We are excited to welcome Ian Bird as the new CEO of the Victoria Foundation.
Ian is a seasoned leader in the community foundation sector, with experience both in Canada and internationally, including his recent role as CEO of Community Foundations Australia and Canadian experience as the previous CEO at Community Foundations of Canada. He is also a former Olympian in field hockey, having represented Canada at two summer Olympic Games.
Born and raised on the west coast and a student at the University of British Columbia, Ian has strong ties to this region. He spent summers on Salt Spring Island and lived and worked in Greater Victoria while playing for the national field hockey team.
He brings a deep understanding of community building, collaboration and collective action.
Meet Ian and hear his vision for the future
To mark his first day, we invite you to hear directly from Ian through a series of welcome videos, where he shares what drew him back to the region, his approach to leadership and his vision for the future of the Victoria Foundation.
- Picking up the CEO baton
- Ian’s leadership vision
- What the next decade will look like
- Evolving from a solid foundation
Honouring Sandra Richardson’s Leadership
As Ian begins this new chapter, Sandra Richardson transitions to CEO Emeritus.
After 25 years as CEO, her leadership has helped shape the Foundation’s impact through a steadfast commitment to listening, meaningful engagement and collective action. We are deeply grateful for Sandra’s contributions and are pleased that her connection to the Foundation will continue in this new role.
This moment marks both a continuation and a transition, and we are grateful to share it with you as part of our community.