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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Annual Drinking Water Quality Monitoring program report is now available
This report re-affirms UBC’s commitment to deliver safe and high-quality drinking water, and outlines the Drink Water Quality Monitoring Program and its results for the year 2020.
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Update on Air Canada Refunds for UBC
Air Canada recently revised their COVID-19 refund policy, and as UBC is a corporate account holder the university is centralizing this refund for members of our community who booked through the UBC Travel Program.
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Asset Replacement & Improvements joining Infrastructure Development
The Asset Replacement & Improvement (AR&I) division, including the Transition Team and Construction Office, has started the process of joining with Infrastructure Development to form a new, unified, project delivery team for the Facilities Group.
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BC Ministry of Advanced Education building auditors will be on campus starting June 21
BC Ministry of Advanced Education has contracted VFA Canada to audit 136 buildings on the UBC Point Grey campus starting June 21 to the end of January 2022. The last audit was undertaken in 2018.
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Procurement Modernization update — Sharing our service delivery levels
Since Workday go-live our Financial Operations and Operational Excellence teams in the VPFO have been developing ways to share key metrics relating to service delivery that are pulled from UBC’s new HR and Finance system.
People of the VPFO
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Jay Hiscox appointed Director, Project Services with Infrastructure Development
Jay has been part of the Infrastructure Development family since joining UBC in November 2016. He joined Project Services as Senior Project Manager, and was later promoted to Senior Manager and then Associate Director.
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Erin Kastner, a sustainability champion for twenty years
To celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Sustainability Coordinator program, Campus & Community Planning spoke to Erin Kastner, Geospatial Information Manager with Energy & Water Services, on her commitment to sustainability at UBC.
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Philip Beck promoted as new Head in Soft Landscape, Municipal Services with Building Operations
Philip Beck is the successful candidate for the new Soft Landscape head position that was introduced to support Chris Longford, head of the Soft Landscape team. Chris and Phil will work closely together to manage a growing team of over…
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Kayna Merchant joins UBC as Facilities Architectural Manager with Building Operations
In this new role, Kayna will be working closely with the Architectural Trades Team to gain a fulsome understanding of architectural maintenance considerations to provide a better balance of the diverse needs of multiple stakeholders within UBC.
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Holly Shepherd joins UBC as Tax Manager
Holly is joining the Treasury group as the university’s new Tax Manager, supporting the community with advising for tax-related matters, as well as general oversight of UBC’s tax strategies.