Tamara Vrooman

Biography

Tamara Vrooman believes that it is possible for financial institutions to build healthy communities that are environmentally and socially sustainable while being profitable. Over $5.4 billion of Vancity’s assets have been invested in social finance initiatives, including more than $350 million to increase the supply of affordable housing over the last eight years. This triple bottom line (people, planet and prosperity) expertise drives Tamara’s decision-making as Board Chair at VCIB and CEO of Vancity. Under Tamara’s direction, Vancity achieved the highest profits in the organization's 70-year history and became the first Canadian financial institution (FI) invited to the Global Alliance for Banking on Values; the first carbon-neutral FI in North America; the largest Canadian private-sector living wage employer, and one of the first to create an alternative product to high-interest payday loans. Tamara’s commitment to helping solve unmet community needs has earned her invitations to a Vatican-hosted economic summit, to speak with the Dalai Lama and to address an event hosted by the United Nations. Previously, Tamara served as B.C.’s Deputy Minister of Finance and Secretary to the Treasury Board. Outside of her work in building the Canadian social finance market, Tamara lends her voice to issues related to women and families, equality and inclusion.

Research Interest

Business