Sonja Kosuta

Dr. Sonja Kosuta is Senior Director of Impact Assessment and Science Capacity for the Strategic Policy and Partnerships Sector of Natural Resources Canada since May 2022. In this role, she provides leadership to remove barriers to science collaboration and capacity, and to enable transparent, evidence-based decision-making. Her portfolio includes the coordination and provision of NRCan expert science advice to Impact Assessment and related regulatory processes, and the delivery of the Government of Canada’s Open Science and Data Platform, an online tool that provides access to science, data, publications and information about development activities across the country that can be used to understand the cumulative effects of human activities to support better decisions. A passionate advocate of science education and communication, her portfolio also includes the delivery of the Science and Technology Internship Program – Green Jobs, and leadership of NRCan’s Women in Science community.

She has played a key role in shaping open science and open data policy and practice. Sonja joined the Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO) in 2009 and held leadership roles in legislative and information technology modernization efforts to advance Canada’s ratification of five international intellectual property treaties. She also led the development of CIPO’s internal audit program.

She has a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from McMaster University, a Master of Science in Environmental Chemistry from McGill University and a PhD in Life Science and Technology from Université Paul Sabatier (Toulouse, France) where her research focused on environmental considerations in horticultural and agricultural systems.