The Savant Technical Consulting Team
Dr. Heather MacLean, Ph.D., M.B.A., P.Eng. is a Professor in the Departments of Civil Engineering and Chemical Engineering & Applied Chemistry at University of Toronto. Her expertise is in the development/application of life cycle-based approaches for evaluating energy systems, particularly bioenergy systems. She holds a Ph.D. from Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA.
Email: hmaclean@savanttechnical.com
Dr. Bradley A. Saville, Ph.D., P.Eng. is a Professor of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry at the University of Toronto. His work focuses on renewable energy, bioprocess technology, industrial applications of enzymes, economics, and life cycle assessment, with specific expertise in ethanol, biodiesel, anaerobic digestion and biomass conversion. For the past 15 years, biofuels, bioproducts and biomass processing have been a focal part of his work. Dr. Saville is a Technical Advisor for BBI International and BBI Biofuels Canada, MaRS Cleantech, Xylitol Canada, and Sustainable Development Technology Canada, and a Director for Chemical Engineering Research Consultants Ltd. Previously, he was a technology advisor and Research Director for SunOpta BioProcess Inc. and Mascoma Canada.
Dr. Saville has a B.Sc. and Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. He is a registered Professional Engineer in Ontario, Canada.
Email: bsaville@savanttechnical.com
Dr. Elizabeth Edwards, Ph.D., P.Eng. is the Director of BioZone and a Professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry at the University of Toronto. Her research focuses on understanding how biological processes affect the pollutants in the environment, and Dr. Edwards is an internationally renowned expert in bioremediation and environmental biotechnology. Her laboratory developed the first mixed microbial
culture to be approved by Environment Canada as a bioremediation product, and she continues to collaborate with, and provide expertise to, both industry and government regarding environmental biotechnology.
Email: eedwards@savanttechnical.com
Allison Simmonds, M.A.Sc., P.Eng. previously worked in environmental consulting, where she was a project manager and technical director for environmental site assessments and remediation projects. During her Master’s training, she worked on characterization and process improvements for the commercial production of the first mixed bio-culture approved for use in Canada. Allison holds a Master of Applied Science in Chemical and Environmental Engineering from the University of Toronto and is a licensed Professional Engineer in the Province of Ontario.
Email: asimmonds@savanttechnical.com
Dr. Mohammad Pour Bafrani, Ph.D. is a Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Toronto. Dr. Pour Bafrani received his PhD degree in Chemical Engineering with specialization in biofuel processes. He is interested in development and evaluation of second generation of biofuel technologies. He has expertise in design, financial evaluation and life cycle assessment of processes.
Email: mpourbafrani@savanttechnical.com
Dr. Jon McKechnie, Ph.D. is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Mechanical, Materials, and Manufacturing Engineering at the University of Nottingham, UK. His research focuses on the developing whole systems analysis methods, including life cycle assessment and financial evaluation techniques. Fields of application include bioenergy and biomass-based materials; microgrids and energy storage technologies; and the production/use/recycling of emerging materials (carbon fibre, graphene). Jon holds a PhD from the University of Toronto.