Elham Okhovat, Ph.D.
Engineering leader who turns applied AI and systems research into software real cities and teams can run on.
PhD in Computer Science (Western University), with a career that spans founding and running a software company, teaching and mentoring the next generation of engineers, and building autonomic, data-driven systems for smart-city infrastructure. Now applying that same rigor to enterprise software and ML systems.
Summary
Technology leader with a track record spanning research, engineering, and founder-level ownership. My work bridges software engineering, machine learning, IoT, and smart-city systems — architecting solutions built to hold up under real, messy, real-time data.
My PhD research produced a policy-based autonomic management system for smart cities and IoT networks, presented at international conferences (IEEE, Springer) and built to reason over continuous streams of urban data in real time.
As a founder, CEO, and research mentor, I've built and led teams, taught advanced courses in databases, multimedia, and web technologies, and shipped work — from e-commerce platforms to ERP customizations — that stakeholders could measure. I'm looking for a manager or director role where that same combination of technical depth and people leadership can drive software, AI, and data initiatives forward.
Experience
- Modernize and customize sales and inventory systems, working directly with stakeholders to translate business needs into ERP functionality.
- Lead requirements-gathering sessions and align ERP solutions with sales and inventory workflows.
- Extend ERP modules for sales, inventory, and order management using Python, JavaScript, HTML, CSS, and XML.
- Maintain system reliability through testing, debugging, and DevOps practices with Docker and Linux.
- Conducted advanced research in AI and machine learning applications for smart systems.
- Developed models for data analysis and predictive urban management using Python and ML frameworks.
- Authored research papers on smart-city management and IoT systems, advancing autonomic and policy-based frameworks.
- Presented findings at international conferences, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration.
- Developed software for autonomic management of smart-city infrastructure and IoT networks.
- Managed large-scale, real-time data and optimized performance in urban environments.
- Guided students through Multimedia & Communications, Database Management, and Web Development courses.
- Taught HTML, CSS, JavaScript, MySQL, and PHP, alongside tools like Photoshop, WordPress, and Bootstrap.
- Mentored students through programming challenges and collaborative learning.
- Set and executed strategic plans that drove revenue growth and market expansion.
- Designed and built custom websites, e-commerce platforms, and corporate sites for clients.
- Managed hosting, domains, maintenance, and stakeholder relationships to sustain high client satisfaction.
Education
Skills
Click a category to see what's inside it.
Selected Projects
- User authentication, real-time stock data, and portfolio visualization in a responsive dashboard.
- Basic stock analysis tools built for a clean, mobile-friendly experience.
- Policy-driven system for autonomous monitoring and management of smart-city IoT infrastructure.
- Built to reason over live network and sensor data across distributed nodes.
Publications
Introduces a policy-based system for real-time management of urban IoT environments using the MAPE-K framework.
Proposes a model for autonomic management that integrates IoT platforms to improve urban efficiency and sustainability.
Presents an approach for collecting and monitoring heterogeneous, real-time IoT sensor data across a smart-city network.
Certifications, Leadership & Languages
Certifications
- Microsoft Power Apps Essential Training: The Basics
LinkedIn Learning · Aug 2025 - Google Cloud Infrastructure & App Modernization
LinkedIn Learning · Feb 2025 - Learning Azure IoT Edge
Microsoft · 2024
Leadership & Volunteering
- Mentor, Women Of MENA In Technology
Aug 2021 — Present · Science & technology mentoring - Volunteer, Cross Cultural Learner Centre
Dec 2021 — Present · Supporting newcomers settling in Canada