Our Team
At the Price Institute of Advanced Manufacturing and Mechatronics, our team brings together industry expertise, academic excellence and a shared commitment to advancing Manitoba’s manufacturing sector. From leadership to faculty and applied research, we work collaboratively to drive innovation, develop talent and support industry transformation.
Leadership and Management
Dr. Vikram Banthia
Director, Price Institute of Advanced Manufacturing and Mechatronics
📧 vbanthia@rrc.ca | 📞 204-590-7450
Dr. Vikram Banthia serves as the Director of the Price Institute, where he leads initiatives to accelerate digital transformation in Manitoba’s manufacturing sector. His work centers on addressing workforce skill gaps and advancing the adoption of automation, artificial intelligence, robotics and additive manufacturing, while supporting Industry 4.0 integration across the province.
With extensive experience in automation and manufacturing, Vikram has contributed across diverse sectors including manufacturing, life sciences, technology and research. Before joining RRC Polytech, he held leadership roles in automation and process engineering at Bayer Crop Science, Kitchen Craft, Bausch Health and Elmer’s Manufacturing, where he played a key role in implementing automation strategies that enhanced operational efficiency and productivity.
A licensed Professional Engineer (P.Eng.), Vikram earned his Ph.D. in Robotics and Automation from the University of Manitoba. He also holds an M.Sc. from the University of Manitoba, a B.Sc. in Mechanical Engineering from the National Institute of Technology Raipur and an MBA from the Asper School of Business.
Ayodele Ibinaiye
Chair, Price Institute of Advanced Manufacturing and Mechatronics
📧 aibinaiye@rrc.ca | 📞 431-844-5746
Ayodele Ibinaiye brings a powerful blend of technical expertise and strategic leadership to the manufacturing and professional development sectors. With a bachelor’s in chemical engineering and a master’s in process engineering, he is also a certified Project Management Professional (PMP) and an active member of Engineers Geoscientists Manitoba.
As Chair of the Price Institute, Ayodele oversees academy portfolios and provides managerial support to the applied research team, fostering impactful collaborations with industry partners. He has successfully led numerous end-to-end projects in highly automated food and beverage manufacturing environments, consistently delivering results that exceed expectations. He is passionate about designing and implementing tailored learning and development programs that empower teams and drive innovation through knowledge sharing and operational excellence.
Poonamjot Sharma
Administrative Assistant to the Director
Poonamjot Sharma is a highly organized and detail-oriented administrative professional with a strong background in project management, business analysis and customer service. She currently serves as Administrative Assistant at the Price Institute, where she supports departmental operations, coordinates events, manages procurement and financial processes and facilitates communication across teams.
With a proven ability to streamline workflows and enhance operational efficiency, she brings expertise in Microsoft Office 365, Google Workspace and specialized administrative platforms including Maestro. Her experience includes drafting contracts, managing budgets, supporting academic processes and working closely with students, faculty and external partners.
Poonamjot holds an Advanced Diploma in Business Technology Management and is a Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM). She is passionate about mentorship, collaboration and supporting student success in a positive learning environment.
Faculty
Dr. Navjot Sidhu
Instructor, Advanced Manufacturing
Dr. Navjot Sidhu is a dedicated academic professional with over 15 years of experience in higher education, specializing in cybersecurity, data science and emerging technologies. At the Price Institute, she teaches Cybersecurity for Industry 4.0, Artificial Intelligence and Business Intelligence to diploma students, as well as micro-credential courses such as AI for Advanced Manufacturing, Python and Data Analysis Essentials.
Dr. Sidhu holds a Ph.D. in Computer Science and Engineering, a Master of Technology in Computer Engineering and a Bachelor of Technology in Computer Science and Engineering. She is also CCNA and CyberOps certified and has completed a Post-Degree Diploma in Network Security and a Management Certificate.
She actively mentors students through applied projects, research guidance and academic advising, encouraging real-world problem-solving and career-focused learning. Her research contributions include the development of real-time testbeds and machine learning-based intrusion detection methods, with multiple publications in cybersecurity domains such as DDoS mitigation, cloud security and intrusion detection.
