expert summary

Ms. Rashmiya Raviraj is the Practice Lead of the Fire and Electrical Investigation Group at -30- Forensic Engineering. She holds a Bachelor of Applied Science (Honours) in Electrical Engineering from the University of Waterloo and is a certified Fire and Explosion Investigator (CFEI) . Since beginning her work as a forensic investigator in June 2013, Rashmiya has been involved in more than 500 fire investigations, primarily involving electrical failures. Through her work, she has developed expertise in complex industrial, commercial, and residential  electrical fire losses. Ms. Raviraj is a licensed Professional Engineer in the Provinces of Ontario and British Columbia.

SPECIALIZED PROFESSIONAL COMPETENCIES

• Residential, complex commercial and industrial fire loss investigations
• Root cause failure analysis of electric and electronic assemblies, appliances and installations, in most cases involving fires
• Electrical investigations to determine root cause failure analysis of electrical equipment and electrical infrastructure

academic background

Bachelor of Applied Science with Honors in Electrical Engineering with an Option in Management Science, University of Waterloo, 2013

employment background

30 Forensic Engineering
Practice Lead — Fire and Electrical Investigations

• Lead and train Fire & Electrical associates in all of 30 Forensic Engineering’s regional offices situated in Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto and Ottawa
• Investigation and reporting on forensic engineering matters including:
• • Electrical appliances, electronic assemblies, lithium-ion battery failures and fires
  • Electrical distribution failures and fires, including transformers and switchgears
  • Underground infrastructure failures
  • Utility operations and maintenance practices
  • Industrial production and operations and emergency power systems
  • Photovoltaic installations failures and fire investigations
• Work in multidisciplinary teams specializing in Fire and Electrical with respect to catastrophic and complex failure investigations
• Experienced with quality control and commissioning of photovoltaic installations

Senior Associate — Fire and Electrical Investigations
March 2020 – September 2021, Toronto, ON

Associate —Fire and Electrical Investigations
June 2013 – March 2020, Toronto, ON

Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP
Technical Advisor
September 2012 – December 2012

• Performed patent searches, analyzed prior art and provided technical opinions
• Worked on preliminary stages of drafting a patent application for a client
• Created technical drawings and worked as a liaison between clients, patent agents and lawyers