Judy Rogers is the first woman to hold the post of city manager for Canada’s third-largest city. Her influence stretches to a myriad of boards and committees. Rogers is on the board of directors for both 2010 Legacies Now and the organizing committee for Vancouver’s 2010 Olympics (VANOC). She is an ex-officio director of RAVCO, which is managing the Canada Line SkyTrain project. She co-chairs B.C.’s joint emergency liaison committee with a provincial deputy minister and she is chair of the Greater Vancouver Regional District’s regional advisory committee of city managers.

“There’s probably more committees I’m on, but I can’t remember them right now,” she joked.

Rogers started working at Vancouver’s city hall in 1988, when she was director of the city’s equal employment opportunity program and executive director of the Hastings Institute, where she still sits on the board of directors.

She became assistant city manager in 1992, deputy city manager in 1994 and finally city manager in 1999.

The recipient of the B.C. Lieutenant Governor’s Medal of Excellence has a master’s degree in public administration. The Ivy League School of Business recognized Rogers as one of Canada’s most powerful women in 2003, 2004 and 2005.

What professional achievement are you most proud of?

The international recognition that Vancouver gets as the world’s most livable and innovative city. I’m not personally responsible for it; I’m part of a team of people who have helped achieve this, and it is something I’m very proud of.

What’s the greatest barrier you’ve had to overcome in your career?

Time and balance. The challenge of raising children on my own while having a career. I think lots of women are challenged to find the balance between family work and play.

Who had the biggest influence on your career?

Several people: Cleta Herman because she was a visionary; Ken Dobell because he introduced me to the power of local government; and the people who I work with every day because of their professionalism and knowledge.

What network or organization has most helped you in your career?

Informal networks through my work in the social service area in my early career prior to coming to local government. Recently, it would be the Institute of Public Administration of Canada because it provides an opportunity to create linkages within all the provinces, academic institutions and local governments.

What was your toughest decision?

Every day I make tough decisions. Every decision I have to recommend to council is tough because you can never make everybody happy.