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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New Payroll FAQ Available for Faculty and Staff
Payroll Operations recently created a FAQ to answer the community’s most common questions, ranging from when you get paid and how to understand your pay statement, to why your net pay might be lower at the beginning of the year.
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MOA: Great Hall Renewal project is proceeding
The Museum of Anthropology (MOA): Great Hall Renewal project is proceeding, and the dismantling of the outer walls of MOA’s Great Hall is starting this week. This work will continue into the Spring 2022, with construction of the new structure…
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Facilities Annual Injury Statistical Review 2021
UBC Facilities aims to provide a safe, healthy, and secure environment to ensure the health, safety, and wellbeing of all of us as we work to support the university. In order to gain some insight into our health and safety…
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UBC Gateway project received the 2021 Canadian Architect Award of Excellence
The design intends to express commonalities between Musqueam values, culture, and learning and the UBC Gateway environmental and wellness goals. The UBC Gateway project is nearing the end of the design process and should start construction in spring, targeting Board…
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Staff: Submit your Professional Development Fund claims by March 4
A reminder to staff and research associates to use available professional development (PD) funding and submit your claims in Workday by Friday, March 4, 2022. Claim submissions will commence again on April 1, 2022, at the start of the new…
People of the VPFO
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Meynardo Villarica steps into new role as Architectural Head in Building Operations
Meynardo joined Building Operations in September 2012 as a carpenter in the Yellow Zone Carpenter and later became the Sub-head for the Carpenter Shop. Bringing a wealth of trade and customer service experience, Meynardo will help to build out processes…
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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…