreement is to have a third party—the combination of IEEE and PMI—that addresses the interests of members of both organizations by sharing information and organizing meetings that combine electrical engineering and project management presentations.

Adds IEEE Senior Member Fasih Masood, “We thought it was a mutually beneficial relationship whereby we begin with project-management and program-management teams and bring in technology specialists,” Masood represented the IEEE Toronto Section during the talks leading to the agreement and chairs the section’s Industrial Relations Committee. “It can be a good learning experience; each group can benefit from the other.”

Diaz is working on scheduling joint events, creating mentoring programs, and establishing a networking base with Toronto IEEE members, who will receive discounts for PMI conferences.

“We also offer insurance programs and others benefits that will be available to IEEE members,” says Diaz.

“If successful,” notes Masood, “we’ll look into agreements for other parts of Canada, and we might even foster the relationship across all IEEE regions.”