Vanna McDonald is a Director at INNOVATIVE, where she specializes in the design and execution of complex, data-driven research programs across a wide range of industries, particularly within the energy and utilities sectors and other regulated industries.
Vanna is an expert in complex methodological design, multivariate modeling, and data visualization. Her expertise lies in ensuring that complex data is transformed into clear, compelling stories that drive informed business strategies and communication. Vanna thrives when designing and supporting complex, multi-faceted projects with significant technical and logistical challenges.
Vanna has a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Political Science and Gender, Sexuality, and Women’s Studies, and a Master of Arts in Political Science from Simon Fraser University. Vanna is a published researcher whose academic research has focused on political behaviour and the social psychological roots of political polarization and identity politics.
Outside of work, Vanna spends her time on her hobby farm breeding heritage chickens and growing food and plants to sell in the community.
Pallavi Sodhi is a Consultant at INNOVATIVE, where she supports a wide variety of clients, including those in the energy sector, finance, transportation, and oil & gas industry. She brings expertise in qualitative research methods, with a focus on customer and stakeholder engagement, user experience (UX) research, and digital accessibility.
Pallavi has worked with numerous clients in various sectors, supporting customer engagement initiatives for cost of service/rate application fillings. She has experience in conducting stakeholder and customer research, including moderating focus groups, usability testing, customer advisory panels, and one-on-one interviews.
Pallavi also brings specialized expertise in UX research and digital accessibility. She is proficient in a wide range of UX research techniques, including heuristic evaluations, usability studies, A/B testing, tree testing, card sorting, user interviews, survey research, and cognitive walkthroughs. She ensures research activities are inclusive and accessible, applying standards such as WCAG, and incorporating assistive technology (NVDA) into survey and workbook testing to improve usability for diverse user groups.
Pallavi completed a Master’s degree in Human-Computer Interaction at Carleton University and holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of Waterloo.
In her free time, she can be found serving smashes on the badminton court, serving vocals in karaoke bars, and serving hot takes in her book club debates.
+1 (778) 928-3587
Max is a Senior Consultant at Innovative Research Group, providing insights on client projects through statistical analysis and working with quantitative and qualitative data.
Prior to joining INNOVATIVE, Max was a grant writer for non-profits, writing and managing grants and funded projects at organizations making change in British Columbia, Canada, and Colorado, USA. As part of a team, Max spearheaded the monitoring and evaluation process for a Vancouver non-profit doing an international development and capacity-building project.
Max has a Bachelor of Arts from McGill University and a master’s in public policy from Simon Fraser University.
To relax, Max likes watching TV and movies, reading historical fiction, and floating lazily on lakes.
As a Consultant at INNOVATIVE, Yam works on both quantitative and qualitative projects, supporting everything from data analysis to report creation for clients across various industries.
While at the University of Toronto, she conducted research for the Student Life to enhance the student experience in one of the academic programs and worked as a Research Assistant in behavioural research labs. She also gained experience in marketing and UX design, working at technology start-ups.
Yam completed a Bachelor of Science degree double majoring in Economics and Psychology at the University of Toronto.
Outside of work, Yam enjoys travelling, watching sunsets, spending time in the nature, and playing card and board games with her friends.
Trisha is a Consultant at Innovative Research Group, based in the Toronto office. She works on end-to-end reporting for both qualitative and quantitative research projects, delivering insights to clients across a range of industries.
Prior to INNOVATIVE, Trisha gained valuable market research experience while working at an education startup. During her time at the University of British Columbia, Trisha contributed to an analytical project focused on DEI within a rapidly growing tech organization. She played a key role in developing a case study model that enhances both employee and company well-being through the application of statistical analysis to historical data.
Trisha holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of British Columbia, with dual specializations in Business Technology Management and Organizational Behaviour and Human Resources.
Outside of work, Trisha enjoys contemporary and jazz dance, tending to her plants, and reading fiction.
Erin is a HR & Operations Manager at Innovative Research Group, managing HR topics and supporting on Innovative’s day-to-day operations.
Prior to joining INNOVATIVE, Erin worked in operations and HR for several high-growth start ups in Toronto. Erin holds a Bachelor of Arts from McGill University and a Master’s in History from the University of Toronto.
Outside of work, Erin likes to spend out with friends and stay active by strength training or being in nature.
