Janet Austin

The Honourable Janet Austin served seven years as the 30th Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia, from 2018 to 2025. During her mandate, she championed Reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples, promoted the importance of respect for diversity, equity and inclusion in all aspects of Canadian society, and worked actively to uphold Canadian democracy and encourage participation in civil society.

Prior to her service as Lieutenant Governor, she spent 15 years as Chief Executive Officer of the YWCA Metro Vancouver, one of the province’s largest and most diversified non-profits. There she oversaw operations delivering services to tens of thousands of people annually at more than 40 locations. Under her leadership, the reach and scope of services offered by the YWCA increased significantly and flourished under the social enterprise model she championed. Using solutions oriented and collaborative advocacy, she positioned the YWCA as a leading voice on gender equality and social justice.

Janet has contributed to numerous organizations in commitment to improving the lives of others, including: the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade (Chair), TransLink (Vice Chair), the Canadian Paediatric Society (Public Member), the Council for Early Child Development, the Women’s Health Research Institute (Vice Chair), MOSAIC, the Dr. Peter AIDS Foundation and many others.

Upon retiring from the role of Lieutenant Governor, she continues to support various community initiatives with a particular emphasis on climate, upholding democracy, and encouraging constructive conversations among people with diverse views. She currently serves as Chair of the Fraser Basin Council, a Governor of the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade, and as a member of the Board of Directors of the Institute for Research on Public Policy (IRPP) and the Health Arts Society.