People of EDC - Ali Al-Shaabi

Welcome to People of EDC, a series dedicated to celebrating the diverse experiences of our workforce by getting to know them on a more personal level. This week's article features Ali Al-Shaabi, Project Finance Manager.

In July 2019, Ali Al-Shaabi joined EDC as a senior associate on the project finance team. Initially he was drawn to the role itself, and the potential for career progression. But it didn’t take long for him to realize that EDC offered a lot more than professional opportunities.

“EDC values its employees and prioritizes their well-being by providing leadership that listens and recognizes the importance of balancing work and personal life,” says Ali. “So, while I am able to be committed to my career, I am able to be present and active in my family life and that’s become very important.”?

It wasn’t the first time in his career that Ali realized his priorities had shifted.

Years before he joined EDC, Ali completed a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering and eventually an MBA in Finance, from the University of Toronto. But graduating during the 2009 financial crisis and making the transition to working in finance proved to be more challenging than he had hoped. After a few years in the renewable energy industry, he moved to Ottawa with his young family, where he decided to explore opportunities that would allow him to make a career change into project finance.

That search took him to EDC.?

Since joining, Ali has achieved many career milestones, including a recent promotion to project finance manager in January 2022 – supporting Canadian investors and developers in the sustainable and renewable energy sector, working with clients on international projects or export opportunities, and developing project financing solutions alongside commercial banks. As an expert in international project financing, Ali and his team play a crucial role in giving companies the confidence to find international success.?

Another aspect of his job that he enjoys is collaborating with teams across EDC.

“I have the chance to work with people that are driven to find solutions no matter what the challenges,” says Ali “This empowers me to perform my job to the best of my abilities and make a positive impact on our clients”.

Another factor that enables Ali to excel in his role at EDC is the company’s culture. Specifically, the organizations network of employee resource groups, or ERGs.

In early 2021, he joined EDC’s Black Employee Resource group as a treasurer.

“When events like the murder of George Floyd occur, we have a platform to discuss them and raise awareness throughout the organization,” says Ali. “For some members of the black community, it’s a sanctuary to address and share about various traumas, providing a supporting platform that can be levered towards making a positive impact.”?

Ali has since joined two other ERG’s – the Francophonie ERG, where he volunteers to help others learn French, and the Mosaic ERG, that raises awareness about the EDC’s multicultural make up.

“What I love the most about EDC is its focus on its people. We are empowered to bring our whole selves to work, including our personal lives and beliefs. In addition to doing important work to help Canada’s exporters, EDC provides a safe space for open conversations and discussion on important topics close to our hearts.”