Meet Our People

Mehdi Zeinali

Co-Founder & Managing Director 

“Engineers are the bridge between science and society.” 

With a background in atom physics, Mehdi’s curiosity about how the world works evolved into a passion for engineering, where curiosity meets creation 

Over his career, he has gained extensive experience in building services consultancy and project management across a wide range of sectors.  

At SUREX Consulting, he leads with a client-first mindset, guiding each stage of the process to align with client goals. His approach ensures every project delivers value, helping clients save costs without compromising quality. 

Guided by the belief that engineering is more than design, Mehdi turns design intent into lasting impact. 

David Rabbani

Associate-Electrical Team Lead 

David has dedicated his career to electrical engineering design, working across both public and private sectors in Australia and overseas. He has successfully delivered a wide range of projects spanning residential, commercial, retail, education, sports complexes, and high-rise developments. Sydney Light Rail and Sydney International Airport are projects David has championed, highlighting his high competence to work on large and complicated projects that require the upmost expertise to design electrical services that are cost effective, safe and aesthetically pleasing.  

With a strong working knowledge of the Australian Standards and the Building Code of Australia (BCA), David understands the importance of coordination between building services and is committed to delivering designs that are practical, compliant, and cost-effective. 

Saman Abdi

Technical Director – Hydraulic

Saman is the Technical Director of SUREX Consulting, with over twenty years of experience in building services engineering. He began his career overseas working on large international projects including a 10,000-unit residential development in Venezuela before moving to Australia in 2014. Since then, he’s designed hydraulic systems for major developments such as Lendlease’s precinct projects in Sydney’s Chinatown and has led building services design across residential, commercial, and community sectors. 

At SUREX Consulting, Saman focuses on creating smart, practical designs through collaboration, clear communication, and a deep understanding of how buildings work. He believes great engineering should quietly make life easier for the people who use it.

Chathu Senanayke

Senior Mechanical Engineer

With nearly a decade of experience in building services consultancy, Chathu brings mechanical engineering expertise across residential, commercial, aviation, retail, education, and major sports and aquatic projects.  

Sustainability is at the heart of his approach. Chathu is passionate about designing buildings that minimise environmental impact and contribute positively to the future. He constantly seeks innovative, future-focused ways to reduce emissions and help projects move towards carbon-neutral operation, integrating building services in smarter, more efficient ways.

Vladimir Prokhrov

Senior Fire Services Engineer

Vlad began his fire protection engineering career in Russia before migrating to Australia, bringing with him a deep curiosity about how buildings stay safe. With over a decade of experience across both the design and installation of fire protection systems, he has built a rare, hands-on understanding of how reliable solutions are created. 

Known for his calm focus and strong analytical approach, Vlad has contributed to commercial, industrial and residential projects both locally and internationally. At SUREX Consulting, he applies this experience to deliver fire protection systems that work when it matters most. 

Alfry Fernandes

Junior Mechanical Engineer

Alfry is a Mechanical Engineer and became an engineer due to an appreciation of mathematics, logic and the ability to contribute to meaningful and tangible outcomes. 

Before joining SUREX Consulting, Alfry worked on major civil and hydraulic infrastructure projects for tier-one contractors across the government sector. During this time, he contributed to site-wide sewer analysis for Melbourne Airport, using WaterGEMS and SewerGEMS to support critical planning across the precinct. This strengthened his capability in complex modelling and large-scale coordination. 

Ethan Thai  

Junior Electrical Engineer 

Ethan is an Electrical Engineer with a Bachelor’s degree from UNSW and a genuine passion for understanding how things work and how to make them work better. Curious by nature, he was drawn to engineering for the constant learning it demands and the endless opportunities to apply new ideas to real-world challenges. 

Early in his career, Ethan received a piece of advice that still guides him today: “Pay attention to the world around you, engineering is everywhere.” That wisdom, shared by his former mentor, shaped the way he approaches every project. Ethan is known for documenting details others might overlook, capturing photos and notes of intelligent design solutions he encounters day-to-day.

Kate Read

Marketing Manager

Kate has 7+ years of experience developing and delivering brand strategies across a diverse portfolio of industries including luxury retail, FMCG, non-for-profit and now engineering. Her experience covers full funnel marketing from global to local brands across the full business lifecycle. She brings experience from global brands including IWC Schaffhausen (Richemont Group), Giorgio Armani, Nivea (Beiersdorf), and UNICEF.  

Believing in the values and integrity of SUREX Consulting, she joined the team to help build the brand in a way that is meaningful, distinctive and relevant. With a shared passion for quality design and a goal to expand the reach of the company.