Director's Advisory Board

Winnie A. Liao is a connector who pushes boundaries, genuinely cares for all beings, and gets it done to make a positive impact.

As Chief Operating Officer for the City of Detroit since February 2026, Winnie leads a comprehensive portfolio spanning public safety, economic development, human resources, workforce strategy, transit, and technology. She oversees municipal operations with a focus on human-centered design and data-backed decision-making to transform services, enhance efficiency, and foster an accessible, equitable, innovative, and customer-focused experience for Detroit residents, employees, and businesses.

Winnie brings diverse executive, civic, and governance experience from leadership roles across technology, healthcare, management consulting, the State of Michigan, and Mastercard. She previously served as Treasurer for a statewide gubernatorial campaign, a former Board Member and Treasurer for Civilla, and currently serves as a Board Member of the United Way for Southeastern Michigan.

She earned her Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Michigan and her Master of Business Administration from the University of Notre Dame. Based in Southeast Michigan, Winnie is the mother of fraternal twin daughters and she enjoys cooking, kitesurfing, painting, and supporting the arts.