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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Protecting yourself from wildfire smoke
Lower Mainland continues to see poor air quality values as a result of the thick wildfire smoke in BC. Find resources about air quality health and safety awareness and the best ways to protect yourself.
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Generator load bank testing schedule
The regulatory Annual Load Bank Emergency Generator tests will take place in buildings across campus starting on September 12, 2022, until November 1, 2022.
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Thank you from Vice-President, Finance, Karamjeet Heer
A short while ago, the President’s Office sent a Bulletin to the university announcing some changes in the VPFO’s senior leadership team. I have accepted a new position with Simon Fraser University (SFU) as their Associate Vice-President, Finance and my…
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Leadership change within the Vice-President, Finance and Operations, portfolio
Karamjeet Heer will be leaving UBC to take up a new role at Simon Fraser University. She joined the university in 2019 as Comptroller and was more recently appointed as interim Vice-President, Finance. As of Nov. 1, Yale Loh will…
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Work continues on the UBC Hydrogen Fueling Station
On August 18, UBC Facilities began the assembly of the Hydrogen Fueling Station’s canopy, which will provide weather protection for the hydrogen dispenser users during fueling and visitors who are interested in learning more about the project at the plaza.…
People of the VPFO
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Parveen Mann joins UBC as Director, Human Resources
We are pleased to welcome Parveen Mann to the VPFO as our new Director of Human Resources, reporting to Vice-President, Finance & Operations, Peter Smailes, effective June 21.
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VPFO Finance Realignments Following Workday Go-Live
Many members of our VPFO team played key roles in launch of Workday at UBC, and following the success of go-live we are ready to continue modernizing our core business processes, improve how we are structured, and transform the way…
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Leadership one-on-one with our Comptroller, Karamjeet Heer
As UBC’s Comptroller, Karamjeet is responsible for ensuring the university’s fiscal sustainability by providing financial intelligence and strategy. This week she has been featured in the UBC Today Leadership One-on-One interview series.
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Yvonne Kwok promoted to Communications Manager, Facilities and Safety & Risk Services
Yvonne Kwok will be expanding her role as Communications Manager, Facilities & SRS, effective Friday, May 21, 2021.
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Dawn Irmscher joins UBC as Director of Payroll
Dawn brings a wealth of experience in finance, operations, technical, and systems implementation to the university, and most recently served as the Director of Finance for the Sooke School District in Victoria, BC.