“I am delighted to welcome our new board members who represent a wide range of interests within our industry,” stated Gary Bennewies, CAIP, Chair of CRIC. “The new and returning directors bring the leadership and expertise that CRIC needs to continue to advance the practice of research, analytics, and insights in Canada.”
Jessica Gibson is Part-Owner and Senior Vice President at CRC Research, Canada’s largest qualitative field service company, where she has been on the frontlines for more than two decades in both leadership and hands-on capacities. Jessica leads the qualitative research department and is responsible for key account services, mentoring a team of moderators, and innovating research techniques. As a member of the CRIC Board, Jessica aims to support continued innovation in the industry, especially in the practice of qualitative research, and to expand CRIC’s representation of the insights sector from British Columbia. Jessica is a graduate of the University of Western Ontario and she also serves as a member of CRIC’s Qualitative Research Thought Leadership Council.
Jean-Marc Léger, CEO of Leger, is an economist who founded Leger in 1986 with his father, Marcel Léger. Under his leadership, the company has become the largest Canadian-owned market research and analytics company and has recently made a major technological shift with 11 acquisitions (including Ressac, a digital agency), the creation of the Leger Analytics (LEA) division, and the development of the largest proprietary panel in Canada, Leger Opinion (LEO). As a founding member of the CRIC Board, Jean-Marc has played a critical role in supporting the growth of CRIC and he will continue to support efforts to unite the industry. As the North American Leader for ESOMAR, he will also support the growth of CRIC’s strategic partnership with ESOMAR.
Stephanie McIsaac, CAIP is the Senior Vice President and Practice Leader of the Retail, Real Estate, Travel, and Gaming Sector at Environics Analytics. She brings more than 10 years of experience in research, analytics, and geodemography to help clients use data to solve their business challenges. With expertise in both primary research and new approaches in the big data space, Stephanie will help CRIC embrace new technologies and data sources, and play a role in asserting CRIC’s high privacy standards. Stephanie holds an Honours Bachelor of Business Administration degree from the University of Guelph, is a research analyst postgraduate from Georgian College, and is a Certified Analytics and Insights Professional (CAIP).
Michael Williams is the President and founder of Advanis, a full-service research agency that prides itself on creating cutting-edge solutions and approaches to improve the data and tools its clients use to make their decisions. As a member of the CRIC Board, Michael will work to support the increased use of newer technologies in gathering data and the increased use of artificial intelligence to curtail fraud and enhance data quality. He will also continue to support CRIC’s advocacy for regulatory initiatives that protect the public from fraud but do not restrict the industry’s access to respondents for legitimate research purposes. Michael has a BSc in Computer Science and an MBA from the University of Alberta.
CRIC also thanks the organization’s three departing, founding board members, Barry Watson, CAIP, FCRIC (Environics Research), Frank Graves, CAIP, FRIC (Ekos), and Ed Gibson, CAIP, FRIC (CRC Research). Their leadership has allowed CRIC to quickly establish itself as the voice of the research, analytics, and insights industry in Canada. We are also grateful that all three have agreed to continue to offer their leadership to CRIC. As past chair of CRIC, Barry will continue to serve as a strategic advisor on the CRIC Executive Committee. Frank will continue to serve as a chair of CRIC’s Public Opinion Research Thought Leadership Council. And Ed will continue to support the growth of CRIC as part of the CRIC Membership Committee.
About CRIC
The Canadian Research Insights Council (CRIC) is Canada’s voice of the research, analytics and insights profession both domestically and globally. CRIC represents the highest standards, ethics and best practices; provides effective promotion and advocacy of the industry; serves as a source of information and thought leadership; and is a forum for collective industry action.
For more information, visit www.canadianresearchinsightscouncil.ca or contact John Tabone at [email protected].
Contact Us
For more information, contact John Tabone, Chief Administrative Officer:
