Tamara Rowanne Vrooman, OBC (born June 1968), is a Canadian businesswoman and civil servant who currently serves as chair of the Canada Infrastructure Bank.[1] From 2007 until July 2020, she served as the CEO of Vancity Credit Union. During the COVID-19 pandemic in British Columbia, Vrooman left Vancity to accept a position as the president and CEO of Vancouver International Airport and the 12th chancellor of Simon Fraser University. Vrooman has previously served as British Columbia's first and youngest female deputy minister of Finance.
Tamara Vrooman | |
|---|---|
 Vrooman in 2016 | |
| Born | June 1968 (age 56) Victoria, British Columbia, Canada |
| Education | University of Victoria |
| Occupation(s) | Business executive, university chancellor |
| Years active | 2004–2007 (Deputy minister) 2007–present |
| Known for | Former CEO of Vancity Credit Union |
| Spouse | Gregg |
| Children | 1 |
Early life
editVrooman was born in Victoria, British Columbia, in June 1968.[2] She attended Kamloops High School, where she played string bass for the school band.[3][4]
Career
editIn 1992, Vrooman attempted to earn a position with the British Columbia's Ministry of Finance but was rejected because her interviewers assumed she had poor mathematical skills.[2] As a result, she enrolled at the University of Victoria where she took finance courses. Twelve years later, she became British Columbia's first and youngest female deputy minister of finance.[5] While in this role, she won the 2007 Knowledge and Leadership Award from the Association of Women in Finance and the 2003 Queen's Golden Jubilee Medal for outstanding contributions to B.C.'s public service.[3] She also became the first deputy minister in B.C. to take maternity leave.[2]
Vrooman stayed in her role as Deputy Minister of Finance for three years before leaving in 2007 to become CEO of Vancity Credit Union.[6] She replaced Dave Mowat, who had held the position for seven years.[7] The following year, Vancity became the first carbon-neutral credit union in North America.[8] During the 2010 fiscal year, Vancity hit a financial high and Vrooman was named Canada's most powerful woman in the corporate executives category by the Women's Executive Network.[9] By 2011, Vancity became the largest Canadian organization to adopt a living wage policy[10] and she was appointed to sit on the Board of Vancouver Airport Authority.[11] Vrooman received a 2011 YWCA Women of Distinction Award[12] and was also honoured with a Distinguished Alumni Award from the UVic Alumni Association.[13]
As CEO and president of Vancity, Vrooman helped develop and chair Canada's first Schedule 1 bank focused on impact in the Greater Toronto Area, called the Vancity Community Investment Bank.[14] In 2016, Simon Fraser University honoured her with an honorary degree of Doctor of Laws.[15] By 2018, she was selected by the Federal Government to co-chair a panel on climate change.[16] A year later, she was the recipient of the Order of British Columbia for "contributing to a better quality of life in B.C. and beyond."[17] She was also awarded the 2019 PEAK Award from the Association of Women in Finance.[14]
In May 2020, it was announced that Vrooman would be leaving her role at Vancity to become the new president and CEO of Vancouver International Airport, effective July 1.[18] In June, she was named the 12th chancellor of SFU.[19] While serving in these roles, she was also appointed chair of the Canada Infrastructure Bank on January 27, 2021. This position is a Governor in Council appointment made of the advice of the minister of infrastructure and communities.[20]
References
edit- ^ Canada, Government of. "Orders In Council - Search". orders-in-council.canada.ca. Retrieved February 3, 2021.
- ^ a b c Pitts, Gordon (January 12, 2009). "From studying history to creating her own". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved November 4, 2019.
- ^ a b Luke, Paul (March 9, 2008). "Why Vancity hired Tamara Vrooman". The Province. Retrieved November 4, 2019.
- ^ "The Queen of Vancity". vanmag.com. September 1, 2009. Retrieved November 4, 2019.
- ^ Kanupriya Vashisht (May 1, 2010). "Follow Her Lead". Advisors Edge. Retrieved November 4, 2019.
- ^ Jordan, David (October 1, 2007). "Tamara Vrooman". bcbusiness.ca. Retrieved November 4, 2019.
- ^ Lewis, Brian (July 31, 2007). "New Vancity CEO drawn to credit union's "triple bottom line"". investmentexecutive.com. Retrieved November 4, 2019.
- ^ "Vancity becomes a carbon neutral first". ctvnews.ca. April 9, 2008. Retrieved November 4, 2019.
- ^ "WXN'S 2010 Award Winners". financialpost.com. Retrieved November 4, 2019.
- ^ "Vancity Becomes the Largest Organization in Canada to Adopt Living Wage Policy". firstcallbc.org. May 31, 2011. Retrieved November 4, 2019.
- ^ "Council appoints Vancity CEO to Board of Vancouver Airport Authority". vancity.com. 2011. Retrieved November 4, 2019.
- ^ Hartman, Heidi (June 3, 2011). "SVI Alumni and Sponsors Receive YWCA's Women of Distinction Awards". renewalpartners.com. Retrieved November 4, 2019.
- ^ "Vancity CEO, senior public servant named Distinguished Alumni". uvic.ca. February 14, 2011. Retrieved November 4, 2019.
- ^ a b "2019 PEAK Award Honouree" (PDF). womeninfinance.ca. Retrieved November 4, 2019.
- ^ "Honorary Degree Citation" (PDF). sfu.ca. 2016. Retrieved November 4, 2019.
- ^ Salimah Shivji (November 24, 2018). "Ottawa turns to 2 'clean growth leaders' to lead climate advisory panel". cbc.ca. Retrieved November 4, 2019.
- ^ "Tamara Vrooman recognized with province's highest honour, The Order of British Columbia". vancity.com. May 31, 2019. Retrieved November 4, 2019.
- ^ Takeuchi, Craig (May 13, 2020). "Amid pandemic challenges, Vancity president Tamara Vrooman to become YVR CEO". The Georgia Straight. Retrieved May 17, 2020.
- ^ "Tamara Vrooman to become SFU's 12th chancellor". sfu.ca. June 5, 2020. Retrieved June 21, 2020.
- ^ Korstrom, Glen (January 28, 2021). "Tamara Vrooman appointed Canada Infrastructure Bank's chair". biv.com. Retrieved February 16, 2021.