Leila Bautista

Background

About Leila Bautista

As Manager of the Premier's Task Force Secretariat, Leila Bautista helps shape high-impact initiatives across government and was recently named a finalist for the 2025 Premier's Award of Excellence and Innovation in the Emerging Leader category. In her base role as Senior Economist and Manager of Sector Insights with the BC Ministry of Agriculture and Food, she leads strategic, data-driven projects that support smarter decision-making. Her work—including BC’s Trade Tool for agriculture and seafood—has become a vital resource for public service as well as food producers and processors across Canada. Leila holds a Master of Public Administration from the University of Victoria and an Honours Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Political Science from Wilfrid Laurier University (WLU). Her experience spans government roles in Ontario and Queensland, as well as private sector work in market research, data analysis, and consumer insights. Originally from the Philippines, Leila immigrated to Canada in 2004 and now calls Victoria, BC home. She’s a passionate scuba diver and aspiring technical diver, serving on the Board of Directors for the Underwater Archaeological Society of BC. Leila also advocates for mental and physical wellness, drawing from her background as a varsity swimmer at WLU and beneficiary of the 1st Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT) Graduate Group in Canada through the BPD Society of BC.