Michael Audain is a committed volunteer and philanthropist. A business executive with a long-time love of the arts, he established the Audain Foundation to support the visual arts. He has contributed to dozens of galleries, foundations, arts groups and educational institutions. His generosity has helped several major galleries purchase Aboriginal and other Canadian art by both renowned and up-and-coming artists. He also established the Audain Prize for Lifetime Achievement for individual visual artists. As a volunteer, he has served as both president of the Vancouver Art Gallery and chair of its foundation. He is currently chair of the National Gallery of Canada's board of trustees.