Michelle Heinz is a manager in local government administration. Her focus is innovative process development and leveraging the strengths of the colleagues she works with to provide constant improvements to process workflows. These updates benefit the operational divisions in an era of digitization. Prior to her administrative role, she managed municipal engineering and public works’ trades divisions that were responsible for maintenance of civic infrastructure, public facilities and culturally significant structures. Originally from the private sector, she enjoys applying business solutions to local governance asset management issues and corporate initiatives.

Michelle is a third-generation East Vancouver metal manufacturer specialized in the design, fabrication, and installation of custom structures. The family businesses evolved to include owning and operating a non-ferrous foundry, machine shops, custom welding and fabrication shops in addition to closely partnering with notable private sector contractors, trades, suppliers and construction companies in British Columbia and across Canada. These partnerships resulted in the construction, renovation and enhancements to iconic buildings, public art, parks, private residences, hotels and restaurants.

Michelle’s doctoral research will investigate what factors impact the advancement of women in senior leadership in the Canadian manufacturing and construction industries. Having worked on construction sites and in manufacturing facilities since the 1990s she has observed that the low proportion of women advancing through industry and into leadership does not meet the pending technical trades and skills gap.

Michelle holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of British Columbia (1998), a Bachelor of Education from Lakehead University (2006), and a Masters of Business Administration from the University of Victoria (2016).