PROFILE
It’s a challenge he is up to. In fact, seeking out new challenges and experiences is part of what defines Mr. Dada. Some of those challenges are physically demanding and adventurous. Skydiving, bungee jumping, fly boarding, whitewater rafting, and back country snowmobiling are among them. “My life goal is to travel more and experience new things,” he says. In the meantime, he keeps busy playing badminton, hanging out with friends, watch- ing comedies — and, of course, volunteering. Like Mr. McCuaig — the professional who first encouraged him to get involved with APEGA — Mr. Dada encourages other profes- sionals to consider volunteering. You don’t need to make a huge time commitment to start, he points out, but after getting involved, you never know where it will lead you. “You could start as a science outreach judge, for example, which doesn’t take much time,” says Mr. Dada. “That will give you a taste of what it’s all about and you can get an idea how much fun it is.”
GETTING TO KNOW YOU What do you do to relax? If I’m not watching a TV comedy or a funny movie — anything with Eddie Murphy in it — I like to look at different stocks and mutual funds. One of my hobbies is equity investing. What quality do you value most in a person? Persistence — not giving up easily. What’s a toy you played with growing up? That would be LEGO. When I was a kid, they didn’t have a lot of kits. It was more blocks with small accessories, and you really had to use your imagination to create things. What’s the best advice you ever received? In high school, I was a bit shy. One of my teachers told me to stop worrying what other people think about me and do what I like to do. Lead the way, rather than be a follower. She was a good mentor to a lot of people. What’s your favourite movie? Shawshank Redemption. I’ve watched it a few times. What’s your favourite lunch spot? In Montreal, my buddies and I would always go to a Lebanese place called Basha. It was well priced for a student, and the food was filling and excellent. What’s your ideal vacation spot? The Rocky Mountains. What’s something people would be surprised to learn about you?
Paragliding, base jumping, zorbing, and shark cage diving are still on my bucket list. What exactly is zorbing? That’s when a person agrees to be secured inside a giant transparent ball and rolled down a hill. What’s the background photo on your phone? An aerial shot of the Rockies taken from an airplane by my wife, Shifa. Where do you see yourself in 10 years? I recently completed my Project Management Professional certification. My goal is to be managing bigger, more diverse, multi-million-dollar projects. And I’d like to be travelling more for my job and just for fun. What’s the last book you read for fun? I read the whole Harry Potter series. That was a while back. Who was your biggest influence growing up? My uncle Taufiq was a mechanical engineer and was the general manager for a polyester fibre plant in Pakistan. I job shadowed him for a few summers and that is what my interest in engineering really grew from. If you could meet someone living or dead, who would it be? Since I’m interested in investing, I think it would be Warren Buffett. He seems like a humble person.
And You Are… Laurie Slezak, P.Geol., FGC, FEC (Hon.) Brachiopod enthusiast World traveller APEGA Member induction volunteer
62 | PEG SUMMER 2016
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