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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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.
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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.
People of the VPFO
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Get to know: Ryan Huffman, Senior Project Manager with Project Services, Infrastructure Development
Ryan came to UBC because he used to get bored easily. Almost 7 years later, he’s discovered a job that brings him constant innovation, excitement, and the opportunity to bring his unique brand of positivity to his many UBC friends…
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Doug Cheung joins Treasury team in the position of Director, Treasury
Doug will be overseeing cash management together with the strategic long-term modelling and will also be involved in strategic initiatives such as the GBE (Government Business Entity) project with Student Housing and Hospitality Services.
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Jenny Ng joins Project & Planning Business Systems with Infrastructure Development as NAV Data Systems Analyst
Jenny brings with her 19 years of UBC experience and extensive knowledge in managing, analyzing, and reporting on data. She will be joining Infrastructure Development starting January 6, 2020.
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Bryan Archibald is new Manager of Maintenance Planning in Facilities, Building Operations
Bryan will be responsible for facilitating the outcome from those responsible for preventative and predictive maintenance programs in Building Operations.
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Colleen Mah promoted to Associate Project Manager, Project Services with Infrastructure Development
Colleen joined UBC in 2017 as a Project Administrator and has taken on an increasing number of project management tasks, while providing enormous bandwidth to support Project Managers on a number of large projects. Moving into the Associate Project Manager…