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

  • VPFO Pink Shirt Day 2022

    On Feb 23rd 2022, Peter Smailes addressed the VPFO as part of our annual Pink Shirt Day event. Click though for a transcript of his speech to the team.

    Read more: VPFO Pink Shirt Day 2022
  • Inside the new UBC Arts Student Centre

    In November 2021, UBC Arts Student Centre officially opened its doors. The three-storey, cylindrical building located on East Mall and Walter Gage Road will be a common meeting ground for Arts students to interact across disciplines, with spaces to relax…

    Read more: Inside the new UBC Arts Student Centre
  • T4/T4A Tax Slips and T2200s Forms Will Soon Be Available for Faculty and Staff

    T4/T4A tax slips and T2200S forms will be made available for faculty and staff through the Workday system next week. In the meantime, UBC Finance has created some resources to answer any questions the community may have about their tax…

    Read more: T4/T4A Tax Slips and T2200s Forms Will Soon Be Available for Faculty and Staff
  • Heat recovery chiller and coils successfully commissioned

    The new heat recovery chiller in Chemistry D Block would be capable of providing its forecasted 5000GJ in annual thermal energy savings, saving the university almost $50,000 per year. Chemistry E Block is on track for their predicted energy savings…

    Read more: Heat recovery chiller and coils successfully commissioned
  • New Biomass Boiler going through commissioning at the BRDF 

    The new UBC biomass boiler is going through its commissioning tests at the Bioenergy Research Demonstration Facility (BRDF). As the new boiler’s combustion is fine-tuned, you may notice some grey smoke, accompanied by a campfire scent, from the BRDF on occasion. 

    Read more: New Biomass Boiler going through commissioning at the BRDF 

People of the VPFO

  • 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…

    Read more: Jen Dick joins UBC Facilities’ Learning Spaces Team as Learning Space Planner
  • 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…

    Read more: Lance Xu joins Campus Security as Secure Access Technician
  • Jenny Black joins UBC Facilities as Red Zone Facilities Manager

    Jenny joins UBC Facilities’ Customer Services & Informatics team from UBC Athletics & Recreation where she has been working for the past 9 years as a facility coordinator and facility manager. Buildings in her portfolio have included the War Memorial…

    Read more: Jenny Black joins UBC Facilities as Red Zone Facilities Manager
  • Jeannie Lee joins Facilities’ Energy & Water Services as Utilities Manager

    Jeannie brings in extensive, local knowledge in both private and public engineering sectors focuses on utilities planning, stormwater management, and climate change resilience. Prior to joining UBC, Jeannie was the Senior Engineer in the City of Vancouver, leading their Flood…

    Read more: Jeannie Lee joins Facilities’ Energy & Water Services as Utilities Manager
  • Steven Wong joins Comptroller’s Capital Financial Management & Reporting as Finance Manager in Project Accounting

    Steven will be working closely with Capital Planning & Development and Project Services, in Facilities, responsible for overseeing the financial aspects of Facilities projects. This includes project costing, funding, planning, and reporting to support the successful delivery of capital projects…

    Read more: Steven Wong joins Comptroller’s Capital Financial Management & Reporting as Finance Manager in Project Accounting