Our Team
Kaaj is a team of sustainability-driven experts providing innovative customized solutions to reduce carbon footprint and cost of energy for commercial and industrial sectors.
Michael M. Avedesian, Ph.D., Eng., FCAE, FCIC
Chairman of the Board
Former President, Noranda Magnesium and Magnola Metallurgy, Dr. Avedesian has over 35 years of operations, technology and business management experience in the corporate sector. He holds a bachelor’s degree with honors in Chemical Engineering from McGill University, and a Ph.D. in engineering from Cambridge University. In 2001, he culminated a 21 year career with Noranda Inc. having held responsibilities in several roles including technical, operations, business management and executive management. He also worked 6 years with Domtar Corp. as Director Corporate Development responsible for R&D and technology commercialization.
Dr. Avedesian then embarked on an entrepreneurial career and built 3 companies for which he was the founding CEO. Two companies were successful and one went IPO on the Toronto Stock Exchange. Upon retirement from his corporate career, he was invited to join McGill University in 2003 as a Senior Associate and Advisor where he currently teaches courses in entrepreneurship and launching new ventures at the MBA and graduate level. At McGill, he also served as Director of the Office of Technology Transfer for 5 years, responsible for technology commercialization of University inventions.
Also, while at McGill, Michael continued his entrepreneurial career. Recently, he was a Director and CEO of Tawsho Mining Inc. which was a publicly traded company on the TSX Venture exchange before being sold. He also served on the Board of Directors and Chairman of the Board Operating Committee of TM4, a company which designs and manufactures electric drive train systems for hybrid and electric vehicles with a manufacturing JV in Beijing. TM4 was recently sold to Dana Corporation. Michael is a member of Ordre des ingenieurs du Quebec, Professional Engineers of Ontario, and the C.S.Ch.E. (for which he was President in 1992-1993). He was elected Fellow of the CIC in 1993. In 1998 he was inducted as a Fellow in the Canadian Academy of Engineering.
Reza Lotfalian, Ph.D.
Co-founder and Chief Technology Officer
Reza Lotfalian has ten years of experience in development of innovative energy efficiency and energy storage solutions in North America. This includes energy storage solutions to support integration of renewable power into the micro-grid or northern remote communities, behind-the-meter energy storage solutions for industries for peak shaving purposes, and utility-scale energy storage projects to maximize utilization of intermittent renewable sources such as wind and solar.
Reza is a specialist in systems lifecycle analysis who also brings expertise in solid/fluid mechanics, finite element, process design, and risk/reliability assessment. Reza has hands-on experience in new product design and testing, as well as production process controls. Reza’s PhD, completed at McGill University, focused on reliability and life-cycle cost modelling of the powertrain of hybrid and electric vehicles.
Ali Shojaei, Ph.D., Eng.
Co-founder - Director, Power Systems
Ali Shojaei received his B.Sc. and M.Sc. degrees in power engineering from Sharif University of Technology, Tehran, Iran, and the Ph.D. degree in power electronics from Tehran Polytechnic, Tehran , Iran. Dr. Shojaei has further received an M.Eng. in electrical engineering from McGill University, Montreal, Canada. Since 2015, he has been with Schneider Electric Canada, Mississauga, Canada, where he is currently an Engineering Manager leading a team of electrical and mechanical engineers in developing engineered-to-order products including LV and MV switchgears, switchboards, MCCs, and control and automation panels. His work experience further includes engineering and consulting services in the area of power systems since 2003 including design and supervision on construction of eleven water and wastewater plants, commissioning of two power plants, designing and testing several automation and protection schemes, and business development on Schneider's energy automation products such as Relays, RTUs, and microgrid controllers. Ali is a registered professional engineer (P.Eng) in the province of Ontario, Canada.