Janet Austin Biography

Janet Austin, Chief Executive Officer, YWCA Metro Vancouver

As CEO of YWCA Metro Vancouver, Janet Austin has overall responsibility for one of BC’s largest and most diversified non-profit organizations, offering services for 60,000 people annually in more than 30 locations throughout Metro Vancouver. The YWCA is an entrepreneurial non-profit, with more than 63% of annual revenues self-generated through related business activities--including a 155-room YWCA Hotel and a state-of-the-art, downtown-based Health + Fitness Centre--and fundraising. The YWCA has an annual operating budget of about $17 million, 375 employees and more than 500 volunteers. 

YWCA Metro Vancouver provides a network of services for women and their families including early learning and care for children, long-term and transition housing, and support services for single moms. The organization also offers employment services for women and men, mentorship, leadership development and school-based programming for youth. YWCA Crabtree Corner is a unique facility that provides housing, food, health, child care, parenting, advocacy and support services for women and children living in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside. The YWCA is also a leader in community fitness, health and wellness programming for women and men.

Prior to joining YWCA Metro Vancouver Janet served as executive director of Big Sisters of BC Lower Mainland. She has also served as director of development services for BC Housing, where she oversaw the development of the province’s social housing for seniors and families, as well as transition housing, homeless shelters, and group homes for people with disabilities.

Janet is a recipient of the Business in Vancouver Influential Woman in Business Award, the Vancouver Board of Trade Community Leadership Award, the Queen’s Jubilee Medal, the SFU Beedie School of Business BASS Award and the Big Sisters Big Heart Award for outstanding contribution by a volunteer. In 2008, she was named to the WXN (Women’s Executive Network) list of Canada’s 100 Most Powerful Women.

She currently serves on:

• the Vancouver Board of Trade (VBOT) Board of Directors, the Executive Committee of the Board, the Women’s Leadership Circle (Past-Chair) and the Governance Task Force
• the Board of the Canadian Paediatric Society (Public Member) and the Ad Hoc Committee on Board Development
• the Scientific Advisory Board of the Women’s Health Research Institute
• the TELUS Vancouver Community Board and Education Sub-Committee
• the UBC President’s Strategic Advisory Council and the UBC Community-based Research Task Force
• the Honorary Advisory Board of Big Sisters of BC Lower Mainland
• the BC Provincial Advisory Council on Social Entrepreneurship
• the Leadership Council of the BC Government/Non-profit Initiative (GNPI)
• the BCIT Non-profit Management and Fund Development Program Advisory Committee (Chair)
• the Organizing Committee for the National Retreat for Women

In the past, Janet has been active as a community volunteer with a wide variety of organizations, serving in Board and volunteer positions with the Dr. Peter AIDS Foundation, MOSAIC, United Way of the Lower Mainland, The Council for Early Child Development, Leadership Vancouver and the BC SPCA. She has also served on the Blue Ribbon Council on Vancouver’s Business Climate and the City of Vancouver Women’s Task Force. As well, she has served as a weekend puppy-sitter for assistance dogs in training with the Pacific Assistance Dogs Society.