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

  • Get ready for our 8th annual Pink Shirt Day celebration

    The VPFO Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Committee presents Pink Shirt Day on Wednesday, February 26, 2025. This year’s theme is “Let Kindness Grow”. How can we cultivate a community of kindness, support, and understanding? 

    Read more: Get ready for our 8th annual Pink Shirt Day celebration
  • Protecting you and UBC through smarter expense management

    Do you make purchases on behalf of the university? The UBC Visa Corporate Card enables you to make university-related purchases directly and is integrated into the Workday Expense module to allow simpler reconciliation, so you never lose track of an…

    Read more: Protecting you and UBC through smarter expense management
  • T2200 Declaration of Conditions of Employment

    UBC employees participating in the formal Hybrid Work Program may be eligible to claim home office expenses on their 2024 taxes under CRA’s updated guidelines. For more information, please visit the UBC Finance Portal.

    Read more: T2200 Declaration of Conditions of Employment
  • UBC joins national CASPAR initiative for sustainable procurement

    UBC is part of a new Canadian inter-university working group on sustainable procurement. The group is a collaborative forum with materials, training, and other knowledge-sharing opportunities for procurement practitioners at CAUBO member institutions.

    Read more: UBC joins national CASPAR initiative for sustainable procurement
  • Scarfe Office Block is undergoing electrical renovation starting in May 2025

    The electrical distribution system for the Neville Scarfe Complex is reaching the end of its lifespan and lacks the capacity to meet occupants’ future electrical needs. Construction on the Scarfe Complex Electrical Renovation is anticipated to begin in May 2025…

    Read more: Scarfe Office Block is undergoing electrical renovation starting in May 2025

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