Step into Naomi Azrieli’s office and the walls quickly reveal they’re holding more than decoration—they tell the story of her 20 years of leadership at the Azrieli Foundation. One features a gallery of awards, including her appointment as an Officer of the Order of Canada in 2022. Nearby, a painting by her mother, Stephanie, depicts members of the Azrieli family, many of whom were murdered in the Holocaust. Yet another wall holds a large bookshelf, brimming with dozens of memoirs the Foundation has published through its Holocaust Survivor Memoirs Program.
But some of Naomi’s most precious mementos are thank-you cards from people whose lives have been touched by the Foundation that her father, David, established in 1989.
“Each note is a reminder of why we do what we do. It’s all about the people and the joy we find in empowering them to reach their true potential,” she says. “There is nothing greater in this world.”
Under Naomi’s leadership, the Foundation’s cumulative giving has surpassed $1 billion as of 2025, supporting programs and initiatives in education, research, healthcare and the arts in Canada and Israel.
In 2010, Naomi introduced a strategy to sharpen the Foundation’s focus and broaden its sphere of support by building deep expertise in its key giving areas. That strategy paid off. The Foundation is now the largest non-governmental funder of neuroscience in Canada and a leading supporter of the arts, Jewish community and Holocaust education. “By better understanding the issues and communities we support, our foundation has evolved into a respected collaborator and convenor in many fields,” she says.
Jewish values are central to the Foundation’s mission and vision. For example, Naomi notes that education as empowerment is a guiding principle in Jewish thought and history. So, too, is a compassionate, generous approach to philanthropy, designed to generate change. The concept of tikkun olam—repairing the world—is paramount.
“We all have a role to play in making a better world for everyone,” she says. “That to me is the most fundamental Jewish value that imbues everything we do.”
Stepping into the future
Naomi has made it her life’s work to redefine philanthropy as an active, catalytic force for good. The Azrieli Foundation’s collaboration-and-empowerment approach is transforming everything from how people research rare diseases to the way caregivers are recognized in the healthcare system to the delivery of Holocaust education. In 2025, after two decades at the helm, she asked the question, “What’s next?”
In January 2026, the Board appointed André Beaulieu, a longtime business executive and Azrieli board member, as CEO, to focus on building on the Foundation’s growth and impact.
“The Foundation’s progress is a testament to Naomi’s exceptional leadership, the dedication of our staff and the clarity of our mission,” says André. “I’m excited to join the Foundation and help to strengthen our impact, expand our reach and ensure our work continues to make a meaningful difference for the people and communities we serve.”
As one example, Naomi points out that there are more than 700,000 neurodivergent adults in Canada who could potentially be employed. With neurodevelopment and neurodiverse initiatives as a key funding priority, she says the Foundation has the capacity to understand the gaps and help catalyze innovative solutions to address the unmet needs of neurodivergent Canadians.
“Everyone deserves the highest level of care, dignity and excellence, no matter who they are or where they come from. We’re working on some of the most stigmatized and overlooked challenges, from access to mental health resources and supporting caregivers to funding community arts programs,” Naomi says.
“There are communities and issues where I hope, 20 years from now, we can look back and know we made a difference.”
