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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MOA’s Great Hall Renewal featured in Vancouver Sun & CityNews Vancouver
The Museum of Anthropology’s Great Hall will be seismically upgraded with base isolation technology.
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Building resilience around MOA’s irreplaceable collection
MOA has begun preparations for a rebuild of its iconic Great Hall that will upgrade the resiliency of the space and protect its irreplaceable collection in the event of a major earthquake.
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Planon is live at UBC
Planon, the new Enterprise Maintenance Management System goes live today at UBC. Teams in Building Operations, Energy & Water Services, Locksmiths and Chemistry Stores will use Planon on a daily basis, and technicians in the field will be using Planon…
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Workday is now live
Workday is now live, retrofitting and integrating 42 applications across the university. Some of these systems were 25 years old or more. This major milestone represents a big step forward in supporting our learning, research and working environments at UBC.
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The Integrated Service Centre (ISC) now available to support Workday
The ISC is your point of contact for Workday related questions, issues and requests. If necessary, the ISC can also connect you with other support teams around the university as needed.
People of the VPFO
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Esther Li promoted to Senior Financial Processing Specialist in Treasury
Reporting to Chen Shi, Treasury Accounting Manager, Esther will continue to be responsible for the incoming payments while playing a critical role in more complicated bank reconciliations and other banking side responsibilities.
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Creating inclusive spaces beyond the public realm
Jen Sheel takes pride in what her team does… and it shows. When you meet Jen, one of the first things you see is her dedication to making UBC a place that invites and builds connections. She fiercely believes that…
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Josephine Shen joins the Financial Planning and Analysis (FP&A) team as a Financial Analyst
In her new role, Josephine will play a key role in developing the Strategic Initiatives’ multi-year forecasting model and maintaining various financial models (i.e. Contingency and PAEI) at UBC.
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Celebrating UBC VPFO’s long-serving member inductees in 2022
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.
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Holly Shepherd promoted to Director, Treasury
Holly Shepherd has been promoted to Director, Treasury with overall responsibility for overseeing tax, contracts, leases & licences, housing loans, payment card industry compliance, service levy and Treasury Accounting.