Institution of Civil Engineers | Trustee's view
Perspective in updating ethics guidance is vital
A few days after this column is published, the ICE will publish new, updated advice on ethical conduct for its members.
The new guidance encompasses many key topics for the ICE’s membership including clarity of communications with clients, declaring conflicts of interest, respecting boundaries (specifically related to the provision of the Party Wall Act 1996), respecting and promoting equality and diversity, preventing disasters, sustainability, preventing bribery and corruption, and whistleblowing.
RICHARD BAYFIELDThis update has been a long time in the making but was galvanised about three years ago in response to the Orr Commission on Governance at the ICE and because of the leadership of John Beck, who then chaired the ethics committee.
One of John’s first tasks was to recruit a committee that truly represented the ICE’s membership. It needed to be made up of people of different ages, differing backgrounds, qualifications and experiences.
Aided by former Institution of Structural Engineers president, Bob McKitrick, John did this successfully. They built an ethics committee whose strength lies in its wide perspective.
Wide-ranging experience and perspective are essential components to updating ethical guidance. The ICE is a global organisation. Members face many diverse ethical dilemmas. While it may feel more commonplace to face these in the workplace, events like the Grenfell tragedy in June 2017 make it clear how ethics impact people’s everyday lives and generate news headlines.
This sentiment is echoed in the introduction to the updated advice. It reminds us that “Members of the ICE should always be aware of their overriding responsibility to the public good. A member’s obligations to the client can rarely, if ever, override this”.
“It is not just our own interests, but the interests of future generations that are consideredThe public good includes care and respect for humanity’s cultural, historical and archaeological heritage and bearing future generations in mind.
This requires us all to show due regard for the environment and for the sustainable management of natural resources. Inevitably there will be ethical dilemmas as to whether we build new, refurbish existing or do nothing, but in giving advice we need to have a wide perspective of interests, so it is not just our own interests, but the interests of future generations that are considered.
The perspectives of our committee, as well as barrister and civil engineer Robert Evans and his colleagues Ioli Kynigou and Laren Luck who led on drafting the document, are represented in a document that I am personally very proud of, particularly for its tone, its accessibility, and its new content.
I encourage each and every member of the ICE to engage with the updated ethical guidance and share further views with the ethics committee.
- Richard Bayfield is ICE Trustee, professional conduct and ethics