Vice-President Finance & Operations
Frank Laezza is the Vice-President, Finance & Operations, for the University of British Columbia. He is responsible for leading the VPFO team of over 1400 individuals in the core financial, facilities, safety, risk and assurance functions of the university across both the Vancouver and Okanagan campuses.
Reporting directly to the President and Vice-Chancellor, Frank serves as a key member of UBC’s executive leadership team. He represents the VPFO in working with diverse constituencies across the university, as well as with external partners, to support and amplify UBC’s academic mission through the stewardship and continuous improvement of the university’s physical and financial assets.
As part of his role, he serves as a member of the board and oversees the university’s relationships with both UBC Investment Management, which manages the university’s endowment and staff pension plan, and UBC Properties Trust, which develops and manages real estate assets for the long-term benefit of the university community.
Frank is a strong believer in connected leadership, bringing a focus to collaboration and honest, two-way dialogue that enables him to build meaningful and productive relationships within his team as well as with external partners. He began his career with UBC in March 2023 after serving in leadership roles at a suite of Australia’s post-secondary institutions, including Murdoch University, Technical and Further Education State Vocational College (NSW), the University of Technology in Sydney, and the University of New South Wales. He holds a degree in Business/Commerce from the University of Technology Sydney, and an MBA from the University of Wollongong.
Frank’s Leadership Vision
“I am committed, through my mentorship, collaboration and open communication, to fostering a culture of purpose-driven leadership within the VPFO. Together, we will create an inclusive environment where each team member’s unique strengths contribute to our collective success, encourage personal growth, innovative thinking and a dedication to excellence and innovation.”
Frank Laezza
Vice-President Finance & Operations
Updates from the VP
Mar 14, 2025
Building the Future of Finance at UBC
Finance Transformation brings new tools, new roles, and a stronger, more connected Finance Community.Feb 27, 2025
Welcoming Maggie Ivanova as UBC’s New Chief Enterprise Risk & Assurance Officer
Maggie Ivanova will begin her role as UBC’s new Chief Enterprise Risk and Assurance Officer on April 7. She will provide strategic leadership to the university’s Internal Assurance and Enterprise Risk Management functions and will report jointly to the Vice-President, Finance and Operations and the Audit Committee of the Board.Feb 21, 2025
Strengthening UBC’s long-term financial planning
The VPFO is strengthening its long-term financial planning capabilities by forming a new Long-Term Financial Modelling & Planning team, which will report to Treasurer, Yale Loh. Aligned with VPFO Strategic Goal 1.1, this team will enhance UBC’s existing long-term financial planning framework by providing a structured, top-down five-year financial model that supports strategic decision-making and financial sustainability.Dec 17, 2024
A warm thank you for an impressive 2024
As we approach the holiday season, I want to take a moment to express my sincere thanks for your incredible efforts and reflect on what the VPFO team has achieved in 2024.Sep 27, 2024