Sponsored by Rio Tinto
The Rio Tinto Award is presented to a scientist who has made a distinguished contribution to the fields of inorganic chemistry or electrochemistry while working in Canada.
View the Terms of Reference and list of Past Winners
The 2025 winner of the Rio Tinto Award is:
David P. Wilkinson, FCIC
The University of British Columbia
David P. Wilkinson (FCIC, FEIC, FCAE, FRSC) received his B.A.Sc. in Chemical Engineering from UBC and his Ph.D. in Chemistry in 1987 at the University of Ottawa with Prof. Brian Conway. He is a Professor in Chemical Engineering at UBC, former executive director of the UBC Clean Energy Research Centre, and a Canada Research Chair in Clean Energy and Electrochemical Technologies. His university research is focused on electrochemistry, particularly with respect to materials, electrocatalysis, processes, and devices for energy conversion and storage, and sustainable clean energy and water. Much of his research is used by companies, and it has resulted in the founding of companies such as Mangrove Lithium.
Prior to UBC Dr. Wilkinson spent over 18 years in electrochemical industries, as a Group Leader in chemistry at Moli Energy (1986-1990) developing the first globally commercial rechargeable Li metal batteries, and at Ballard Power Systems, as a Director and Vice President of R&D (1990 -2003) in PEM fuel cells and hydrogen technology. He also spent a short period (2003 – 2004) as a Group Leader and Principal Research Officer with the Canada National Research Council.
Dr. Wilkinson has published more than 250 refereed journal publications, a co-authored book, a number of edited books and book chapters, and holds over 82 issued US patents. He has received a number of honours for his work, including the R.A. McLachlan Memorial Award, the R.S. Jane Memorial Award, the Grove Medal, the ECS Battery Division Technology Award, the Lifetime Award of the Canadian Hydrogen and Fuel Cells Association, the ECS Canadian Section Gold Medal Award and the Order of Canada.