Tamara Vrooman

Overview

Tamara Vrooman is a transformational leader with a strong financial background who has spent her career at the intersection of public finance, community-focused banking, and infrastructure development. Born in June 1968 in Victoria, British Columbia, she earned a Master of Arts in History in 1994 and a Bachelor of Arts with honours in 1991 from the University of Victoria.

Vrooman was British Columbia's first and youngest female deputy minister of Finance, a role she held from 2004–2007 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. From 2007 until July 2020, she was the CEO of Vancity Credit Union, where during her 13 years as President & CEO of Vancity, Canada's largest community credit union with $28 billion in assets in administration, she transformed the business and service model, delivering record profitability and doubling assets while implementing a successful new vision for value-based banking.

In May 2020, Vrooman left Vancity to accept a position as the president and CEO of Vancouver International Airport and the 12th chancellor of Simon Fraser University. Ms. Vrooman was appointed Chairperson of the Canada Infrastructure Bank (CIB) in January 2021, serving until January 27, 2024.

Recognition and Awards

Vrooman has been recognized with the Queen's Golden Jubilee Medal for Outstanding Public Service, the YWCA Woman of Distinction Award, an honorary Doctor of Laws from Simon Fraser University, and the Order of British Columbia. In 2015, Vrooman was named the top CEO in B.C. in Business in Vancouver's CEO of the Year Awards, in the major private company category. Most recently, she has been named the recipient of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce - Canadian Business Leader of the Year Award.

Career History

• President & CEO, Vancouver International Airport Authority (July 2020–present)
• Chairperson, Canada Infrastructure Bank (January 2021–January 2024)
• 12th Chancellor, Simon Fraser University (June 2020–present)
• President & CEO, Vancity (2007–July 2020)
• Deputy Minister of Finance, Province of British Columbia (2004–2007)

What Vrooman Could Bring to Infrastructure Bank Leadership

Vrooman's demonstrated expertise in mobilizing capital at scale, securing AAA credit ratings through strategic financial stewardship, and transforming large institutions toward community-centered mandates positioned her to champion the CIB's role in attracting private investment to transformational public infrastructure. Her background spanning public finance, values-driven banking, and now aviation—a capital-intensive, revenue-generating sector—gave her direct experience with the revenue-generating infrastructure projects the CIB targets across transit, clean power, broadband, and trade corridors.