TECH TAKES

In this episode of Tech Takes, host David Terlizzi explores the critical importance of understanding underground infrastructure before beginning any digging projects in Ontario. From connecting everyday diggers with utility owners to navigating regulatory compliance and prioritizing on-site safety.
Joined by Mitch Panchuk, CEO of the Ontario Dig Authority (formerly known as Ontario One Call), they examine the organization's recent rebranding, where modernized processes are needed, and how strategic partnerships and future initiatives can help improve underground infrastructure management across the province.
Discover the essential practices shaping Ontario’s excavation sector, the role proactive communication will play, and what it will take to ensure safe construction and infrastructure development. 
Have a topic you’d like to discuss or comments about the episode? Reach us at techtakes@oacett.org.

Join guest host Jennifer Hazelton, C.Tech., on the latest episode of Tech Takes as she sits down with industrial designer Karen Korellis Reuther and OACETT Women in Technology Network Advisor Sarah Yazdi for a thought-provoking look at gender bias in engineering design. 
Although technology shapes our everyday routines, Karen, author of Man Made, reveals how underlying design assumptions often result in products and systems that fail to serve everyone equally. Together, the guests unpack the real-world impact of these blind spots and the critical need to champion inclusivity across the industry.
Catch this insightful conversation to discover how professionals can better support women in the field and actively contribute to engineering a future built on truly inclusive solutions. 
Have a topic you’d like to discuss or comments about the episode? Reach us at techtakes@oacett.org.

Step into the future of renewable power on this episode of Tech Takes, where guest host David Terlizzi, Director of Member Engagement, Services and Government Relations at OACETT, welcomes Iman Yavari, CEO and Principal Engineer at AI Integrated Systems, Inc., to unpack the critical rise of Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS).
With electric vehicles multiplying on our roads and the electrical grid demanding greater reliability, energy storage technology is advancing at breakneck speed. Drawing on deep insights from his article in The Ontario Technologist magazine, "Inside Ontario's Battery Boom," Iman navigates the delicate balance between the massive opportunities and the complex safety risks associated with the province's expanding infrastructure, highlighting exactly what engineering professionals must consider to ensure secure deployment.
Catch this engaging conversation to explore the cutting edge of energy storage and discover why technicians and technologists need to stay ahead of the curve to safely power tomorrow's grid.
Have a topic you’d like to discuss or comments about the episode? Reach us at techtakes@oacett.org.

In this episode of Tech Takes, guest host David Terlizzi and ProLink Insurance practice leader Allison MacLennan explore the growing trend of moonlighting among Ontario's engineering technicians and technologists, and the risks that can come along with it.
While economic uncertainty drives many to take on side work, often starting as simple favours for neighbours or small businesses, Allison warns that good intentions won't shield you from unexpected professional liability claims.
Tune in to learn the hidden risks of moonlighting and the essential strategies you need to protect yourself.
Have a topic you’d like to discuss or comments about the episode? Reach us at techtakes@oacett.org.

In this special edition of Tech Takes, recorded live at OACETT’s 2026 Conference, guest host David Terlizzi, Director of Member Engagement at OACETT, explores what’s next for Ontario’s rapidly evolving energy landscape—from electrification and clean power innovation to grid modernization, nuclear expansion and growing energy demand.
Moderated by Ashan Corea, Founder and CEO of The Strong Link, the Power Panel brings together industry leaders Leonard Kula and Ahmed Maria from the Independent Electricity System Operator, Raj Pattani from the Ontario Energy Board, and Francis Syms from Humber Polytechnic. Together, they examine what’s working in Ontario’s energy system today, where change is needed and how collaboration between academia, industry and the regulatory sector can help prepare the province for what comes next.
Discover the opportunities and challenges shaping Ontario’s energy future, the role emerging technologies and infrastructure will play, and what it will take to build a reliable, innovative and adaptable energy system for the next era. Take a listen to The Power Panel – Watt’s Next for Energy.
Have a topic you’d like to discuss or comments about the episode? Reach us at techtakes@oacett.org.