Professional Bio

50-Word Author Bio

Abbas Alimorad, MA, MPEd, PMP is an international keynote speaker, executive leader, author, educator, and executive coach. A former refugee turned senior executive, he inspires leaders to transform adversity into opportunity through resilience, purpose, and courageous leadership. He is the author of From Displacement to Leadership: How Adversity Shapes Extraordinary Leaders.

100-Word Author Bio

Abbas Alimorad, MA, MPEd, PMP is an international keynote speaker, executive leader, author, educator, and executive coach with more than 20 years of experience leading strategic transformation across government, healthcare, higher education, and the private sector. After arriving in Canada as a refugee, Abbas built a distinguished career helping organizations lead change, develop resilient leaders, and deliver meaningful results. He teaches project management at Western University, serves as President of the PMI Southwestern Ontario Chapter, and sits on the Strathroy Middlesex General Hospital Foundation Board. His book, From Displacement to Leadership, shares practical leadership lessons drawn from adversity, resilience, and service.

250-Word Author Bio

Abbas Alimorad, MA, MPEd, PMP is an international keynote speaker, executive leader, author, educator, executive coach, and strategic advisor dedicated to helping individuals and organizations lead through change with confidence, resilience, and purpose.

After arriving in Canada as a refugee, Abbas transformed personal adversity into a lifelong commitment to leadership, education, and service. Today, he brings more than 20 years of executive leadership experience across government, healthcare, higher education, and the private sector, leading complex organizational transformation initiatives, governance programs, and strategic projects.

Abbas currently serves as a Senior Project Management Consultant with Global Affairs Canada and teaches project management at Western University. He is President of the Project Management Institute (PMI) Southwestern Ontario Chapter, serves on the Board of Directors for the Strathroy Middlesex General Hospital Foundation, and contributes to the Honours Bachelor of Commerce Program Advisory Committee at Fanshawe College. He also contributed to PMI's Risk Management in Portfolios, Programs, and Projects: A Practice Guide.

As the author of From Displacement to Leadership: How Adversity Shapes Extraordinary Leaders, Abbas shares his remarkable journey from displacement in Iraq to executive leadership in Canada, offering practical lessons on resilience, adaptability, leadership, and overcoming adversity. His powerful storytelling, combined with actionable leadership frameworks, has inspired audiences across North America.

Through keynote presentations, executive coaching, leadership development programs, and consulting, Abbas empowers leaders to embrace change, build high-performing teams, and transform challenges into opportunities for lasting impact.

His mission is simple: to help people discover that extraordinary leadership is often born from life's greatest challenges.

Speaker Introduction

60-Second Speaker Introduction

Ladies and gentlemen, it is my pleasure to introduce our keynote speaker, Abbas Alimorad, MA, MPEd, PMP.

Abbas is an international keynote speaker, executive leader, educator, executive coach, and the author of From Displacement to Leadership: How Adversity Shapes Extraordinary Leaders.

With more than 20 years of experience leading complex transformation initiatives across government, healthcare, higher education, and the private sector, Abbas has become a trusted voice on leadership, resilience, organizational change, and strategic project leadership.

His personal journey is as remarkable as his professional career. After arriving in Canada as a refugee, Abbas went on to earn two master's degrees, serve in senior leadership roles with Global Affairs Canada, teach at Western University, and lead one of Canada's largest PMI chapters as President.

Today, he inspires leaders around the world to turn adversity into opportunity and lead with courage, purpose, and resilience.

Please join me in giving a warm welcome to Abbas Alimorad!

2-Minute Speaker Introduction

Our keynote speaker today has lived the very leadership lessons he teaches.

Please join me in welcoming Abbas Alimorad, MA, MPEd, PMP—an international keynote speaker, executive leader, educator, executive coach, and author of From Displacement to Leadership: How Adversity Shapes Extraordinary Leaders.

Abbas's journey began far from the boardroom. As a young child, he and his family were forced to flee Iraq, spending years rebuilding their lives before immigrating to Canada as refugees. Those early experiences of uncertainty, resilience, and perseverance became the foundation of a remarkable leadership journey.

Today, Abbas has more than two decades of executive leadership experience leading complex strategic initiatives across government, healthcare, higher education, and the private sector. He currently serves as a Senior Project Management Consultant with Global Affairs Canada, teaches project management at Western University, and is President of the Project Management Institute's Southwestern Ontario Chapter.

He has spoken to audiences across North America on leadership, resilience, organizational transformation, artificial intelligence, governance, and project leadership. His insights combine real-life experiences with practical leadership strategies that audiences can immediately apply in their own organizations.

His book, From Displacement to Leadership, is inspiring leaders around the world by demonstrating that adversity doesn't define us—it prepares us to lead.

Today, you'll hear a story of resilience, purpose, courage, and leadership that is both deeply personal and universally relevant.

Please help me give a warm and enthusiastic welcome to Abbas Alimorad!