Leadership
Hamed Noori
Founder & CEO
Hamed Noori founded SenseNet in January 2019 after witnessing first-hand the devastating impact of wildfires in British Columbia. Prior to founding SenseNet, Hamed held the position of Engineering Consultant with The University of British Columbia (UBC) from November 2015 to January 2018, contributing to the AURORA Connected Vehicle Testbed, receiving funding from Transport Canada. He also served as Project Engineer – Connected Vehicle System at Radiowize Consulting Group from April 2016 to December 2017 and worked as a Research Assistant at Tampere University of Technology, Finland, from 2012 to 2015. Hamed is a renowned researcher and author of academic publications, specific to next generation wireless and radar systems. Hamed holds a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Electrical and Computer Engineering from The UBC and a Master of Science (M.Sc.) in Mechatronics and Micromachining, with a secondary M.Sc. in Wireless Communication from Tampere University of Technology.
Shahab Bahrami
Founder & CTO
Shahab Bahrami is the Co-Founder and CTO of SenseNet, where he has turned his passion and expertise in machine learning algorithms, optimization techniques applied to energy systems and 5G communication networks, to commercialize an innovative solution for wildfire detection and prevention using AI and IoT. Shahab leads a team of software developers, hardware developers, and researchers designing and implementing cutting-edge algorithms and systems that leverage satellite imagery, sensor data, and machine learning models to monitor and predict fire risks and behaviors. Shahab served as a postdoctoral fellow and research engineer in the department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) at The University of British Columbia (UBC) from 2017-2018. Shahab holds a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Electrical and Computer Engineering from UBC, a Master of Science (M.Sc.) in Electrical Engineering and a Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) from Sharif University of Technology.
Claudia van der Vorm
Chief Financial Officer
Claudia van der Vorm is a seasoned finance professional dedicated to supporting companies that drive positive environmental impact. As CFO of SenseNet, Claudia leverages her background in corporate finance, M&A, and financial analysis to advance innovative solutions for wildfire detection and climate action. Prior to SenseNet, Claudia spent more than a decade as the founder and managing director of C4C Business Valuation and Analysis in Monaco, providing strategic financial advisory services. She has also held senior roles in financial institutions and supported numerous female-led ventures and environmental organizations. In 2019, Claudia co-founded Step Up 4 Earth Society, a non-profit dedicated to fostering measurable and scalable environmental initiatives, including youth engagement, tree planting, and educational programs. Claudia holds an Economics degree from the University of Aix-en-Provence and an MBA in Finance from Clark University.
Andrew Distefano
Vice President Sales, Business Development and Alliances
Andrew Distefano is passionate about leveraging innovative technologies to help protect communities and advance society. Andrew has been instrumental in leading pilot projects for early wildfire detection and risk mitigation solutions in British Columbia. Prior to SenseNet, Andrew worked with Rogers Communications and was key in the build out of the Rogers Smart Cities portfolio. Andrew has more than 25 years experience with Canada’s leading telecommunications providers and has held key roles at ClearNET, TELUS Mobility and Bell Mobility, and most recently Rogers Communications, having held various progressive roles from Technical Support to Team Management to Product Management. Andrew holds a Bachelor of Arts (BA) Honours from the University of Toronto.
Roz Seyednejad
Chief Operating Officer
Roz Seyednejad has more than 20 years of management experience, having started her career in Project Management and Business Development, with multinational engineering firms such as AtkinsRéalis, Fluor, and Hatch. A UBC alumna, she holds a BASc in Civil Engineering, an M.Eng. in Structural Engineering, and an EMBA from SFU. Her strategic focus and innovation-driven approach led her to establish Stratesol Consulting in 2011. This boutique firm is renowned for maximizing business innovation funding and the SR&ED program. Roz is currently on the advisory committee of the UBC Dean of Applied Science, Family Services of North Shore, and has held positions with the BC Construction Roundtable, West Vancouver Arts Facilities, Hollyburn Country Club, and Mulgrave School.
Debra Hadden
Chief Marketing Officer
Debra Hadden is an accomplished strategic communications and marketing professional with more than 20 years of experience developing and leading multi-faceted public relations and marketing campaigns. Debra has worked with a variety of technology companies in their pivotal, early stages to provide effective communication and marketing strategies. Prior to SenseNet, Debra was VP, Marketing and Communications at Ostara Nutrient Recovery Technologies, where she was key in a go-to-market strategy for a sustainable crop nutrition product created from wastewater. Having worked with companies in robotics, AI, cleantech and telecommunications (TELUS Moblity), Debra brings a wealth of experience in creating brand positioning strategies to support business development and product marketing goals, as well as high-profile corporate positioning through media relations, stakeholder relations and thought leadership.
Alex Pourian
Director, Strategic Partnerships
Alex Pourian is a seasoned sales professional with more than 20 years in the field, including a decade focused on telecom and IT. Known for his strategic acumen and global reach, Alex has successfully delivered tailored networking solutions worldwide, in a variety of different verticals including Mining, Maritime, Public Safety and Enterprise. Alex holds a Bachelor of Economics from Carleton University.
Leila Verjee
Business Development Manager
Leila Verjee is an accomplished leader in business development and has extensive expertise within the field of software engineering. Her passion is to contribute to SenseNet’s mission of protecting communities and critical infrastructure through advanced wildfire detection technology. Leila’s strong background in sales and communication, together with her business acumen and scientific background, has achieved significant success in driving growth and fostering innovation. Prior to SenseNet, Leila worked as a researcher at Simon Fraser University (SFU), Department of Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology. She has also held positions in IT software development and FinTech industries, contributing to innovative solutions and driving client engagement, in both US and Europe. Leila holds a Master of Biological Science (M.Sc.) from V. N. Karazin Kharkiv National University in Ukraine.