Dr Behdeen Oraee (PhD Centre for Environmental Policy 2014) and Dr Nikzad Oraee (MSc Management 2010, PhD Centre for Environmental Policy 2013) are brothers and sit on the boards of two large companies manufacturing gypsum and cement in Iran. They both studied Environmental Technology at Imperial and were heavily involved in the teaching of MSc courses – Behdeen in Sustainable Energy Futures and Nikzad in the Veolia/Imperial MSc in Sustainable Management. We caught up with the Oraee brothers to hear about their time at Imperial and what they are doing now.

What did you learn during your time at Imperial, in class or out?

Behdeen: During my time as a PhD student at Imperial, I learned to teach myself any topic to a high level regardless of its difficulty. This enabled me to complete a challenging long-term project even though there were times I felt as if there was no way forward. It was very rewarding to realise that obtaining a PhD has made me a world expert on a topic. This enabled me to realise that there is no reason as to why I should not be able to apply my ability to learn in my future career and to become an expert on another topic.  Furthermore, having participated in numerous conferences and networking events in different countries and within the College, I learnt how to effectively communicate my expertise with colleagues and industry experts through academic papers, presentations and lectures.

Nikzad: The work ethics and extra-curricular activities I was involved in, and the various responsibilities I took up during my time at Imperial, provided the best pre-work training I could ever wish for. The breadth and depth of organisational and managerial work I did provided a wide-ranging understanding of workplace dynamics and interpersonal relationships therein. 

Can you tell us about your studies at Imperial?

Nikzad: I was fortunate enough to be able to build a very fruitful relationship with my supervisor, Dr Zen Makuch. He saw my potential in taking on a lot of extra-curricular responsibilities on top of my PhD studies and gave me exposure to a lot of tasks which otherwise would have had to be done by departmental colleagues such as lecturers or managers. I became very much involved in the Veolia Imperial MSc Sustainable Management course to the extent that soon I became the de facto Course Director. I arranged all of the lectures as well as inviting guest and internal lecturers and arranging their hospitality requirements. I am grateful for the opportunity to be involved in top-level departmental work. This level of external exposure, of course, allowed me to gain unprecedented access to industrial experts, who in turn helped me in better understanding the industrial challenges and how it related to my PhD. 

Behdeen: Dr Zen Makuch, Dr Kaveh Madani, Professor Gordon Conway and Professor Jim Skea.Who did you find inspiring at Imperial?

Nikzad: Dr Zen Makuch, Professor Gordon Conway, Professor Jim Skea and Professor Nelson Phillips.

What is your fondest memory of your time here?

Nikzad: The event for the 35th Anniversary of MSc Environmental Technology, which I took a central role in organising from the venue to the food and drinks.

Behdeen: My PhD Viva day and the 35th Anniversary of MSc Environmental Technology.

What is your favourite place at Imperial?

Behdeen: My desk in the PhD room, East Side bar for all the great memories, Ethos Gym because that’s where I was if I wasn’t at my desk and the Senior Common Room.

Nikzad: Very difficult to choose! Back when I still had my desk in the PhD room, that was certainly my favourite – a place for solace. Generally though, it would be the Business School Café or the Union Shop! The former for the many memories we created as a working group during my MSc, and the latter because of all the Imperial memorabilia!

Tell us a bit about the work you’re doing now...

Behdeen: I’m currently the CEO of a 4,000 tonnes per day cement manufacturing company, Executive Director of a 2,700 tonnes per day gypsum manufacturing company along with several other subsidiaries with around 3,000 employees. I am also a member of the board of directors for all of the said companies.

Nikzad: I have many responsibilities, among them is the CEO of Khorasan Gypsum Ltd and Chief Legal Officer of our group of companies at Jovein Cement Plc. I am also on the board of directors of five companies.

How has what you learnt at Imperial helped you in your career so far?

Behdeen: What I learnt about the environmental impacts that industries such as cement and steel manufacturing have, has made me realise that the conventional methods of production were not adequate in reducing carbon dioxide. This enabled me to form a special working group in the company with the specific task of optimising the production line with the view of minimising the negative environmental impacts. As a result of this effort, the company received an award from the government for being the most environmentally conscious cement factory in the country. This was also publicised in Global Cement magazine.

Nikzad: The academic aspect of my MSc in Management, as well as the training acquired during our group work. The overall managerial skills and training during the Veolia/Imperial MSc helped in understanding the different management styles in practice.

What would be your advice for current students?

Behdeen: Make use of all that Imperial has to offer such as societies and sports. Attend as many events and conferences as possible. Speaking with people from different disciplines gives you different ideas about your research, which could prove to be very beneficial especially if you are conducting a PhD. Make sure you stay in contact with those contacts after graduation.

Nikzad: With the presumption that everybody reading this is happy with their choice of further education versus going to work: Focus on your studies so that you will learn as much as possible during the very limited time you are at the College. Surround yourself with people from different disciplines. Make sure you build strong bonds which you’d be able to utilise after graduation.

Do you have a favourite quote or saying?

Nikzad: “If I have seen further than others, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants” – Isaac Newton. “Keep things as simple as you can, as complex as you must” – generally used in business studies.