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
-
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.
-
Are you Ranger Ready? Visit the UBC Emergency Ranger Station on Feb 13 and find out!
Emergencies happen, and as UBC students, faculty, staff, and residents, we all have a role to play in emergency preparedness. Visit the UBC Emergency Ranger Station in the AMS Nest on February 13 to find out how you can prepare…
-
François Desmarais promoted to Senior Facilities Manager in Building Operations
François is the successful candidate to take on this newly created role with all of the Building Operations’ Facilities Managers reporting directly to him. François will continue to be responsible for the Brown Zone and also manage the day to…
-
Announcing a new Associate Vice-President role for the VPFO
Following approval from UBC’s Board of Governors,the VPFO will be adding a new Associate Vice-President. Trish Pekeles has agreed to step forward as acting in the new AVP role until the search committee completes their work.
-
UBC Finance Receives Sustainable Purchasing Award from International Institute for Sustainable Laboratories
UBC joined a number of leading research university in receiving the Sustainable Purchasing Leadership Award after demonstrating an improvement in sustainable procurement practices.
People of the VPFO
-
Welcome Tilan Kiriwaththuduwa, Finance Director, Capital Financial Management and Reporting (CFMR)
Tilan brings a wealth of experience as a highly effective finance professional, with over 13 years of progressive expertise in financial management, budgeting, analysis, and reporting. Notably, he has a proven track record of developing and executing major long-term capital…
-
Get to know the senior leadership team: Allen Amyotte
Fostering a culture of purpose driven leadership, get to know Allen Amyotte, Interim Chief Assurance & Risk Officer, and his leadership vision: “I am committed to empowering people to cultivate collaboration and embrace agile process methodologies to enact positive change…our…
-
Nicole Wendt joins the Financial Planning and Analysis team as Manager of Financial Planning & Analysis
Nicole brings a wealth of experience and over eight years as a dedicated CPA specializing in accounting and auditing. Previously, Nicole served as the Senior Project Accountant for the Integrated Renewal Program at UBC from 2018 to 2021. During her…
-
Jimmy Gau joins ISC Service Desk as ISC Service Centre Manager
Jimmy joins the ISC Service Desk team on May 1 to work alongside co-Managers, Liam Murphy and Divya Shetty, and Senior Manager, Veekay Padhi. As a former UBC student and coming from his previous role with IRP Student as a…
-
Parm Ubhi promoted to Assistant Chief Engineer in Energy & Water Services
Paramvir Ubhi has been promoted to Assistant Chief Engineer in UBC Facilities’ Energy & Water Services for UBC’s two thermal energy plants as of April 15.