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

  • Closing the front counter reception on the fifth floor of TEF 3

    Effective February 28, the front counter reception on the fifth floor of Technology Enterprise Facility 3 (TEF 3) will be closed. This closure is part of our ongoing review of resources, programs, and processes to improve efficiencies and continuous improvement.

    Read more: Closing the front counter reception on the fifth floor of TEF 3
  • Welcoming Maggie Ivanova as UBC’s New Chief Enterprise Risk & Assurance Officer

    Maggie Ivanova will begin her role as UBC’s new Chief Enterprise Risk and Assurance Officer on April 7. She will provide strategic leadership to the university’s Internal Assurance and Enterprise Risk Management functions and will report jointly to the Vice-President,…

    Read more: Welcoming Maggie Ivanova as UBC’s New Chief Enterprise Risk & Assurance Officer
  • Help with the Point-in-Time Homeless Count at UBC

    The Homelessness Services Association of BC (HSABC) regularly conducts Point-in-Time Homeless Count across BC. The program collects details about the experiences and demographics of people who are experiencing homelessness.

    Read more: Help with the Point-in-Time Homeless Count at UBC
  • Are you and your team up to date on your mandatory training?

    To help keep UBC one of the safest and most welcoming places in Canada, the university has released several new mandatory courses through the Workplace Learning (WPL) platform. Every March and October, staff who are not up to date on…

    Read more: Are you and your team up to date on your mandatory training?
  • Strengthening UBC’s long-term financial planning

    The VPFO is strengthening its long-term financial planning capabilities by forming a new Long-Term Financial Modelling & Planning team, which will report to Treasurer, Yale Loh. Aligned with VPFO Strategic Goal 1.1, this team will enhance UBC’s existing long-term financial…

    Read more: Strengthening UBC’s long-term financial planning

People of the VPFO

  • Nicholas Potovsky joins Infrastructure Development as the Accessible Buildings Planner

    Co-created with the UBC Centre for Accessibility, this newly created role will help UBC develop accessibility design guidelines for new and existing campus buildings. Nicholas is a registered architect with over 10 years of experience in the design of new…

    Read more: Nicholas Potovsky joins Infrastructure Development as the Accessible Buildings Planner
  • David Sequeira joins Custodial Services as Assistant Supervisor

    In his new role, David will oversee the dayshift Custodial Services team and will work out of the Life Building. David comes to us from the Office of the Dean at the Faculty of Education with responsibility for Faculty-wide health…

    Read more: David Sequeira joins Custodial Services as Assistant Supervisor
  • Fabiola Ruiz-Aguilar joins Safety & Risk Services as Safety Advisor, Scientific Diving

    In her new role as Dive Safety Officer, Fabiola is responsible for developing, strengthening and growing the Scientific Diving program in compliance with WorkSafe BC, Canadian Association for Underwater Science (CAUS) and CSA Ocean Sciences — after all the earth…

    Read more: Fabiola Ruiz-Aguilar joins Safety & Risk Services as Safety Advisor, Scientific Diving
  • VPFO HR team update

    Daisy Chan will be going on Maternity leave starting March 2023. During her leave, Kasia Burza will be temporarily promoted to an HR Advisor until September 2024, supporting AVPFO and Treasury. Alysa Garza will be joining as an HR Coordinator…

    Read more: VPFO HR team update
  • Silvia Magnano joins Treasury as Manager, Treasury Contracts & Real Estate

    Silvia comes to us directly from the UBC University-Industry Liaison Office (UILO) where she was a Contracts Officer. Silvia brings both business and legal background to her new role. She was trained and certified as a lawyer in Argentina, where…

    Read more: Silvia Magnano joins Treasury as Manager, Treasury Contracts & Real Estate