Strengthening Transformation & Strategy to enable a more sustainable future for UBC 

Our portfolio is committed to advancing UBC’s financial maturity and enabling long-term operational sustainability. The new Transformation & Strategy division plays an important part in that effort.   

Given the cross-functional nature of the team’s mandate and the university-wide impact of its initiatives, Transformation & Strategy will now report to me, as Vice-President, Finance & Operations, with a formal dotted-line relationship to the Provost & VP Academic on the Vancouver campus. This strengthened structure ensures closer alignment across both portfolios and reinforces our shared commitment to financial excellence, operational sustainability, and data-informed decision-making.   

The team will continue to work closely with our colleagues within the VPFO and partners such as UBC IT and Strategic Decision Support (SDS), to deliver projects aligned with UBC’s strategic plan. These initiatives are designed to modernize processes, enhance financial efficiency, capitalize on technology, and enable a more sustainable future for the university.  

Initial priorities for the team include the Budget Reimagination initiative, which focuses on the strategy of resource management at UBC, and Finance Transformation, which focuses on the operations of resource management.  

As part of this shift, the current VPFO project management (PMO) funnel is being transitioned as the team redirects its focus to supporting Transformation & Strategy initiatives. This change will ensure projects are managed with the discipline and structure required to achieve meaningful, university-wide impact. We also welcomed our new transformation analytics team last month. Their expertise will ensure transformation efforts are informed by evidence-based insights and continue to strengthen data-driven decision-making across the university. For more details on these priorities and the new transformation analytics team, please reach out to Leena Mahasen, Executive Director, Transformation & Strategy.  

This evolution marks an important step in UBC’s capacity to deliver complex, cross-functional initiatives. By integrating finance, technology, and analytics within Transformation & Strategy, and formalizing its dotted-line reporting relationship with the Provost & VP Academic, we are better positioned to drive change, create sustainable impact, and support the university community in achieving our shared goals. 

 Best Regards,  

 Frank Laezza
Vice-President Finance & Operations