CCE’s Top 10 Under 40: Rahim Ahmad

Photo courtesy Associated Engineering.

This year, for the third time, Canadian Consulting Engineer launched an initiative to recognize up-and-coming consulting engineers across the country. We are now showcasing them on our website, in alphabetical order by surname.

Rahim Ahmad, 33, is manager of construction services and part of the ownership team at Associated Engineering in Saskatchewan.

“As a kid of South Asian heritage, the career options from my parents were doctor, lawyer or engineer,” he laughs. “I was good at math and science, so I gravitated toward engineering.”

After moving from Surrey, B.C., to Warman, Sask., Ahmad earned his degree in civil engineering at the University of Saskatchewan. He was inspired by residential construction in Warman, Canada’s fastest-growing municipality at the time.

“I was brought up in the Ahmadiyya Muslim community with the mindset of service to others,” he says. “Civil engineering seemed to be the pathway to make a difference with my skill set.”

After joining Associated as a summer student, Ahmad turned his focus to municipal infrastructure.

“I got a lot of hands-on and design experience with topographic surveys, construction layouts for roadwork and watermain inspections,” he explains. “It made me realize the diverse nature of municipal infrastructure. Each day is not the same as the last!”

Sticking with Associated Engineering after graduation, he went on to participate in the design team for Central Saskatchewan’s mega-scale Westside Irrigation Project (WIP); serve as civil engineer of record for the Buffalo Pound Water Treatment Plant Renewal; and manage a multi-firm team on the Husky Direct River Intake (DRI) project in Lloydminster.

“Rahim’s communication skills and attention to detail help him lead large, multi-disciplinary teams to co-ordinate complicated projects,” says Ryan Husband, P.Eng., irrigation engineer and councillor for the town of Outlook, Sask., for which Ahmad helped study the raw water supply. “His soft skills match beautifully with his professional skills.”

Since last year, Ahmad has led a new construction services group in Associated’s Saskatoon water division, with a vision of growing it into a training ground for young engineers-in-training (EITs).

“Rahim is committed to furthering the profession by helping future leaders grow in their careers,” says Paul Pinder, P.Eng., the firm’s vice-president (VP) and general manager (GM) for Saskatchewan. “He has already proven himself to be a leader.”