Dr. Ario Fahimi, born and raised in Milan to Iranian parents, holds a PhD in Materials Science and Engineering from the University of Brescia, Italy. He gained national recognition for developing a sustainability index for recycling critical metals in clean energy technologies and won the best business pitch at a European Commission raw materials consortium. After completing postdoctoral research at the University of Nevada, Reno, Ario moved to Houston in July 2024 to work as a scientist and engineer at Aleon Metals, focusing on scaling up a new EV battery recycling plant. Proud of his Iranian-Italian heritage, he began volunteering for the Iranian Cultural Foundation in September 2024.