Raed Kadri, BASc (2009), leads the Ontario Vehicle Innovation Network (OVIN) at the Ontario Centre of Innovation (OCI).
By Sara Elliot
University of Windsor engineering alumnus Raed Kadri says he is a “die-hard Windsor advocate” who lives and breathes the city of Windsor.
“I see the potential here. I think the city needs all of us,” says Kadri.
He leads the Ontario Vehicle Innovation Network (OVIN) at the Ontario Centre of Innovation (OCI). As the Ontario government’s flagship initiative for the automotive and mobility sector, Kadri says OVIN builds on major investments secured by the province by supporting the growth of Ontario-based companies and Ontario-made technologies to ensure the province remains a global leader in the sector.
The well-known industry champion says that he may be the vice-president, strategic initiatives, business development, and head of OVIN, but his first office space was on UWindsor’s campus.
Kadri graduated with a Bachelor of Applied Science in industrial engineering, with a minor in business administration, in 2009. But he has come a long way since his undergraduate days as the student council engineering representative.
“OVIN is a big initiative with a big mandate,” he says.
“Ontario has deep roots in automotive manufacturing, and over the past few decades, we’ve also built a heavy-hitting tech sector. Combine that with all the critical minerals we’re mining for batteries and EVs, it’s clear that Ontario has everything needed to power the vehicles of the future.”
With its main office situated in Toronto, OVIN funds projects from Thunder Bay down to Windsor. Under Kadri’s leadership, OVIN has supported more than 600 Ontario companies, helped create and retain over 6,000 jobs, and leveraged more than $850 million in private-sector investments—and the impact continues to grow. Through it all, Kadri always keeps his hometown in mind.
Before OVIN, Kadri held various positions. He started out building foundational skills as a McDonald’s employee before moving on to work at the Windsor Assembly plant as a temporary part-time employee while completing his undergraduate degree.
“Over three years I also completed three co-op positions, first at the food processing plant Bonduelle in Tecumseh, then at the parts supplier Ground Effects in Windsor, and finally I moved out to Calgary to work at CP Rail,” says Kadri.
Graduating during the 2009 recession was difficult for many people, but Kadri quickly landed a role at Bonduelle before transitioning to the UWindsor-based national automotive research program AUTO21.
“I was recruited as a business development officer and launched a national internship program called Connect Canada,” he says.
“Then I brokered a partnership between the Ontario Centres of Excellence – which is now Ontario Centre of Innovation – and AUTO21.”
Kadri credits his UWindsor degree with helping him develop his biggest strength: his ability to be practical and pragmatic.
“I don’t get lost in problems; I break them down into simple steps that make the solution a lot simpler and more direct,” he says.
“I think engineering teaches you those skills: you learn to think critically, make the right decisions under pressure and simplify problems to get the best solution – those are all skills I use on a regular basis.”
Kadri also holds two master’s degrees, one from the United States and the other from the United Kingdom.
In his spare time, Kadri likes running, though ultimately, he has no spare time because he is busy expanding OVIN and OCI.
“My passion for the auto sector remains strong because I believe our province has everything it takes to succeed globally, including an enviable, talented workforce,” he says.
“We’ve had an auto sector for 100 years, and we plan on having it for another 100 years,” he says.
This profile is part of a special series celebrating Alumni Week 2025. Discover events and more at uwindsor.ca/alumniweek.
