Federico M. Berruti
BESc, HBA (Ivey)
PhD Candidate
444 Victoria St., London, ON, N5Y 4A9
Tel: + 1 519 859-3742 Email: fberrut@uwo.ca
EDUCATION & AWARDS
The University of Western Ontario, London, ON
PhD Candidate, Institute for Chemicals and Fuels from Alternative Resources (ICFAR)
2010-2013 Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship (VCGS3)
2009 Alexander Graham Bell Canada Graduate Scholarship (CGS-M)
2013
Bachelor of Engineering Science (Chemical Engineering with Distinction)
2009
Dean’s Honour List, Faculty of Engineering 2004-2009
2009 James M. Hay Gold Medal in Chemical & Biochemical Engineering
2009 Accolade Consulting Group Inc. Award for Best Design Performance
2009 Awarded Best 4th Year Engineering Design Project in the Department of Chemical & Biochemical Engineering
2004-2008 G.E. Hall President's National Scholarship for Full 4 Years of Undergraduate Studies
2008 James E. Zajic Memorial Scholarship
2008 The Bizmo Award for Volunteerism
2008 NSERC Undergraduate Student Research Award (USRA)
2008 USC Western Student Award of Merit
2008 First Place in Consulting Engineering at the Western Engineering Competition
2006 Vander Laan Undergraduate Scholarship
Richard Ivey School of Business, London, ON
Bachelor of Arts, Honours Business Administration (with Distinction)
2009
Dean’s Honour List, Richard Ivey School of Business 2006-2009
2009 Dean’s Honour Graduating Award
2008 First Place qualification to represent Ivey at the 2008 Nicol LaunchPad $50K Venture Creation Competition
WORK EXPERIENCE
Agri-Therm Ltd.
Vice-President
Jan. 2009 - Present
Chief Operating Officer (COO), Member of the Board of Directors
2008-2009
 Managed research, prototype modifications, unit testing, and commercialization..
 Met with Board and Technical Team every 2 weeks to receive and give updates on the progress of the company
and to steer the direction of the company.
 Established an improved quoting system for jobs performed on the products as well as improved financial
reporting.
 Assisted in the development of the Agri-Therm Inc. Business plan to present to investors and venture capitalists.
 Brought technical engineering knowledge as well as business skills to the company and Board to assist in more
effective decision making at the Board level.
Institute for Chemicals and Fuels from Alternative Resources (ICFAR), The University of Western Ontario
Researcher on Biomass Pyrolysis Team
2005-Present
 Worked in and managed a team to help build and operate a pyrolysis pilot plant and made recommendations
leading to the implementation of a specially designed solid-mass feeder.
 Developed a final report summary of key learning points from the work experience and made recommendations
for changes, resulting in long-term improvements for the Biomass Pyrolysis team.
 Attended the Green Processes Engineering (GPE) Conference 2007 and 2009 in Toulouse, France and Venice,
Italy, respectively, and presented publications based on the pyrolysis pilot plant research, as the principal author.
 Worked as the team leader in charge of modifying and operating the Agri-Therm Ltd. prototype plant, leading the
unit to become the primary demonstration unit of the product to be used for sales.
PUBLICATIONS
Berruti, F.M., Ferrante, L., Briens, C., Berruti, F. (2009). Optimization of an Intermittent Solid Slug Injection System for
Sawdust Biomass Pyrolysis. International Journal of Chemical Reactor Engineering (IJCRE): Vol. 7: 1.
Berruti, F.M., Ferrante, L., Briens, C., Berruti, F. (2008). Optimization of an Intermittent Solid Slug Injection System for
Sawdust Biomass Pyrolysis. The 2nd International Congress on Green Process Engineering (GPE 2009), July 14, 2009
for conference proceeding.
Berruti, F.M. (2008). Fast Pyrolysis: An Old and New Engineering Solution. CFES Project Magazine, CFES, November Issue,
2008, P. 12-15.
Berruti, F.M. et al., Model for convective drying of carrots for pyrolysis, Journal of Food Engineering 92 (2009), 196-201,
doi:10.1016/j.jfoodeng.2008.10.036
Berruti, F.M., Lenkiewicz, K., et al. (2007). Novel Fluid Bed Pilot Plant for the Production of Bio-oil from Biomass through
Fast Pyrolysis. Récents Progrès en Génie des Procédés, Numéro 94. ISBN 2-910239-68-3, Ed. SFGP, Paris, France.
PRESENTATIONS
Berruti, F.M., *Briens, C., Conference Oral Presentation at The 8th World Congress of Chemical Engineering (WCCE8 2009) in
Montreal, Canada (August, 2009). Optimization of an Intermittent Solid Slug Injection System for Sawdust Biomass
Pyrolysis.
Berruti, F.M., Presentation at Grupo de Procesos Thermoquimicos, Istituto de Investigacion en Ingeneria de Aragon,
Universidad de Zaragoza in Zaragoza, Spain (July 7, 2009). Bio-Energy and Bio-Products from Residues.
Berruti, F.M., Conference Oral Presentation at The 2nd International Congress of Green Process Engineering (GPE 2009) in
Venice, Italy (June, 2009). Optimization of an Intermittent Solid Slug Injection System for Sawdust Biomass Pyrolysis.
Berruti, F.M., Conference Oral Presentation at The 1st International Congress of Green Process Engineering (GPE 2007) in
Toulouse, France (June, 2007). Novel Fluid Bed Pilot Plant for the Production of Bio-Oil from Biomass through Fast
Pyrolysis.
LEADERSHIP ACTIVITIES & INTERESTS
Canadian Federation of Engineering Students (CFES) Project Magazine – Editor-In-Chief
 Overseeing the production, expansion, and creative direction of Project Magazine, hosted by the
Undergraduate Engineering Society (UES).
2008-2010
Undergraduate Engineering Society (UES) – VP Finance and Administration
 Overseeing the operation of the UES (60 members), managing the executive, managing a large
budget (>$100,000), chairing executive meetings, presenting financial data, allocating resources,
and representing Western Engineering’s Undergraduate Engineering Students.
2007-2008
Undergraduate Engineering Society (UES) – Charity Commissioner
 Chairing a committee of 15 people and organizing charity fundraising events throughout the
academic year.
2006-2007
Undergraduate Engineering Society (UES) – 2nd Year Chemical Engineering Representative
 Represented the 2nd year Chemical Engineering class in the UES.
2005-2006
Engineering Soph & UES Volunteer, University of Western Ontario
 Helped organize and assisted in Orientation-week activities and move-ins, as a member of a 70person Soph team. Promoted student involvement and school spirit.
2005-2008
Music Composer/Drummer/Pianist (Jazz/Funk/Alternative)
 Performed at Charity on the Rocks 2006, Charity on the Rocks 2007 and at local venues
downtown London.
2004-Present