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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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…
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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).
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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.
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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.
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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…
People of the VPFO
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Meghan Kerr joins Infrastructure Development as Construction Document Administrator with Project & Planning Business Systems
As the new Construction Document Administrator, Meghan will support Project Services in ensuring there is clear and consistent document management between the Project Managers and Clerks.
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Two new Associate Project Managers join Infrastructure Development with Project Services
Sarah Buck joins UBC from Penfolds Roofing & Solar where she held several positions; starting out as a Project Coordinator and working her way up to a project management position. James Woo joins us from R.F. Binnie & Associates, where…
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Shannon Boychuk joins Safety & Risk Services in the position of Manager, Insurance & Loss Prevention
Shannon will be responsible for the management of the university’s comprehensive insurance portfolio and will act as the leader and key expert with respect to insurance policies
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Leigh Clark successfully keeping used furniture out of landfill
Since Leigh joined UBC Vancouver as a Facilities Planner with Infrastructure Development just two years ago, she has successfully identified and implemented a solution for keeping redundant furniture out of landfill and putting it to use elsewhere at the university.
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Siu Tse joins Energy & Water Services as Director of Engineering & Utilities
Siu joins us from the City of Port Coquitlam as their Deputy Director of Engineering & Operation and previously worked in City of Richmond, and Metro Vancouver.