Zoe is a Senior Consultant at Innovative Research Group, who helps to deliver insights for clients through statistical analysis and compelling visualization of quantitative and qualitative data.
Prior to joining INNOVATIVE, Zoe spearheaded a variety of projects focused on uncovering customer perceptions and needs. She provided actionable insights that shaped strategic policy decisions for clients across public and private sectors, including crown corporations, financial institutions, and international charities.
Zoe received a BSc in Psychology from Concordia University and an MSc in Economic Psychology from Tilburg University in the Netherlands. Her master’s thesis looked at the effect of scent on consumer choice. She most recently earned a Graduate Certificate in Economic Analysis for Public Policy.
When she’s not working, Zoe can be found enjoying a good meal with friends and family, curled up with a book (historical or contemporary fiction) or attempting to upcycle her latest thrift find.
Alexandra is the Executive Assistant to the President and Founder at Innovative, her main role is to provide administrative support with all necessary tasks and help bridge communication between the team, clients and the president. She is also responsible for overseeing the CRM platforms for managing contacts and supporting campaigns.
Alexandra has a Bachelor of Arts from the University of British Columbia with a major in Psychology and a minor in Political Science. She is currently pursuing a post-graduate diploma in Sustainable Business Leadership at the British Columbia Institute of Technology. She brings over 8 years of work experience in administration, project management and logistics specifically in the mining and lumber sector.
She is fluent in English, Spanish and Portuguese. She is passionate about creating positive impact through sustainable business. In her spare time, she loves to play the guitar and go for a hike in the woods with her family.
Jia is a Research Analyst at Innovative, where she contributes to client projects across diverse industries by providing quantitative and qualitative support.
During university, Jia worked on a capstone research project examining the long-term effects of short-term rentals on Canada’s housing market. By combining quantitative and qualitative analysis, the study explored how platforms such as Airbnb impacts the availability and affordability of long-term rental units in major Canadian cities. Her project earned the 2024 SDA Capstone Excellence Award, presented annually to the top-performing presentation group.
Jia is currently completing a Bachelor of Arts, majoring in Political Science with a minor in Social Data Analytics.
In her free time, Jia enjoys hiking, playing the piano, and exploring downtown Vancouver with her friends.
Miao is a Senior Consultant at Innovative Research Group, where she collaborates closely with clients and team members at all stages of projects, from designing methodologically strong research to delivering insights that drive actions.
Before joining INNOVATIVE, Miao led a wide range of quantitative and qualitative research projects in Saskatchewan. Her client-centric research supported crown corporations, government ministries, post-secondary institutions, Indigenous organizations, non-profits and financial institutions in understanding, communicating, and growing with their audience.
Miao holds a Master of Science in Marketing and a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture from the University of Saskatchewan. Her most recent academic research qualitatively explored women academics’ self-citation patterns through a marketing lens.
In her personal time, Miao enjoys learning French and attending live performances of all kinds.
Carmen is a Consultant at Innovative Research Group, where her expertise lies in quantitative research methods and data analysis. She contributes to numerous quantitative research projects at INNOVATIVE and lends support to the company’s qualitative research efforts. Her work plays a pivotal role in providing insights to clients navigating a wide spectrum of challenges, ranging from communications to branding.
Prior to joining INNOVATIVE, Carmen conducted an in-depth study on the response countries around the world took to the COVID-19 pandemic. More specifically, she focused on understanding the relationship between COVID-19 mortality rates and factors such as healthcare accessibility, economic performance, and the broader political landscape.
As someone passionate about the future of our society, Carmen worked with the BC Council for International Cooperation (BCCIC) on a data visualization project centred on sustainability. Her involvement included researching and mapping organizations worldwide that tackle pressing global issues like poverty, inequality, climate change.
Carmen holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Simon Fraser University. In her leisure time, Carmen enjoys spending time with her family and friends, trying new foods and experimenting with new recipes.
+1 604-706-2518
As Director of IT Strategy and Innovation at INNOVATIVE, Raymond is responsible for developing and maintaining software solutions for all our qualitative and quantitative research projects. He also maintains, researches and implements information technology and strategic solutions for all our technological operations.
With over 10 years of experience in the industry and armed with a background in software development, Raymond brings a professional and reliable presence to our team. Raymond is always delving into new technologies and advancements and researching the latest trends in software applications and data management.
