As most of you know by now, Peter Smailes, Vice-President, Finance and Operations, is leaving UBC to take up a new opportunity as VP Administration at Kwantlen Polytechnic University as their Vice-President, Administration effective May 31.
What will happen on June 1?
While this is a transition for the VPFO, our responsibilities to the university have not changed and we’ll continue together as a single portfolio, moving forward together in line with our strategic plan.
Starting on June 1, Karamjeet Heer will be serving as the Interim Vice-President, Finance, and John Metras will be the Interim Vice-President, Operations, until the search for a new Vice-President is complete. While we will have two Interim Vice-Presidents, we are still one unified VPFO portfolio, working closely together. John and Karamjeet are well versed in working together and are instrumental in both our daily operations and have an excellent reputation with our Board and Executive.
The transition has already begun
The VPFO is a strong team and much of our work is well prepared and will continue under our new stewardship.
Our new strategic plan and accompanying business plans give us a solid framework to navigate this transition together, and even further our efforts to increase our integration. The strategic plan will be rolled on to the portfolio with Peter, Karamjeet, and John at the VPFO All Staff Town Hall on May 26, 2022.
The real strength of our plan is the details teammates from across the VPFO portfolio have worked on to put our business plans in place. That’s where you will see your hard work move the VPFO and the university forward.
We look forward to continuing our teamwork in the day-to-day and advancing our new priorities as a single portfolio under John and Karamjeet’s leadership.