Heather McGillivray began her career in the television industry in 1972 working on documentaries at the CTV Network. After obtaining her law degree she returned to television with Ironstar Communications, a production and distribution company which she and her husband owned. She was Executive Director of the Children's Broadcast Institute from 1987 to 1988. From 1991 to 1995 she was Vice President Programming at the Family Channel. She has served on the Boards of Directors of the Alliance for Children and Television and of the St. Joseph's Health Centre in Toronto. She is currently serving on the Board of Directors of the Independent Production Fund.