With a passion for driving change and creating impact, Mahdi co-founded 5REDO to promote circular economy principles in Canada. He’s an alumnus of the 2021 Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s ‘From Linear to Circular Programme.’ Mahdi played a pivotal role in developing and managing the University of British Columbia’s (UBC) Circular Economy Seed Funding program, fostering partnerships between companies and academic researchers to co-create circular solutions.
As a Research Engineer at UBC, Mahdi facilitated interdisciplinary research in materials, manufacturing, sustainability, and health, contributing to the establishment of UBC’s Cluster of Research Excellence in Biocomposites. Mahdi also founded the ‘Multidisciplinary Undergraduate Research Projects in Health’ program at UBC Okanagan, offering undergraduates a unique platform for interdisciplinary collaboration.
Mahdi earned his Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson University), followed by a two-year postdoctoral fellowship at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). He boasts a strong research background in materials and manufacturing, evidenced by his publications in prestigious journals like Science, Nature Communications, and Advanced Materials. Additionally, he holds a micro-master’s degree in MBA Core Curriculum from the University of Maryland and is an active member of Professional Engineers Ontario.