About Verdeon
Independent building physics and sustainability consultancy — founded on engineering rigour and strategic clarity.
Our Story
Verdeon is an independent building physics and sustainability consultancy founded on a simple conviction: the built environment cannot decarbonise without engineering rigour and strategic clarity working together. From individual buildings to masterplan-scale developments, we bring both.
Founded by Michael Aghabi and Francis Porter — two senior practitioners with over 30 years of combined experience across Canada, the Middle East, and Africa — Verdeon was created to offer clients something increasingly rare: direct access to experienced, hands-on expertise without the layers, overheads, and slow-moving structures of the large consultancies.
We’ve sat on both sides of the table — leading building physics workstreams and sustainability programmes for firms like AtkinsRealis, Arcadis, Mott MacDonald, Jacobs, WSP, and KEO, while also working embedded within client organisations and regulatory bodies. That breadth of perspective shapes how we work: technically grounded, commercially aware, and focused on what’s actually deliverable.
Our Mission
To place energy performance and carbon accountability at the centre of how buildings and communities are designed, built, and operated — helping developers, architects, engineers, and master planners deliver projects that perform as intended, meet the demands of a changing climate, and contribute to a sustainable built environment.
Our Team
Michael Aghabi
Co-Founder, Building Physics Lead
Michael is a building physics and energy modelling specialist with over 15 years of experience spanning Canada and the Middle East. He holds a B.Eng. in Building Engineering from Concordia University, Montreal, and is a Certified Energy Manager (CEM), LEED AP, and Estidama PQP.
His career began in Toronto’s building science and energy modelling sector — at firms including WSP, Inviro, and RWDI — before relocating to Abu Dhabi in 2015. Since then, he has held senior positions at Alpin (Masdar City), KEO International Consultants, Arcadis, and most recently AtkinsRealis, where he served as Sustainability Principal and Building Physics Lead for major projects including the Mukaab District.
Michael specialises in dynamic thermal simulation, façade performance, daylight and solar analysis, CFD studies, and whole life carbon assessment. He brings deep expertise in translating complex simulation outputs into actionable design recommendations.
Francis Porter
Co-Founder, Strategic Sustainability Lead
Francis is a sustainability strategy and certification specialist with over 18 years of experience across the Middle East and Africa. He holds an MSc in Energy & Sustainability from Robert Gordon University and a BA in Geography from King’s College London, alongside certifications including CEM, LEED AP, Green Star AP, Estidama PQP, and Certified Expert in Climate & Renewable Energy Finance.
His career spans WSP in Johannesburg, AESG, KEO, Mott MacDonald — where he served as Principal Sustainability Consultant and Regional Cities Practice Lead — and most recently Jacobs as Lead Sustainability Specialist. He also spent 18 months embedded within the Estidama regulatory team at the Department of Planning and Municipalities, reviewing over two million square metres of GFA across design and construction stages.
Francis specialises in carbon accounting, climate adaptation strategies for MENA cities, ESG consulting, green building certification across multiple rating systems, and sustainability policy development. He brings a rare combination of regulatory insight and commercial delivery experience.
Let's talk about your project.
Whether you're shaping a masterplan, designing a building, or optimising an existing asset, we can help.