ChemE MASc 6T9, PhD 7T1
Inducted: 2011
A recognized leader within the pulp and paper industry, Doug has coupled his talent for industrial
innovation with his passion for teaching to make an outstanding contribution to the chemical
engineering profession.
Among many of his accomplishments in industry, Doug helped to develop the Rapson-Reeve
Closed Cycle Mill — an innovation that inspired more than 25 years of research and advancement
in chemical recovery within the pulp and paper industry.
Doug served as Chair of the Department of Chemical Engineering & Applied Chemistry at the
University of Toronto from 2001 to 2011 and Director of the Faculty of Applied Science &
Engineering’s Pulp & Paper Centre from 1987 to 2001. During his term as Director, the
Centre created more than $25 million in research programs with financial support from
45 companies in seven countries.
In addition to his work in the technical and professional realm, Doug’s contributions to
engineering education are extensive. In 2002, he established the Leaders of Tomorrow (LOT)
program in the Department of Chemical Engineering & Applied Chemistry. LOT expanded across
the Faculty in 2006, and is now a curricular, co-curricular and extra-curricular program that
helps young engineers develop their leadership skills through courses, workshops, seminars
and special events. The success of LOT led to the launch of the Troost Institute for Leadership Education in Engineering (ILead) in 2010, with Doug serving as Director. Through programming, research and outreach, Troost ILead aims to realize its vision: “Engineers leading change to build a better world”.
His honours include:
- Fellow, Technical Association of the Pulp and Paper Industry, 1988
- Fellow, Chemical Institute of Canada, 1994
- Honorary Doctorate, Helsinki University of Technology, 1998
- Engineering Medal — Research and Development, PEO, 2002
- NSERC University-Industry Synergy Award for Innovation, 2003
- Fellow, Canadian Academy of Engineering, 2006
- John S. Bates Memorial Gold Medal, Pulp and Paper Technical Association of Canada, 2007
- Paper Industry International Hall of Fame Inductee, 2008
- Carolyn Touhy Impact on Public Policy Award, 2009
- R.S. Jane Memorial Award, Canadian Society for Chemical Engineering, 2010