Tamara Vrooman
Tamara Vrooman | |
|---|---|
| Born | Template:Birth year and age Victoria, British Columbia, Canada |
| Occupation(s) | Executive, public servant |
| Years active | 1992–present |
| Known for | CEO of Vancity Credit Union (2007–2020); President and CEO of Vancouver International Airport (2020–present); 12th Chancellor of Simon Fraser University; first female deputy minister of Finance in British Columbia; Chair of Canada Infrastructure Bank (2021–2024) |
Tamara Rowanne Vrooman, born in June 1968, is a prominent Canadian executive and public servant. She led Vancity Credit Union as CEO from 2007 until July 2020. In May 2020, Vrooman transitioned to become the president and CEO of Vancouver International Airport and was also appointed the 12th chancellor of Simon Fraser University. Notably, she was British Columbia's inaugural and youngest female deputy minister of Finance, and she chaired the Canada Infrastructure Bank between 2021 and 2024.
Early life
Vrooman was born in Victoria, British Columbia in June 1968 and completed her secondary education at Kamloops High School.
Career
Initially, in 1992, Vrooman faced rejection from British Columbia's Ministry of Finance due to concerns about her mathematical abilities. She subsequently pursued finance studies at the University of Victoria. A dozen years later, she broke ground as B.C.’s first and youngest female deputy minister of finance. Her public service achievements earned her the Association of Women in Finance’s Knowledge and Leadership Award in 2007 and the Queen's Golden Jubilee Medal in 2003. Additionally, she made history as the first deputy minister in B.C. to take maternity leave.
Following three years as Deputy Minister, Vrooman succeeded Dave Mowat as CEO of Vancity Credit Union in 2007. Under her direction, Vancity became North America’s pioneering carbon-neutral credit union by 2008. The credit union reached significant financial milestones by 2010, leading to Vrooman being named Canada’s most powerful woman among corporate executives by the Women's Executive Network. By 2011, Vancity was recognized as the largest Canadian organization to implement a living wage policy. That same year, she joined the Board of Vancouver Airport Authority and received both a YWCA Women of Distinction Award and a Distinguished Alumni Award from UVic.
During her tenure as CEO, Vrooman played a key role in establishing and chairing Canada’s first Schedule 1 bank dedicated to social impact—the Vancity Community Investment Bank—in the Greater Toronto Area. Simon Fraser University honored her with an honorary Doctor of Laws degree in 2016. She co-chaired a federal climate change advisory panel in 2018 and was awarded the Order of British Columbia in 2019 for her significant contributions to enhancing quality of life within the province. The Association of Women in Finance also recognized her with the PEAK Award that year.
In May 2020, Vrooman was named president and CEO of Vancouver International Airport, with her appointment effective July 1. In June, she took office as SFU’s 12th chancellor. Appointed by Governor in Council, she assumed the chairmanship of the Canada Infrastructure Bank (CIB) in January 2021 and concluded this role in January 2024.