YVR — The Future of Growth and Connection

About the speaker:
Tamara Vrooman is a transformational leader with a strong financial background who understands the intrinsic link between a strong and sustainable economy and a healthy community.

Tamara is currently the President & CEO of Vancouver Airport Authority, the organization that manages Vancouver International Airport (YVR), Canada's second-busiest airport. In January 2021, she was appointed Chairperson of the Canada Infrastructure Bank (CIB). Prior to YVR, Tamara served as President & CEO of Vancity, as Deputy Minister of Finance for the Province of British Columbia, as Secretary to the Treasury Board, and as CEO of the Public Sector Employers' Council.

As President & CEO of YVR, a world-class hub with local roots, Tamara understands the value of having an airport that is both an economic generator and community contributor—a hub of innovation that gives back, supports the region, and sets the bar for sustainability.

During her 13 years as the President & CEO of Vancity, Canada's largest community credit union with $28 billion in assets in administration, including corporate and commercial financing divisions, Vancity became a global reference point, and she became a leading voice in the Canadian and international financial sectors. She assumed leadership of Vancity at the beginning of the global financial crisis and transformed the business and service model, delivering record profitability and doubling its assets. With achievements such as leading the first financial institution in North America to carbon-neutrality and the creation of the first Fossil-Fuel Free Mutual Fund in Canada, Tamara continually demonstrated a successful new vision for values-based banking.

Prior to joining Vancity, Tamara served as Deputy Minister of Finance for the Province of British Columbia, and as Secretary to the Treasury Board, and as CEO of the Public Sector Employers’ Council where she oversaw the government’s annual $100 billion borrowing and cash requirements, led the Ministry of Finance to three AAA credit rating upgrades, and developed its $36 billion fiscal plan and the province’s first P3 Capital Project. Tamara also served as Deputy Minister and Executive Financial Officer for the Ministry of Health, which, under her leadership, achieved its first balanced budget in 16 years.

Her expertise has been sought by organizations, leaders, and governments at all levels— regional, provincial, national, and international—whether on the economy, social change, or environmental sustainability, and often at the intersection of all three. Most recently, Tamara was appointed Simon Fraser University’s 12th Chancellor.

Tamara pursued post-secondary education at the University of Victoria, earning a Master of Arts in History in 1994 and a Bachelor of Arts with honours in 1991. She also received an Honorary Doctorate (Laws) from Simon Fraser University in 2016 and an Honorary Doctorate (Technology) from the British Columbia Institute of Technology in 2013.

On a personal level, Tamara lends her voice and leadership experience to issues related to women, families, and children with a particular focus on issues related to equality, inclusion, and empowerment.