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

  • 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
  • Operational Excellence Website Launches

    UBC and the VPFO are currently undergoing a series of transformational changes. Our new Operational Excellence team has been created to help us navigate these changes. Visit the newly launched website to learn more about what Operational Excellence does and…

    Read more: Operational Excellence Website Launches

People of the VPFO

  • 2023 Facilities Staff Excellence Award winners

    The UBC Facilities Staff Excellence Award Program provides recognition and rewards to staff who have demonstrated excellence consistently in the performance of their work and service to the university. Congratulations to our 2023 Staff Excellence Award recipients!

    Read more: 2023 Facilities Staff Excellence Award winners
  • Gilberto Andrade is promoted to Building Asset Specialist within Facilities’ Building Operations

    Gilberto Andrade is promoted to Building Asset Specialist and will be joining Building Operations within Facilities starting January 29, 2024. His expertise and data-driven decision-making will enhance asset management procedures, creating efficient and sustainable spaces for research, teaching, and learning…

    Read more: Gilberto Andrade is promoted to Building Asset Specialist within Facilities’ Building Operations
  • Siret Ulp joins Finance & Integrated Services as Procurement Programs Advisor

    Siret Ulp joins Finance & Integrated Services as the new Procurement Programs Advisor on November 8th. She will play a vital role in implementing UBC’s approach for Indigenous procurement, Inclusive procurement, Environmentally Sustainable procurement and other strategic procurement projects.

    Read more: Siret Ulp joins Finance & Integrated Services as Procurement Programs Advisor
  • Jen Dick joins UBC Facilities’ Learning Spaces Team as Learning Space Planner

    Jen Dick joins UBC Facilities’ Learning Spaces Team as the Learning Space Planner. Jen comes to us from the Construction Office where she has served as a Project Coordinator, most recently completing the Buchanan A theatre flood remediation and Neville…

    Read more: Jen Dick joins UBC Facilities’ Learning Spaces Team as Learning Space Planner
  • Lance Xu joins Campus Security as Secure Access Technician

    Lance Xu joins Campus Security as a Secure Access Technician. Lance is a dedicated security access technician with a profound passion for the physical security industry. He joins us from Chubb Security and is currently attending BCIT and working towards…

    Read more: Lance Xu joins Campus Security as Secure Access Technician