Dr. Sooky Winkler is the Director of the NRC’s e‑Auto Challenge Program, which aims to strengthen the competitiveness and resilience of Canada’s automotive sector through technological advancements for electric vehicles (EV) and collaboration across industry, government, and academia.
Before joining the NRC in 2025, Dr. Winkler spent 14 years at Dana Incorporated, a global Tier 1 automotive company. As Global Head of Advanced Materials & Process Engineering, she led the company’s global strategy and R&D team for advanced materials and processes for next‑generation EV technologies. She also served as the company’s Global Lead for Grants and Partnerships, building partnerships and securing government funding to de-risk and accelerate strategic R&D for new EV products. Prior to joining the NRC, Dr. Winkler was also a Senior Innovation Advisor at Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED), supporting Canadian small and medium‑sized enterprises (SMEs) in commercializing their technologies and growing their business.
Dr. Winkler began her career in Canada in 2002 at the University of Waterloo where she held various roles, including Research Assistant Professor and Managing Director of the SIMS Lab. Dr. Winkler has authored over 40 peer‑reviewed publications, held adjunct appointments at the University of Waterloo and the University of New Brunswick, and served on the Board of Directors of Canadian technology accelerator, REMAP. She holds a Bachelor of Engineering and PhD in Materials Science and Engineering from Imperial College London, U.K., and is a licensed Professional Engineer of Ontario.
