The Azrieli Foundation is deeply committed to building capacity in Canadian neuroscience, and its anchor gift made the Future Leaders in Canadian Brain Research program possible. Host Fiona sits down with strategic and visionary leader Naomi Azrieli to discuss what underpins the Foundation’s commitment to advancing science in such a profound way, the role does philanthropy play in powering breakthroughs, and ultimately how this philanthropic gift helps to improve the health of Canadians across the country.
In this special bonus episode of Bold Minds, we’re zooming out from the labs of brain science researchers to take a look at the bigger picture: the philanthropic ecosystem that sustains and supports brain research in Canada.
Central to that ecosystem is the Azrieli Foundation. It is the leading non-governmental funder of brain research in Canada, and a longtime donor and partner to Brain Canada. The Azrieli Foundation is deeply committed to building capacity in Canadian neuroscience, and its anchor gift made the Future Leaders in Canadian Brain Research program possible. But what underpins the Foundation’s commitment to advancing science in such a profound way? And what role does philanthropy play in powering breakthroughs and ultimately improving the health of Canadians?
Host Fiona sits down to answer these questions with Dr. Naomi Azrieli, a strategic and visionary leader whose work is reshaping philanthropy, research, and community impact across Canada and Israel. Naomi has championed transformative initiatives in scientific research, as well as in education, caregiving, Holocaust education, community resilience, and social impact for more than two decades. She is an influential thought leader and convenor, a committed social entrepreneur and a passionate advocate for caregivers, Holocaust survivors, and neurodiverse people - as well as for the field of neuroscience itself. Naomi is also a proud recipient of France’s Legion of Honor, and an Officer of the Order of Canada.
Featured guest:
Naomi Azrieli, O.C., Dhil, Chair of the Azrieli Foundation