Michael Maidment, ICD.D

Currently serving as President and CEO of the Ottawa Community Foundation, Michael leads an organization stewarding more than $300 million in charitable assets and mobilizing philanthropy to address some of the most pressing challenges facing communities today. Throughout his career, he has led major Canadian organizations working at the intersection of poverty reduction, food security, community health, philanthropy, and public policy.

Michael is widely recognized for leading organizational transformation. He repositioned the Ottawa Cancer Foundation from a traditional cancer research funder into a provider of community-based cancer support services and established Eastern Ontario's first Community Cancer Hub. As CEO of the Ottawa Food Bank, he helped redefine food security through a health-focused approach that strengthened nutrition, partnerships, and community outcomes. He has also contributed to transformative public policy initiatives, including Canada's National Strategy to Combat Human Trafficking and the City of Ottawa's first Poverty Reduction Strategy.

An ICD.D-designated governance professional, Michael brings extensive experience working with boards and executive teams to strengthen governance, navigate risk, align strategy, and lead through periods of uncertainty and change. He has served as a board chair, director, and governance leader across healthcare, philanthropy, social services, and community organizations, and is frequently called upon to speak on the evolving role of boards in an increasingly complex environment.

Raised in a small town in Newfoundland and Labrador in a family that struggled to make ends meet, he became the first member of his family to pursue post-secondary education and went on to lead some of Canada's most respected charitable organizations. His message is grounded in a belief that while potential is everywhere, opportunity is not—and that great leadership is about creating the conditions for others to succeed.

Whether speaking about leadership, governance, philanthropy, systems change, organizational transformation, or resilience, Michael leaves audiences with practical insights, renewed optimism, and a deeper understanding of how individuals, boards, and institutions can work together to create lasting impact.