Michael MaidmentICD.DStart a conversation

Michael Maidment, ICD.D

Building StrongerInstitutions.Creating LastingCommunity Impact.

Transformational CEO, governance leader, and systems-change strategist with more than 25 years of experience leading major Canadian charities, shaping public policy, and mobilizing philanthropy to address complex community challenges.

View Leadership Impact View CV

Currently

President & CEO

Ottawa Community Foundation

25+

Years Leadership Experience

12+

Years as CEO

$500M+

Assets & Community Resources Stewarded

Civic Leadership

Mayor's Youth Homelessness Initiative

Leadership Philosophy

Leading beyond the organization.

The most important work of leadership is not simply managing an organization—it is building institutions capable of creating lasting impact long after individual leaders move on.

Throughout my career, I have focused on helping organizations navigate periods of transformation while strengthening governance, building partnerships, and positioning them for long-term success.

Purpose Before Programs

Clarity of mission is the foundation. Strategy and programs follow conviction, not the other way around.

Strong Governance Creates Strong Institutions

Disciplined boards and rigorous oversight are what carry organizations through change and beyond any single leader.

Collaboration Drives Greater Impact

The most stubborn community challenges are solved at the seams—between sectors, mandates and disciplines.

Sustainable Change Requires Systems Thinking

Lasting outcomes come from changing the system around an issue, not only the symptoms of it.

Featured Impact

Transforming organizations. Strengthening communities.

President & CEO

OTTAWA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION

Mobilizing Philanthropy at Civic Scale

Leading one of Canada's largest community foundations, Michael oversees more than $300 million in charitable assets and helps mobilize philanthropy to address some of the region's most pressing challenges. Under his leadership, the Foundation has strengthened its role as a community convener, bringing together donors, governments, businesses, and nonprofit organizations to advance solutions in areas including youth homelessness, climate action, and community wellbeing. Under Michael's leadership, the Foundation has expanded its role as a civic leader and community convener, including co-leading the City of Ottawa's Youth Homelessness Champions Table alongside the Mayor of Ottawa to advance collaborative solutions to youth homelessness.

President & CEO

OTTAWA REGIONAL CANCER FOUNDATION

Transforming Community Cancer Care

Led the most significant strategic transformation in the Foundation's history, repositioning the organization from a traditional cancer research funder to a provider of direct community-based cancer support services. The transformation resulted in the creation of Eastern Ontario's first Community Cancer Hub, improving access to non-medical support programs for individuals and families affected by cancer.

Chief Executive Officer

OTTAWA FOOD BANK

Building a Food Security Leader

Repositioned one of Canada's largest food banks from a traditional food distribution organization into a recognized leader in food security, nutrition, and public policy. Through strategic partnerships, innovative programming, and a focus on health outcomes, the organization expanded its community impact while significantly increasing its public profile, donor engagement, and annual revenue by more than 70%, creating a stronger and more sustainable platform for long-term growth.

Advisor & Architect

PUBLIC POLICY & SYSTEMS CHANGE

Turning Advocacy Into Action

Helped shape transformative public policy initiatives including Canada's National Strategy to Combat Human Trafficking and the City of Ottawa's first Poverty Reduction Strategy. Throughout his career, Michael has brought together governments, community organizations, healthcare institutions, and business leaders to address complex challenges through collaboration and systems-level thinking.

Michael Maidment, portrait in an institutional setting

Leadership Philosophy

The most important work of leadership is not simply managing organizations—it is building institutions capable of creating lasting impact long after individual leaders move on.

Selected Leadership Achievements

A career defined by transformation and impact.

Organizational transformation, governance leadership, public policy influence, and community impact.

Co-Chair, Youth Homelessness Champions Table

Co-chairing a city-wide leadership initiative alongside the Mayor of Ottawa focused on ending youth homelessness. Bringing together government, philanthropy, healthcare, business, and community organizations to accelerate collaborative solutions and improve outcomes for vulnerable young people.

Established Eastern Ontario's First Community Cancer Hub

Led the most significant transformation in the Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundation's history, repositioning the organization from a traditional cancer research funder to a provider of community-based cancer support services and creating a new model of care for individuals and families affected by cancer.

Helped Shape Canada's National Strategy to Combat Human Trafficking

Contributed to national policy development and advocacy efforts that informed Canada's response to human trafficking, working alongside government and community partners to address one of the country's most complex social issues.

Helped Shape Ottawa's First Poverty Reduction Strategy

As Chair of the City of Ottawa's Poverty Issues Advisory Committee and a member of the strategy's steering committee, Michael contributed to the development of Ottawa's first Poverty Reduction Strategy, helping bring together government, community organizations, and stakeholders around a coordinated approach to reducing poverty and improving quality of life.

Increased Fundraising Revenue by More Than 70%

Expanded donor engagement, strengthened public awareness, and helped position the Ottawa Food Bank as one of Canada's leading voices on food security, nutrition, and poverty.

Chaired Feed Ontario

Provided governance leadership to Ontario's provincial network of food banks, helping strengthen sector collaboration, advocacy, and organizational effectiveness.

