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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Basketball Court Relocation
A development permit application has been received for an outdoor basketball court in the parking lot at Thunderbird Boulevard and Health Sciences Mall. This basketball court is intended as a replacement for the existing court on the future site of…
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UBC breaks ground on $23 million renewable energy hub
A new $23 million renewable energy hub will transform an entire city block at the University of British Columbia into a smart energy district, including the province’s first-ever hydrogen refuelling station for light- and heavy-duty vehicles. The energy hub will…
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First Nations Longhouse Expansion
A development permit application has been received for a one-storey 168 sq. m addition to the First Nations Longhouse. The addition will make use of the existing exposed post and beam log structure at the east side of the building.…
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Update on our strategic plan
In November, I sent an update that highlighted our plan to begin a process of transformational change within the VPFO, following our strategic plan’s focus on renewal and optimization. As we start our new fiscal year, I want to share a…
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Dawn Irmscher joins UBC as Director of Payroll
Dawn brings a wealth of experience in finance, operations, technical, and systems implementation to the university, and most recently served as the Director of Finance for the Sooke School District in Victoria, BC.
People of the VPFO
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Charles Creelman returns to Building Operations within Facilities as Project Coordinator, Electrical Technical Support
Charles is returning to Building Operations from Energy & Water Services (EWS) where he was involved with the planning, design and overview of all short and long-range campus electrical utility systems, including the current UBC Main Substation switchgear replacement project.
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Pamela Troyer joins Project Services within Infrastructure Development as Project Manager
Pamela joins UBC from Proscenium Architecture & Interiors, where she was involved in the Macleod Building Renewal project. In her new role, Pamela will manage projects for the renewal of university facilities, and engage with stakeholders to guide them through…
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Rachael Donovan joins Facilities as Reuse Initiative Coordinator
Rachel has a background in sustainability, energy management, waste reduction, and Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) reporting. She will be taking on tasks related to managing and reporting on the Furniture Reuse Initiative and the Green Labs Program, as well…
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Sean Zheng stepping into new role as Sub-Head in Stores, Municipal Services within UBC Facilities
Sean joined UBC in 2019 as a Project Clerk in Infrastructure Development. Since then, he has developed strong relationships and provided key technical capabilities to his team during his time as a Stores Operator, as well as completed his Lean…
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Pauline Li stepping into a new role in UBC Okanagan’s Infrastructure Development as Building Records Manager
In her new role, Pauline will be responsible for records management, facility planning, as well as management of document and drawing repositories to ensure accurate records of all are maintained and consistently represented across multiple systems and depositories.