Raymond graduated from the Computer Systems Technology program at British Columbia Institute for Technology (BCIT) and has completed the 3D and Classical Animation programs at Vancouver Film School.
When time permits, Raymond can be found on the golf course or on the ski hills. He also enjoys good food and is an avid home chef and baker.
As a Consultant at Innovative Research Group, Cherry provides comprehensive support by preparing, analyzing, and visually representing quantitative and qualitative data to offer valuable insights for both internal and client projects.
Before joining INNOVATIVE, Cherry honed her skills in statistical methods and tools such as R, Python, and SQL during her time as a graduate student at the University of British Columbia, where she led multiple academic projects, including one analyzing the factors contributing to traffic accidents in New York. Additionally, she gained valuable experience in project management and healthcare research projects at Ipsos prior to pursuing her graduate education.
Cherry enjoys playing badminton during the winter and going hiking during the summer. She is on her journey to explore as many board games as she can.
Mesgna is a Research Analyst at INNOVATIVE, where he has supported a variety of projects through survey design, report development, data visualization, recruitment logistics, and project management for internal and client projects.
Before joining INNOVATIVE, Mesgna obtained a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the Sauder School of Business, specializing in marketing with a concentration in business analytics. During his degree, he held previous positions as a research analyst where he gained experience conducting executive interviews for a research platform focused on advancing equity, diversity, and inclusion in finance. He also created pitch decks and organized data to support the platform’s development.
At INNOVATIVE, Mesgna has managed the logistics and reported on many qualitative projects. He prepared customer satisfaction reports for various organizations, focusing on metrics such as pricing, transmission, and energy. Additionally, he is the project lead for a recurring tracking report where he is responsible for managing the analysis, reporting, and client relations.
In his free time, Mesgna is a big fan of stand-up comedy and enjoys going to shows. He also enjoys training Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and playing pick-up basketball on the weekends.
+1 (236) 660-9585
Raney is a Consultant at INNOVATIVE, based out of the Vancouver office. Raney manages and supports quantitative and qualitative research projects for clients in Western Canada and across the country.
Raney first joined Innovative while completing her degree at the University of British Columbia. After graduating with high distinction from UBC’s political science program, Raney began working full-time at Innovative in 2023.
Before joining Innovative, Raney worked on the Global News Decision Desk during the 2021 Canadian Federal Election and as a Youth Program Facilitator at Archway Community Services in Abbotsford, where she worked to support young immigrants to Canada.
When Raney isn’t working, you can often find her hiking in the North Shore Mountains, reading, or busy knitting a sweater while watching her favourite TV shows.
416-948-3009
Martha is a Senior Consultant at Innovative Research Group, who helps with providing insights in a variety of projects as well as working with quantitative and qualitative data.
Before coming to Innovative, she was a Program Evaluator & Research Assistant, who created a baseline research project for the organization that focused on obtaining feedback from clients through interviews and surveys. During her time at Ryerson, she was a Sociology Statistics Peer Mentor, where she supported students in learning statistics and resolved students’ technical difficulties with the statistical software of SPSS.
Martha has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology with a minor in Psychology from Ryerson University, and an Ontario College Graduate Certificate from Humber College’s Research Analyst Program.
During her downtime, Martha is spending time with family or going on walks. As well, she tries to keep up with her favourite hockey and football teams.
+1 (416) 458-9638
Alison is a Consultant at Innovative Research Group, where she provides quantitative and qualitative support through statistical analysis across the full range of industries that INNOVATIVE serves.
Before coming to INNOVATIVE, Alison was already an experienced marketing specialist. Alison maximizes insights for decision-makers through comprehensive insights drawn from analyzing primary data, interviews, focus groups, and crafting compelling market analysis.
During her time at the University of Toronto, Alison mastered various statistical methods and tools (R and SAS) through leading numerous academic projects and using those tools to extract meaningful insights from data. At INNOVATIVE, Alison is using her expertise in analysis and data visualization to facilitate the entire research process, including creating custom reports and presentations.
Alison holds a Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics and statistics from the University of Toronto, and a Master of Applied Analytics degree from the University of Melbourne.
In her spare time, Alison enjoys travelling and spending time with her family and friends.
Matthew is a Consultant at INNOVATIVE, supporting a variety of projects through survey design and data visualization to produce actionable insights for clients.