Zohreh Sedaghati
Instructor, Advanced Manufacturing
Zohreh Sedaghati holds a B.Sc. in Electronic Engineering and has industry experience in telecommunications, quality assurance and PLC programming. She later pursued graduate-level coursework in mechatronics, strengthening her foundation in automation and control systems.
In 2019, she earned her M.Sc. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Manitoba, where her research focused on experimental optoelectronic systems and modelling. Her work was presented at international conferences and published in a peer-reviewed journal.
Zohreh has taught as a sessional instructor at several institutions in Manitoba, including RRC Polytech and the International College of Manitoba, delivering courses in statistics, engineering fundamentals and mechatronics-related topics. She also worked as a Test Engineer in the agricultural technology sector, contributing to the development and testing of grain analysis systems.
She joined the Price Institute in 2025, contributing to course development and instruction in robotics, industrial automation and control systems. Zohreh is an Engineer-in-Training (EIT) and holds certifications in Six Sigma, PCB design and PLC technologies. She is passionate about applied, interdisciplinary engineering education.
Cory Roth-Masson
Instructor, Advanced Manufacturing
Cory Roth-Masson is an instructor with over 15 years of experience in manufacturing, engineering and education. At the Price Institute, he designs and teaches courses in additive manufacturing, mechatronics and leading change, and contributes to course development initiatives.
Previously, Cory held roles at The Boeing Company, where he led Lean and Agile initiatives, and at Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters, where he facilitated strategic planning and Lean workshops for Manitoba manufacturers. Earlier in his career, he worked at Malach Metal, focusing on quality improvements and operational efficiency.
Cory holds dual B.Sc. degrees and a Mechanical Engineering degree from the University of Manitoba, along with a Lean Certified Blackbelt designation. His expertise includes digital application development, electric circuit design, CNC programming and 3D modelling.
Troy Michaels
Instructor, Mechatronics
Troy Michaels is a Mechanical Engineering Technologist with over 30 years of experience in manufacturing, including aerospace composite manufacturing, automotive production, injection moulding and sheet metal fabrication. His expertise includes CNC machining, 5-axis programming, robot and machine calibration, automation, tool design and CAD/CAM software.
At Boeing Canada, he led the implementation and automation of aircraft part inspections on 5-axis CNC machines, improving quality verification for more than 200,000 commercial aircraft components. His work also included developing advanced calibration methods and implementing laser-based inspection technologies.
At RRC Polytech, Troy develops and teaches courses in manufacturing automation, Industry 4.0 and composites. He is passionate about hands-on learning and helping students and industry partners apply advanced automation strategies.
Applied Research (CAMTT)
Dr. Baltej Singh Rupal
Research Chair, Advanced Manufacturing and Mechatronics
Dr. Baltej Singh Rupal serves as the Research Chair in Advanced Manufacturing and Mechatronics at RRC Polytech and leads the Centre for Automation and Manufacturing Technology Transfer (CAMTT), the applied research arm of the Price Institute.
His work focuses on making emerging technologies in automation, artificial intelligence, robotics and digital manufacturing accessible to small and medium-sized manufacturers across Canada. With over a decade of experience in industry and academia, he has worked in automotive manufacturing, CNC machining, additive manufacturing and AI-enabled inspection.
Before joining RRC Polytech, he led AI-powered inspection and intelligent design projects and established applied research programs focused on advanced manufacturing technologies. He holds a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering and is a Professional Engineer (P.Eng.), with an active research profile that includes peer-reviewed publications and international collaborations.
RRC Polytech campuses are located on the lands of the Anishinaabeg, Ininiwak, Anishininwak, Dakota Oyate, and Denésuline, and the National Homeland of the Red River Métis.
We recognize and honour Treaty 3 Territory Shoal Lake 40 First Nation, the source of Winnipeg’s clean drinking water. In addition, we acknowledge Treaty Territories which provide us with access to electricity we use in both our personal and professional lives.