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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Help keep furniture out of the landfill with the Furniture Reuse Program
The Furniture Reuse program accepts donations of gently used, surplus furniture from faculty and departments and resells it to the UBC community and broader public to help divert waste from disposal. Learn more about this program and how to donate…
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Jen Dick joins UBC Facilities’ Learning Spaces Team as Learning Space Planner
Jen Dick joins UBC Facilities’ Learning Spaces Team as the Learning Space Planner. Jen comes to us from the Construction Office where she has served as a Project Coordinator, most recently completing the Buchanan A theatre flood remediation and Neville…
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UBC Investment Management releases FY22-23 Annual Report
UBC Investment Management released its FY22-23 Annual Report today, delivering strong performance on behalf of the funds we manage, The University of British Columbia Endowment and the UBC Staff Pension Plan, while at the same time furthering our efforts in…
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What do we mean when we say “budget”?
UBC’s annual budget process is underway and in the VPFO that means we’re working on the portfolio financial plan that will feed into the university-wide budget proposal, as well as overseeing the university-wide process. At the same time, we’re also…
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Lance Xu joins Campus Security as Secure Access Technician
Lance Xu joins Campus Security as a Secure Access Technician. Lance is a dedicated security access technician with a profound passion for the physical security industry. He joins us from Chubb Security and is currently attending BCIT and working towards…
People of the VPFO
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Jonathan Weinberg promoted to Project Coordinator in Infrastructure Development, Facilities
Jonathan joined UBC in September 2019 working as a project carpenter in Building Operations. He participated in continuing education by volunteering for the Expression of Interest Program (EOI) program back in 2020, and since then has supported the crew as…
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Leadership change within the Vice-President, Finance and Operations portfolio
Peter Smailes, Vice-President, Finance and Operations, is leaving UBC to take up a new opportunity at Kwantlen Polytechnic University as their Vice-President, Administration.
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Eve Neesham-Grenon joins Safety & Risk Services as Biological & Radiation Safety Associate
Research Compliance & Occupational Hygiene with Occupational Health & Safety welcomes Eve Neesham-Grenon to the team as the Safety Associate focused primarily on the Biological & Radiation Safety Programs. Eve brings a fantastic mix of laboratory and hygiene experience to…
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Nick Steel promoted to Senior Advisor, Faculty of Medicine in Safety & Risk Services
In his new role as Senior Advisor, Faculty of Medicine within the Occupational Health & Safety, Nick will lead a team to continue to develop, promote and implement the occupational health and safety program for the Faculty of Medicine.
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Lubna Shawwa joins Operational Excellence as Continuous Improvement Program Manager
Leveraging her robust experience in continuous improvement and problem solving, in addition to her passion for driving efficiency and collaboration, Lubna will play a key role in enhancing and delivering continuous improvement projects across UBC.