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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Last pick-ups from Environment Services Facilities will be on December 14, 2023
The Environmental Services Facilities (ESF) will be closed starting December 18, 2023 until January 2, 2024. There will be no hazardous waste pick-ups during this break. The last pick-up day from academic department labs will be Thursday December 14, 2023.
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UBC receives NAFA Clean Air Awards 2023
This year, UBC Facilities received four NAFA Clean Air Awards for its outstanding air filtration practices in the following buildings: Allard Hall, Earth Sciences Building, Life Building, and the Walter C. Koerner Library.
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Final Settlement runs for 2023
The final settlement (payment) runs for all 2023 Accounts Payable transactions will take place on Thursday, December 21 at 12:00 pm. In order to be included in the settlement run, the invoice/expense must be fully approved or matched to its…
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Coast Salish Two-Spirit Mosaic mural installed
Last week, the Coast Salish Two-Spirit Mosaic mural was installed west of the First Nations Long House (FNLH) building on the West Mall. This mural represents Coast Salish Two-Spirit unity, dignity, and respect.
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Accepting credit card payments over the phone
The acceptance of credit card payments over the phone is deemed to be a transmission of cardholder data. If a Voice over internet protocol (VoIP) telephone is used as a means of transmission, both the credit card process and UBC…
People of the VPFO
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Staff change as VPFO Administration helps support the President’s Office
Sandy Zarka will be seconded as the new Manager of Administration and Executive Assistant to the Interim President for the Presidential transition period. While Sandy is with the President’s Office, Holly Rail will continue in her current role as executive…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…