“Everything is figured out nicely and simply.”
Sarah Heppinstall is an accomplished executive leader, entrepreneur, and transformational strategist whose career has been defined by her ability to bring clarity, structure, and measurable results to complex organizations. With more than two decades of experience spanning construction, commercial real estate, project management, facilities management, and organizational transformation, she has established herself as a trusted leader known for delivering large-scale initiatives while cultivating high-performing teams. Throughout her professional journey, Sarah has consistently demonstrated that sustainable success is achieved through thoughtful leadership, disciplined execution, and a commitment to empowering people.
Born with a natural curiosity for how systems, organizations, and people work together, Sarah built her career on a foundation of project management excellence and strategic problem-solving. Her professional path began in the United Kingdom, where she developed expertise in project coordination and management while working on complex public and private sector initiatives. Early in her career, she gained valuable experience overseeing construction and facility projects that required precision, stakeholder alignment, and rigorous operational controls. These formative experiences provided the foundation for what would become a distinguished leadership career spanning multiple countries and industries.
As her responsibilities expanded, Sarah emerged as a leader capable of managing increasingly complex projects and portfolios. During her time with Faithful+Gould in London, she worked on major initiatives for organizations including the Royal Bank of Scotland and the Ministry of Justice. Managing programs across the United Kingdom exposed her to sophisticated governance frameworks, stakeholder management challenges, and large-scale project delivery environments. These experiences sharpened her ability to balance strategic objectives with operational realities while navigating diverse stakeholder interests.
Sarah’s transition to Canada marked a significant chapter in her professional growth. Joining Colliers Project Leaders as a Senior Project Manager, she worked closely with private-sector clients across commercial, retail, and mixed-use developments. Acting as an owner’s representative, she successfully guided complex projects from concept through execution while ensuring alignment between financial goals, operational requirements, and long-term business objectives. Her work during this period further strengthened her reputation as a trusted advisor capable of leading projects that required both technical expertise and strategic insight.
Her leadership capabilities became increasingly evident during her tenure with First Capital REIT, one of Canada’s leading owners, operators, and developers of mixed-use urban real estate. Rising through progressively senior roles to become Vice President of Construction, Sarah assumed responsibility for overseeing construction activities across an expansive national portfolio. Leading teams responsible for developments, redevelopment projects, and commercial property improvements across multiple provinces, she implemented standardized project delivery processes, improved operational consistency, and helped elevate organizational performance. Her ability to blend governance, project controls, and people leadership enabled significant improvements in execution and accountability throughout the organization.
A defining characteristic of Sarah’s leadership style is her commitment to creating scalable systems that support long-term organizational success. At First Capital REIT, she developed project delivery handbooks, strengthened onboarding programs, and championed technology adoption initiatives, including the implementation of Procore project management software. By focusing on governance, process improvement, and team development, she helped create an environment where project teams could consistently deliver successful outcomes while maintaining strong stakeholder relationships. Her efforts demonstrated her belief that sustainable excellence comes from building strong foundations rather than relying solely on individual performance.
Sarah’s executive leadership reached new heights when she joined Canadian Tire Corporation as Vice President of Design, Construction & Facilities. In this role, she led a team of more than eighty-five professionals responsible for the design, construction, and ongoing maintenance of over 1,800 retail locations. Managing a portfolio of this scale required exceptional strategic vision, operational discipline, and leadership capability. Sarah successfully drove significant cost savings through value engineering initiatives, modernized project delivery practices, implemented enterprise software platforms, and enhanced collaboration between corporate leadership and retail operators. Her ability to transform culture while simultaneously improving performance reinforced her reputation as a transformational executive.
Beyond her corporate accomplishments, Sarah has embraced entrepreneurship as the next phase of her professional journey. As the Founder and Principal of HEPPINSTALL PMO, she advises retailers, landlords, developers, and real estate organizations seeking greater visibility, predictability, and control across their project portfolios. Through her consultancy, she provides executive-level guidance on governance, portfolio management, project delivery frameworks, organizational transformation, and change management. Her work enables clients to access enterprise-level expertise while maintaining the agility and flexibility necessary to thrive in today’s rapidly evolving business environment.
In addition to her consulting practice, Sarah serves as Co-Founder and CEO of Wyrdwood Adventures Inc., an innovative hospitality and eco-tourism venture focused on creating immersive experiences centered around storytelling, wellness, and outdoor recreation. This entrepreneurial endeavor reflects her creativity, vision, and willingness to explore new opportunities beyond traditional industry boundaries. It also demonstrates her ability to apply leadership principles across diverse sectors while building organizations from the ground up.
Throughout her career, Sarah has remained committed to the principle that people are an organization’s most valuable asset. Her leadership philosophy is rooted in servant leadership, collaboration, and continuous learning. She believes that successful organizations are built by empowering individuals, fostering accountability, and creating environments where people can thrive. Her reputation as a mentor, coach, and trusted advisor has made her an influential leader both inside and outside the organizations she serves.
Sarah’s commitment to professional excellence is reflected in her educational achievements and industry credentials. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Project Management from Leeds Beckett University and a Master of Science in Project Management from the University of Greenwich. She is a Project Management Professional (PMP), a Chartered Project Manager Surveyor through the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), and a LEED Green Associate. These credentials underscore her dedication to lifelong learning and professional development while reinforcing the technical expertise that has supported her leadership success.
Beyond her professional responsibilities, Sarah actively contributes to the advancement of women in commercial real estate through her involvement with Commercial Real Estate Women (CREW). As a mentor, she is passionate about helping emerging leaders navigate their careers and realize their potential. She views mentorship as a mutually rewarding experience and believes that investing in future generations of leaders is essential for the continued growth and success of the industry.
Today, Sarah is actively pursuing board service opportunities where she can leverage her extensive experience in construction, real estate, governance, risk management, organizational transformation, and executive leadership. Her unique combination of corporate leadership, entrepreneurial experience, operational expertise, and strategic vision positions her to provide meaningful contributions in the boardroom. Organizations seeking guidance through growth, change, expansion, or transformation will benefit from her practical insights, collaborative leadership style, and proven ability to deliver results.
Character:
Sarah demonstrates integrity through her consistent commitment to servant leadership and the development of others. She leads with authenticity, accountability, and a genuine desire to create positive outcomes for both organizations and individuals. Her reputation as a trusted advisor reflects her strong ethical foundation and unwavering dedication to doing what is right.
Knowledge:
She possesses deep expertise in construction, commercial real estate, project management, facilities operations, and organizational transformation. Her international experience across Canada and the United Kingdom provides her with a broad perspective on business challenges and opportunities. She continuously invests in learning and professional development, ensuring her knowledge remains relevant and impactful.
Strategic:
Sarah excels at connecting long-term organizational goals with practical execution strategies. She has repeatedly demonstrated her ability to lead transformational initiatives, improve governance structures, and create scalable systems that drive sustainable success. Her entrepreneurial ventures further showcase her ability to identify opportunities, manage risk, and build organizations for future growth.
Communication:
An effective communicator who builds trust through transparency, collaboration, and active listening. She has extensive experience engaging executive leaders, boards, project teams, stakeholders, and external partners across complex environments. Her ability to simplify complicated challenges and align diverse groups around a common vision is one of her most valuable leadership strengths.
