Mahdi has 24 years of experience in consultancy and research in a broad range of tunnelling and rock engineering fields for both civil infrastructure and mining projects. During his career, Mahdi has gained experience and become a competent expert in the field rock testing, rock stress measurement, groundwater studies, monitoring and instrumentation, dam foundation assessment, 2D and 3D numerical modelling of underground structures, TBM tunnelling, ground support design, managing geotechnical investigations for pre-feasibility, feasibility, and design studies for infrastructure projects. Mahdi won the David Sudgen Award (2013) from Australasian Tunnelling Society. Mahdi is actively involved in research activities through collaboration as Adjunct Associate Professor with UNSW Sydney, supervising PhD and Master students. Mahdi is currently Deputy-Chair of ATS-Vic committee helping Australasian tunnelling community.