Governance Educator

Served as an instructor in the University of Ottawa Faculty of Law's Board of Directors Certificate Program, teaching Legal and Ethical Governance to current and aspiring board members.

Parliamentary Witness

Invited to provide expert testimony before committees of the House of Commons and the Senate of Canada on issues including poverty, food security, and human trafficking.

Stewarded More Than $500 Million in Charitable Assets and Community Resources

Throughout his career, Michael has helped steward, mobilize, and strengthen more than half a billion dollars in charitable assets, fundraising revenue, grants, and community investments across philanthropy, healthcare, food security, and social services.

Governance & Board Leadership

Governance experience across multiple sectors.

An experienced CEO, board chair, director, governance educator, and ICD.D-designated governance professional with leadership experience across healthcare, philanthropy, social services, community organizations, and public policy.

Designation

ICD.D

Institute of Corporate Directors—Canada's most rigorous certification for board directors.

Governance Educator

Instructor, University of Ottawa

Instructor in the University of Ottawa's Board of Directors Certificate Program, teaching Legal and Ethical Governance. Experience as both practitioner and educator brings a unique perspective on board effectiveness, risk oversight, strategy, and accountability.

Civic Leadership

Co-Chair

Youth Homelessness Champions Table

Working alongside the Mayor of Ottawa to advance a community-wide strategy focused on ending youth homelessness through collaboration, innovation, and collective action.

Chair

Feed Ontario

Provided governance leadership to Ontario's provincial network of food banks, strengthening sector collaboration, advocacy, and effectiveness.

Chair

City of Ottawa Poverty Issues Advisory Committee

Convened community voices and stakeholders to advise the City of Ottawa on poverty reduction and quality of life for vulnerable residents.

Board Appointments

Co-Chair

Food Banks Canada National Governance & Structure Task Force

Director

Mississippi River Health Alliance

Director

Crossroads Children's Mental Health Centre

Director

OrKidstra

Director

Ottawa Grace Manor

Director

InItLive Inc.

Expertise matrix

Areas of board contribution

Board Leadership

Governance

Strategy

Risk Oversight

Board Effectiveness

CEO Evaluation

Succession Planning

Organizational Leadership

Organizational Transformation

Stakeholder Relations

Strategic Communications & Reputation Management

External & Public Impact

Public Policy

ESG

Crisis Governance

Signature Keynote

"Potential is everywhere. Opportunity is not."

Speaking & Presentations

Helping leaders navigate transformation.

Drawing on two decades at the helm of major Canadian charities and contributions to national policy, on topics across leadership, governance, philanthropy, and systems change.

Leadership, Transformation & Resilience

Potential Is Everywhere. Opportunity Is Not.

A powerful keynote about leadership, resilience, opportunity, and belonging. Drawing on his journey from rural Newfoundland to leading some of Canada's most respected charitable organizations, Michael explores the people and opportunities that shape our lives—and our responsibility to create those opportunities for others.

Leading Through Transformation

How organizations adapt, innovate, and evolve while maintaining trust, culture, and momentum during periods of significant change.

Leading Through Crisis: Maintaining Trust When Everything Is on the Line

Drawing on real-world experience navigating governance failures, reputational challenges, organizational change, and public scrutiny, Michael shares practical lessons for leaders facing uncertainty and crisis.

Building Partnerships That Solve Complex Problems

How governments, businesses, healthcare institutions, nonprofits, and communities can work together to create meaningful and lasting change. Drawing on experiences leading cross-sector initiatives including the Youth Homelessness Champions Table, Michael shares practical lessons on aligning diverse stakeholders around a common purpose and creating momentum for lasting change.

Governance & Strategic Leadership

Governance in Times of Uncertainty

Drawing on experience as a CEO, board chair, director, ICD.D-designated governance professional, and instructor in the University of Ottawa's Board of Directors Certificate Program, Michael explores how boards can effectively oversee risk, strategy, culture, and organizational performance in an increasingly complex environment.

Crisis, Governance & the Boardroom

Lessons for directors and executives on leading through organizational crises while maintaining accountability, trust, and confidence.

Building Institutions That Last

The greatest measure of leadership is not what is accomplished during a leader's tenure, but what continues to thrive after they leave. This keynote explores how leaders build organizations that endure.

Philanthropy, Community Impact & Social Change

The Future of Philanthropy

How changing donor expectations, intergenerational wealth transfer, and emerging technologies are reshaping the future of giving.

Community Foundations as Civic Leaders

The evolving role of community foundations as conveners, catalysts, and community leaders. Using real-world examples from climate action, youth homelessness, and community wellbeing initiatives, Michael explores how foundations can move beyond grantmaking to become conveners, catalysts, and leaders of community change.

From Charity to Systems Change

Moving beyond service delivery to address root causes and influence long-term community outcomes.

AI, Humanity & the Future of Community

Exploring the opportunities and challenges artificial intelligence presents for organizations, communities, and human connection.

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Executive Bio & Downloads