Heather Owen

Heather serves as the Senior Vice President of General Management, providing oversight to Leger’s research teams across Canada and the USA. At its core, her role is to ensure that Leger’s researchers are equipped with the right resources, direction, and tools to deliver client research that is insightful, high-impact, and actionable. Heather’s passion for the research industry drives her to explore how cutting-edge technologies like artificial intelligence, advanced analytics, visualization, and other technological advancements can elevate project outcomes.  

As the executive champion of Leger’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives, Heather brings both heart and rigour to building inclusive cultures and inclusive research methodologies. Her work drives equity not only within Leger but across the broader Insights’ community. She believes that diversity doesn’t just make research fairer, it makes it smarter, more creative, and more reflective of the world we seek to understand. 

Before joining Leger, Heather built a 25-year career with some of Canada’s most respected blue-chip organizations, leading national efforts in marketing, communications, government relations, sponsorship, philanthropy, and media. Career highlights include her leadership of RBC’s landmark sponsorship of the 2010 Olympic Winter Games, and the launch of the RBC GranFondo cycling series, which introduced mass-participation cycling events to Canada. 

Whether she’s guiding strategic direction, mentoring the next generation of researchers, or helping to shift corporate culture, Heather is valued for her clarity, energy, and purpose in all she does. She is committed to shaping the future of research, advancing corporate strategy, and enriching public discourse.