Welcome to the VP Finance & Operations portfolio
The nine divisions of the VPFO are responsible for the stewardship of UBC’s physical and financial assets, as well as safety and risk management for our university community.
We oversee a $3.98 billion budget, a $3.38 billion endowment, and all facilities on both campuses, as well as managing the university’s relationships with UBC Investment Management and UBC Properties Trust. In all the portfolio’s responsibilities, we are committed to the values of innovation, unity and accountability.

VPFO Strategic Plan 2024–2027
Having a strategic plan gives us a clear path, keeping everyone on the same page. Learn more about where we’re going next and how we plan to get there.
News from the VPFO
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Changes to Payroll Representative Portfolios
The portfolio composition of our payroll representatives is now based on employee last name. This change will support our service delivery to faculty and staff, who can now more easily find their payroll representative, as well as improving our workflows…
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UBC IMANT shares university’s first endowment carbon footprint report
The UBC Endowment Carbon Footprint Report describes activities undertaken in 2020 as well as initial emissions estimates, and establishes a baseline for evaluating progress against the university’s ambitious goal of reducing its carbon footprint 45% by 2030.
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Keeping everyone cool while waiting to enter the VCH Vaccination site
Huge kudos to our crews for acting quickly and installing misting and portable drinking water stations near for patients that were waiting outside to enter the VCH vaccination site under last week’s heatwave.
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UBC’S Financial Results for 2020/21
Our audited financial statements, which were approved by UBC’s Board of Governors on June 24, illustrate a healthy financial position for the university as we close the 2020/21 fiscal year.
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Resources for dealing with heat stress and exposure
Working in hot environments, outdoors and indoors, can affect the body’s cooling system. Find resources and references to help you identify signs and symptoms of heat stress, and guidance to prevent heat exposure.
People of the VPFO
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Meynardo Villarica steps into new role as Architectural Head in Building Operations
Meynardo joined Building Operations in September 2012 as a carpenter in the Yellow Zone Carpenter and later became the Sub-head for the Carpenter Shop. Bringing a wealth of trade and customer service experience, Meynardo will help to build out processes…
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Staff change as VPFO Administration helps support the President’s Office
Sandy Zarka will be seconded as the new Manager of Administration and Executive Assistant to the Interim President for the Presidential transition period. While Sandy is with the President’s Office, Holly Rail will continue in her current role as executive…
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Nicholas Potovsky joins Infrastructure Development as the Accessible Buildings Planner
Co-created with the UBC Centre for Accessibility, this newly created role will help UBC develop accessibility design guidelines for new and existing campus buildings. Nicholas is a registered architect with over 10 years of experience in the design of new…
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David Sequeira joins Custodial Services as Assistant Supervisor
In his new role, David will oversee the dayshift Custodial Services team and will work out of the Life Building. David comes to us from the Office of the Dean at the Faculty of Education with responsibility for Faculty-wide health…
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Fabiola Ruiz-Aguilar joins Safety & Risk Services as Safety Advisor, Scientific Diving
In her new role as Dive Safety Officer, Fabiola is responsible for developing, strengthening and growing the Scientific Diving program in compliance with WorkSafe BC, Canadian Association for Underwater Science (CAUS) and CSA Ocean Sciences — after all the earth…