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

  • Collaboration between Building Operations and UBC’s Plant Care Services to Improve Soil Quality at UBC’s Research Fields

    A collaboration between UBC’s Plant Care Services and Building Operations is improving soil quality for researchers at Plant Care Services’ Totem Field and providing an environmentally friendly outlet for compost on campus.

    Read more: Collaboration between Building Operations and UBC’s Plant Care Services to Improve Soil Quality at UBC’s Research Fields
  • VPFO Finance Realignments Following Workday Go-Live

    Many members of our VPFO team played key roles in launch of Workday at UBC, and following the success of go-live we are ready to continue modernizing our core business processes, improve how we are structured, and transform the way…

    Read more: VPFO Finance Realignments Following Workday Go-Live
  • Consolidating capital expertise in the VPFO

    We are pleased to announce the creation of a new Capital Financial Management team that will be responsible for the oversight and governance for UBC’s significant capital operations (i.e. over $1B ongoing/multi-year projects).

    Read more: Consolidating capital expertise in the VPFO
  • Campus Security honours victims of the Kamloops Residential School

    This week, Campus Security has put on orange epaulets in shared grief and to pay our respects to the children of the Kamloops Residential School, their families and communities.

    Read more: Campus Security honours victims of the Kamloops Residential School
  • Changes to support VPFO Finance  priorities

    Over the past few weeks, Vice-President Peter Smailes and our portfolio leadership team have shared their insights into how our unit priorities align with our portfolio strategic plan. We would like to share more specific details about one of those initiatives, a change to how the VPFO’s internal finance teams are structured. 

    Read more: Changes to support VPFO Finance  priorities

People of the VPFO

  • VPFO HR team update

    Daisy Chan will be going on Maternity leave starting March 2023. During her leave, Kasia Burza will be temporarily promoted to an HR Advisor until September 2024, supporting AVPFO and Treasury. Alysa Garza will be joining as an HR Coordinator…

    Read more: VPFO HR team update
  • Silvia Magnano joins Treasury as Manager, Treasury Contracts & Real Estate

    Silvia comes to us directly from the UBC University-Industry Liaison Office (UILO) where she was a Contracts Officer. Silvia brings both business and legal background to her new role. She was trained and certified as a lawyer in Argentina, where…

    Read more: Silvia Magnano joins Treasury as Manager, Treasury Contracts & Real Estate
  • Hailey Maxwell steps into new role as Manager, Emergency Management & Continuity Planning in Safety & Risk Services

    In her new role as Manager of Emergency & Continuity Planning, Hailey looks forward to continuing to support the UBC community in developing personal and organizational resilience through planning, training and engagement initiatives.

    Read more: Hailey Maxwell steps into new role as Manager, Emergency Management & Continuity Planning in Safety & Risk Services
  • Balancing safety and innovation

    Janet Hankins leads a team of specialists in biosafety, radiation, and chemical safety and occupational hygiene responsible for the handling of hazardous substances across the university. Learn how Janet resonates with the VPFO’s strategic directions and values, and how her…

    Read more: Balancing safety and innovation
  • Bella Li joins the VPFO/VPHR Finance team within Comptroller as Financial Analyst  

    In her new role, Bella will be responsible for providing financial analysis to the overall VPFO/VPHR Finance team, with a primary focus on Infrastructure Development, Safety & Risk Services, and Financial Operations.

    Read more: Bella Li joins the VPFO/VPHR Finance team within Comptroller as Financial Analyst