Mauro Vescera

Director of The Jim Green Foundation

Mauro Vescera has worked in the non-profit, arts and cultural sectors both nationally and internationally, for over 30 years. His work in the non-profit sector began in immigration settlement and multiculturalism, and over time expanded to include work in the environment, arts, health, international development, education, and social enterprise sectors.

Currently, Mauro is semi-retired and privately consulting with various organizations in BC, Canada, and abroad.

From 2018 to 2025, Mauro worked as the CEO for the Museum of Vancouver (MOV) where he led and guided the organization through a complex set of priorities that included a significant focus on First Nation’s reconciliation, redress, and decolonization of the 130-year-old institution. While at the MOV, Mauro implemented a community curation approach to the museum’s practice that extended its role and activity in the community through a proactive and collaborative partnership program that connects and links its collection and curatorial expertise with the city and its cultural diversity. Prior to joining the Museum Mauro worked as the Executive Director of Il Centro-the Italian Cultural Centre in Vancouver for 6 years. Mauro also worked at Simon Fraser University as a major gifts’ fundraiser, and with the Vancouver Foundation, Canada’s largest community foundation, for 12 years where he managed several granting portfolios including, Arts and Culture, Environment, Education, Health, Social Enterprise, and Animal Welfare. Mauro also worked in the public sector spending 4 years with the BC Government’s Immigration Policy and Multiculturalism as the executive director and 4 years with the Federal government as a senior Immigration Officer and as a Refugee Settlement coordinator with the UNHCR.  

In addition, Mauro Vescera has extensive experience in the non-profit sector including six years as the Chair of the Gordon and Marion Smith Foundation, a founding board member of the Canadian Environmental Grantmakers Network, the Small Change Fund, and he currently sits on the board of the Jim Green Foundation, the Italian Chamber of Commerce-Canada West, and the Boca Del Lupo theatre society.

Education: Mauro holds a master’s degree in international Affairs from Johns Hopkins University, a post-graduate diploma in Renaissance History from the Universita Degli Studi di Firenze, and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of British Columbia.