In September 2024, I had the privilege of attending the Council on Licensure, Enforcement and Regulation (CLEAR) Annual Education Conference in vibrant Baltimore, Maryland—a moment I had eagerly anticipated yet approached with a touch of trepidation.
During the conference’s inaugural plenary session, CLEAR’s president and Deputy Registrar at Ontario’s Home Construction Regulatory Authority (HCRA) announced that MDR Strategy Group was honoured with the 2024 Regulatory Excellence Team Award. Over 500 delegates from 10 countries were in attendance, and a heartfelt video showcasing congratulations from our valued clients and supporters was played. Though I had seen the video beforehand, witnessing it unfold in Baltimore stirred a deep emotion.
Our work began in 2017 following a pivotal discussion among regulatory communications professionals at a CLEAR conference in Portland, Oregon, just a year prior. We recognized the need to share best practices and our stories to achieve greater unity within the regulatory sector.
As I accepted the award alongside two esteemed MDR colleagues, I reflected on how this recognition symbolizes our collective achievements, commitments, and passions. We launched The Registrar magazine to share stories, established RegulatoryJobs.org as a vital employment hub, and created the Canadian Regulatory Guide, a comprehensive public register of Canadian regulators. We introduced a regulatory communication evaluation scorecard to enable regulators to self-evaluate the impact of their communication protection mandate.
Being acknowledged for our work is both humbling and inspiring. My true reward comes from hearing feedback like, “I love The Registrar magazine,” from in Ireland, or when a new hire shares, “you created the Canadian Regulatory Guide? I used it for my daughter!” Knowing that individuals credit RegulatoryJobs.org for their current positions brings immeasurable joy.
I am grateful to my team – Collette, Melissa, Allison, Toyin, Damian, and Wayne for bringing this award to Nova Scotia. It serves as a powerful motivator to strive for even greater accomplishments. This award is not just a recognition of our past and present successes; it’s an inevitable launchpad for the exciting initiatives we have in store for the future.
Thank you, CLEAR and friends.
