Born in Thompson, Manitoba and raised in Newfoundland and Labrador, Michael has called Ottawa home for the past 25 years.

Michael has spent most of his career in the not-for-profit sector. Prior to joining the Ottawa Community Foundation, Michael led the Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundation as President and CEO and served as the CEO of the Ottawa Food Bank.

Michael has done significant work in the areas of policy development and government relations throughout his career.

  • Michael was a member of the roundtable that helped develop Canada’s first legislation on Human Trafficking. He has presented to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights, the Standing Senate Committee on Human Rights and the Standing Senate Committee on National Finance.
  • In the area of food insecurity, Michael served as the Board Chair of Feed Ontario, the provincial association of food banks and as a member of several national committees with Food Banks Canada.
  • Michael was the former chair of the City of Ottawa Poverty Issues Advisory Committee – a committee responsible for advising city councillors and senior city staff on issues related to poverty and was a member of the steering committee that developed Ottawa’s Poverty Reduction Strategy, passed by Council in 2010.

A self-professed governance, strategy and process geek, Michael is a student of the LEAN Management process, a member of the Canadian Institute of Corporate Directors (ICD) and has extensive experience leading strategic planning through a consultative and collaborative approach.

Michael has volunteered as a board member of OrKidstra, a local non-profit that brings music to marginalized communities, and served as a board member of the Ottawa Grace Manor long-term care facility and Crossroads Children’s Mental Health Centre. Michael has also volunteered with the United Way of Ottawa, Kanata Minor Hockey, and Special Olympics.

Keeping   Michael   grounded   are   his   wife   Leanne, a Director General of Communications with Public Safety Canada, children Emmanuelle and Gabriel, and the life-long pursuit of a sub-80 golf score. When not trying to fix his golf game, Michael can usually be found canoeing in Algonquin Provincial Park.