For more than 40 years, Michael O’Brian has matched his extraordinary career in investment banking with a distinguished reputation as one of Canada’s leading arts philanthropists.
Throughout his career, including in his current position as President of Nairbo Investments Inc., Michael has shown an intuitive sense for financial management, and his passion for the arts has lead him to share that wisdom with numerous arts and culture organizations throughout the province. Michael’s understanding of the unique economic obstacles faced by non-profit organizations has informed his many volunteer roles in support of these organizations. These include Directorship roles for the Vancouver Art Gallery Foundation, the Thomas Foundation, the National Gallery of Canada Foundation, and along with his wife Inna, Vancouver Opera. He is a past trustee of the Vancouver Art Gallery, and the Museum of Anthropology, and is a past member of the Deans Advisory Board of the Faculty of Arts at the University of British Columbia. An avid advocate for education, Michael is also an advisor to Create Change Foundation, an NGO currently sending over 1000 young girls to school in Ghana. Read more →