Musqueam Territory/Richmond, B.C (September 25, 2025): Vancouver International Airport (YVR) President and CEO, Tamara Vrooman, has been recognized as a Canadian Business Leader of the Year by the Canadian Chamber of Commerce. The award, which celebrates Vrooman’s visionary leadership and career achievements, was presented in front of more than 400 people at a marquee event held in Vancouver last night.
“This prestigious honour recognizes Tamara as a trailblazing leader who has been instrumental in shaping Canada’s economic future, strengthening our industries, and demonstrating an unwavering commitment to the communities they serve,” said Candace Laing, President and CEO of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce.
At YVR, Vrooman’s leadership has seen the airport deepen its commitment to serving the community and the economy that supports it with a focus on innovation, reconciliation, and sustainability. This includes generating more than $15 billion in economic impact nationally, sustaining nearly 150,000 family-supporting jobs, including 26,000 jobs on Sea Island alone, and helping get $20 billion in goods to global markets annually, on top of serving an estimated record 26-million passengers this year.
“Being recognized with the 2025 Canadian Business Leader Award is a true honour—one that is matched only by the privilege of working with such talented teams every day,” said Tamara Vrooman, President and CEO of Vancouver International Airport. “Together, we have strived to foster innovation, sustainable growth, and community engagement. I look forward to continuing to drive positive change and contribute to Canada’s economic prosperity.”
YVR’s increasing passenger and cargo numbers reflect the airport’s role as an economic engine, trade enabler, and diverse global hub. Under Vrooman’s stewardship, YVR is on a strategic and steady course of sustainable growth through investments in both innovation and core operations while also setting a high bar for sustainability. YVR is currently the only airport in North America that is on track to become net zero by 2030 and continues to lead many first-of-its-kind initiatives in Canada, such as biometric security screening and boarding as well as championing accessibility measures such as sign language on all boarding gate screens.
Prior to joining YVR as President and CEO in 2020, Vrooman spent more than a decade as the President and CEO of Vancity Credit Union and served as Deputy Minister of Finance for the Province of British Columbia, the youngest person ever to hold that role, as well as Deputy Minister of Health. She is also the Chancellor of Simon Fraser University, Co-Chair of the Premier of British Columbia’s Trade and Economic Security Taskforce, and is the former Chair of the Canada Infrastructure Bank. Vrooman has been instrumental in supporting a wide variety of non-profit and community organizations, including serving as Chair of the Rick Hansen Foundation and as a key supporter of the Pacific Autism Family Network.
About YVR
Vancouver International Airport (YVR) is a diverse global hub that connects people, cargo, data, and ideas and serves as a platform for our community to come together and thrive. We are motivated by supporting regional economic development and making a positive difference in the lives of British Columbians. We do this with a focus on serving our passengers, partners, workers, and community through digital modernization, climate leadership, reconciliation, and financial sustainability.