Kate Hammer’s career path is anything but conventional. Hammer, currently Vancity’s director of government relations, wound up in banking after beginning her career in journalism, working at the New York Times and the Globe and Mail. She’s also been involved in politics, serving as an advisor to Canada’s first female, openly gay premier.

Hammer’s varied career path has given her an array of skills that help in her current position, where she advocates for financial policy that helps consumers gain access to banking products and services. She’s also worked to shape Vancity’s climate commitments. Hammer talks about the urgency banks and other corporations face to save our planet as well as how to make sure all individuals are included in digital transformation.