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

  • Siu Tse will be Acting Managing Director, Energy & Water Services

    Today is David Woodson’s last day at UBC as Managing Director, Energy & Water Services after 23½ years of outstanding service and many great memories. I am pleased to announce that Siu Tse will be Acting Managing Director, Energy & Water Services while we…

    Read more: Siu Tse will be Acting Managing Director, Energy & Water Services
  • Shilan Keshvadi joins Safety & Risk Services as Associate, Health & Safety Education and Audit

    Prior to joining us, Shilan was a Research Safety Coordinator at Simon Fraser University, where she acted as the EHS (environment, health, and safety) resource person for the Local Joint Health & Safety Committee to provide updates on policies and practices and address…

    Read more: Shilan Keshvadi joins Safety & Risk Services as Associate, Health & Safety Education and Audit
  • Sandy Sull joins as the Finance Manager, Project Accounting

    Sandy is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) with over 16 years of accounting experience across various industries. She will partner with other VPFO team members to continuously improve business processes and enable effective financial management throughout the portfolio.

    Read more: Sandy Sull joins as the Finance Manager, Project Accounting
  • Stuart Gilbert joins Energy & Water Services as the Assistant Civil Engineer in Engineering & Utilities

    Stuart will be responsible for developing and managing programs to achieve the implementation of infrastructure and services plans, reporting to Doug Doyle, Senior Manager, and work closely with the Mechanical Utilities unit.

    Read more: Stuart Gilbert joins Energy & Water Services as the Assistant Civil Engineer in Engineering & Utilities
  • Celebrating UBC VPFO’s longest-serving staff  

    The VPFO team has a number of long service member inductees this year. This is an amazing personal accomplishment for the individuals and a true testament to their devotion to service at UBC. See the full list of VPFO team…

    Read more: Celebrating UBC VPFO’s longest-serving staff