Before joining INNOVATIVE, Matthew earned a graduate degree from Queen’s University. While studying international relations, he used qualitative research to compare perspectives on international disputes from across the academic field. Matthew’s most recent research involved a multidisciplinary analysis of intra-alliance disputes, specifically the 2021 AUKUS incident between the United States and France.
Matthew holds a master’s degree in political studies from Queen’s University, and a bachelor’s degree in economics from Wilfrid Laurier University.
At INNOVATIVE, Matthew continues to develop his skills in analysis and methodology, always striving to deliver clear and applicable findings. Balancing function with design, he excels at distilling challenging concepts into intuitive and visually appealing reports. Looking ahead, Matthew is excited to continue to work closely with clients and develop into a key project stakeholder.
+1 604-900-6226
Colin is a Vice President at Innovative overseeing the Vancouver team with extensive experience in quantitative research methods, communications research, and data visualization. In over 10 years at Innovative, Colin has designed and executed public opinion research for many of Western Canada’s largest crown corporations, utilities, energy companies, and financial regulators.
Colin has more than 15 years of experience working on academic and professional research teams; and has been at Innovative since 2014. Colin’s approach to research focuses on careful research designs that help clients understand not just correlation but cause and effect.
Colin completed an MA in Political Science at the University of British Columbia. Prior to joining Innovative, Colin taught quantitative research methods at Simon Fraser University.
In his downtime, Colin is likely to be cooking for friends and family or hiking on the North Shore mountains.
+1 416-640-4132
As Vice President of Operations, Dan is responsible for all aspects of finance and operations at Innovative. Dan leads our efforts to bring our projects to market and ensure they are deployed and operated at scale.
Dan’s wealth of knowledge in operations stems from years of experience working with various levels of government, not-for-profit, and private sector entities by providing advice on strategic planning and organizational management. With 13 years of market research operating experience, Dan has deep expertise in research deployment, business development, and operational strategy.
In his spare time Dan plays in 2-3 hockey leagues, depending on the season. In the summer months, he heads north with his kayak.
+1 416-640-4128
Cliff is the Vice President of Data Management and IT at Innovative. Since 2005, Cliff has overseen all technical aspects of Innovative’s operations from field preparation, to data collection, quality assurance, and managing Innovative’s ongoing national online panel.
In order to provide clients with quality and accuracy in our research and analysis, there are a set of strict procedures in place to ensure data integrity. Cliff manages Innovative’s strict regimen for data cleaning, data analysis, and data presentation operations, which ensures precise results for clients. He has proudly done this for the past 15 years. Cliff has a Bachelor’s in Business Administration, along with diplomas in Business Management and Architecture.
Cliff enjoys family activities with his wife, two adorable daughters and dog. He enjoys riding motorcycles, which he has done for over 30 years, and has shared his knowledge and experience as a motorcycle instructor for several years.
+1 604-900-6227
Vanessa is a Director at INNOVATIVE, delivering for clients across the full range of industries that INNOVATIVE serves. The projects she works on cover a variety of topics from measuring public support and opposition, to public engagement, brand/concept testing, and evaluating corporate reputation. Vanessa is also experienced in managing qualitative research studies, from moderating focus groups, to conducting one-on-one interviews with senior executives and government officials.
Fluent in Mandarin and Cantonese, she brings her background in Chinese language research to bear, leading Innovative’s multicultural research projects across Canada. Vanessa has worked closely with clients on projects that target Chinese Canadians. Her research with this population has been featured in CBC News, Global News, and all major Chinese media outlets, including Sing Tao, Ming Pao, Fairchild TV, and OMNI TV News.
Vanessa is a member of the International Association of Business Communication (IABC). She has a Master of Arts in Communication from Simon Fraser University, a Master of Arts in Communication from Communication University of China in Beijing, and holds a Bachelor of Social Science in Government and Public Administration from the Chinese University of Hong Kong.
+1 416-640-4130
As one of Innovative’s Data Management and IT Technicians, Adam works closely with project leads and their research teams to build polished, custom surveys and online workbooks, optimized for user experience.
For over 10 years, Adam has been instrumental in putting the strategy and systems in place behind the scenes that allow research teams and diverse clients to thrive. His IT expertise comes from a fascination with technology – how it works and how it can be applied to make our lives easier. As a result, Adam always delivers out-of-the-box approaches and solutions that exceed client expectations.
During the weekend, you’ll likely find him at a film festival or out to dinner at one of his favourite restaurants.
