Mira Oreck is a respected leader in Canadian philanthropy, known for her passion, candor, and commitment to building belonging and access. Born and raised in Vancouver, Canada, she has spent her career bridging the worlds of philanthropy, politics, and community—creating space for diverse voices to shape policy and drive change.
Six years ago, Mira took on the challenge of building a foundation from the ground up when she became the founding executive director of the Vancouver-based Houssian Foundation. Guided by a feminist perspective, she leads a team in mobilizing philanthropic capital through grant-making and impact investing towards gender justice, social and environmental change. Her vision and expertise have helped redefine how Canadian foundations engage with communities, shifting funding decisions toward trust-based, participatory models.
A lifelong advocate for climate action and gender justice, Mira has also held leadership roles in government and the non-profit sector, including as Director of Stakeholder Relations in the BC Premier’s Office and BC Director of the Canadian Jewish Congress. She has served on community, arts and political boards and currently serves on the boards of the Canadian Climate Institute and Or Shalom Synagogue.
Her approach to leadership is grounded by an undergraduate degree in sociology and women’s studies from McGill University and a master’s degree in urban policy from The New School in New York City.
Mira enjoys being in the outdoors with her husband and two kids.