Automotive News Canada - July 2022 - 18

18
* JULY 2022
Putting Canada into the
EV battery supply chain
CHRIS BURNS
CEO, Novonix
CHOSEN BECAUSE:
CHRIS BURNS, 34, IS THE CO-FOUNDER AND
CEO of Novonix, which researches advanced battery
materials at its R&D headquarters in Halifax,
and makes the materials in Tennessee. Canada, he
says, can be a major player in the global auto industry's
electric vehicle shift. His company's goal is to
develop longer-life batteries and ultimately become
a major supplier for electric vehicles, using " clean "
power where possible for the energy-intensive production
of materials.
The Halifax facility builds batteries on a
pilot line and tests them in an accelerated
process that Burns co-developed, allowing
researchers to simulate years of battery
life in just a few weeks.

IN HIS OWN WORDS:
" As the industry evolves, and the presence
of electric vehicles and energy storage
systems grows, the need for technology
and materials that support longlife
high-performance applications has
become increasingly prevalent. Canada
has an opportunity to play a key role
with our access to critical metals and
minerals and clean energy generation
to support low-carbon operations. "
T:9.81 "
Leading the
team ushering
in an electric
future at GM
JACQUIE RICHARDS
Quality launch manager,
BrightDrop ZEVO 600,
General Motors
CHOSEN BECAUSE:
JACQUIE RICHARDS IS BOLDLY
going where no General Motors
employee has gone before. As quality
launch manager for the BrightDrop
Zevo 600 commercial delivery vehicle,
Richards, 43, is responsible for making
sure GM's first product from its inaugural
large-scale EV plant - CAMI
Assembly in Ingersoll, Ont. - upholds
the automaker's standards. The graduate
of Western University in London,
Ont., followed her father's footsteps
into the automotive industry and has
had a number of jobs leading to her
current role, including being the business
manager in a stamping department,
supervising assembly lines and
conducting internal auditing. She has
noticed diversity and inclusion improving
over the 10 years she has worked
for GM.
" I've seen a change, and it's just
heartwarming to see that. GM is a very
diverse and welcoming environment.
It's not the automotive industry of the
past. "

IN HER OWN WORDS:
" I feel very honoured. [Being named
to the Canadians to Watch list] is quite
the recognition. It feels good that it's
definitely a team sport here. It reflects
the work being done by this team to
bring this all-electric future to reality. "
CONGRATULATIONS DENVER
on being named one of Automotive News'
Canadians to Watch!
For the third year in a row, Nissan Canada
has been certified as a Great Place to Work.
Even in a period of change in the industry,
we have remained focused on inclusion
and creating a highly collaborative culture
that is committed to fostering new and
exciting opportunities for our employees.
Denver Pinto
Senior Manager, Chief Marketing Management
T:7 "
Automotive News Canada - July 2022

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