+1 416‐528‐3296
Olga Rodriguez Sierra is a Director at Innovative where she works with a wide range of clients in the energy, sustainability, and finance sector. She is passionate about translating knowledge from basic academic research to actionable insights for real world problems. As a behavioural science practitioner, she applies a behavioural lens to build strategy and evidence-based approaches to diagnose and overcome barriers to enable behaviour change in all her projects.
Her more than 15 years of professional experience has taken her to Canada, the United States, Latin America, and Europe, where she has engaged with interdisciplinary teams in the design, execution, and evaluation of research programs and policies. With her extensive knowledge of judgement and decision-making, Olga is the in-house behavioural economics expert.
Olga received a BSc in Psychology from the National University of Mexico, an MSc in Neuroscience from the University of Tuebingen, and a PhD in Neural and Behavioural Sciences from Rutgers University. Her doctoral thesis focused on how emotions affect decision making and brain function.
In her spare time, Olga enjoys reading novels, traveling, and being outside in nature.
+1 416-640-4133
Julian Garas is a Vice President at Innovative where he manages multi-dimensional strategic research programs for government, not-for-profit and private sector clients, with emphasis on regulated industries.
Julian is also Innovative’s in-house Ontario energy regulatory affairs expert. Building on his experience working with a wide variety of Ontario LDCs (small, medium and large), Julian leads Innovative’s customer engagement thought leadership and is an integral part of all customer engagement programs. His comprehensive knowledge of all OEB decisions under the RRFE comes from years of working with clients from the first strategic planning session all the way to post-rate filing.
Julian has a postgraduate degree in Government Relations and Corporate Communications from Seneca College and Bachelor of Arts in Contemporary Studies (Honours) from Ryerson University. He is a news and politics junkie with an appetite for staying up to date with the latest policy debates, pop culture and sports.
+1 416-642-6341
Susan is a Vice President at Innovative and works with clients across a variety of sectors. On any given day, Susan is managing multiple projects using various methodologies, responsible for everything from survey design right through to providing insightful strategic advice. Clients rely on Susan for excellent project management that is grounded in twenty-plus years of research experience.
Having worked in the research field since 1995, Susan has a unique depth and breadth of experience and expertise that ensure clients achieve their research objectives. While working in Australia, Susan was awarded a highly respected customer service award by a large international corporation. She enjoys the creative aspects of designing and facilitating research programs to meet complex and unique client needs.
Susan studied sociology and Political Science at Bishop’s University in Lennoxville, Quebec.
When not working, Susan enjoys travelling, playing golf and tennis, and running an Airbnb.
+1 416-642-6429
Greg is the founder and President of Innovative Research Group. As its founder, Greg leads Innovative’s mission to evolve market research practices by transforming the latest developments in academia into proprietary models that deliver actionable insights. As President, Greg oversees Innovative’s methodical best practices and acts as the Lead Methodologist on projects across the organization.
As a former Principal Secretary, Greg has built a career at the intersection of public policy, communications and public opinion. With over 30 years of communications and opinion research experience, Greg uses a full range of research tools for a variety of government and corporate clients across industries such as financial services, healthcare and the energy and infrastructure sector.
Greg’s research has been highlighted in media across the country. He has been featured in many media outlets including Global TV, the Globe and Mail, the Hill Times, the National Post and various other PostMedia Network newspapers. In 2016, Greg received the Public Affairs Association of Canada Award of Distinction.
Greg has a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of British Columbia and has taken courses in data analyses, research methodologies, and management from Essex University, York University, and Harvard University.
When away from his desk, Greg can be found travelling between British Columbia, Ontario, and England to spend time with his wife and daughters.
+1 416-642-7177
Jason is a Vice President at Innovative, specialising in research across complex, highly regulated industries. Jason’s quantitative experience covers a wide array of analytical techniques from multivariate and time-series analysis to market modeling and sample design. On the qualitative side, Jason is an experienced interviewer and focus group moderator.
For over 15 years, Jason has been a sought-out advisor on regulatory issues, customer engagement programs, and customer satisfaction benchmarking. He has a unique ability to distill information about complex and heavily regulated industries into engagement programs that capture informed insights from consumers and the broader public.
Jason has a Bachelor of Commerce degree and a Master of Science degree in Managerial Economics, both from Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario.
When he’s not at work, Jason enjoys exploring Ontario’s wine country and wines.