Time is flying, it’s hard to believe a month has passed already since I joined the portfolio. I’m so impressed with the work I’m seeing across the team — most recently with our finance folks in finalizing UBC’s 2023/24 budget.
This year the budget process was extended by two weeks to allow additional time for addressing current economic challenges and ensuring we position UBC for success in the decades to come. The final budget report is now available on the UBC Finance website, and the plan reflects our strong financial stewardship while also supporting UBC’s academic mission in teaching, learning, and research and the university’s commitment to positively impact social and economic conditions in BC and beyond.
My thanks to Yale Loh, Matt Boydston and the Comptroller Financial Planning & Analysis team for their hard work on the budget alongside the Provost’s Office. I’m looking forward to working together on improving UBC’s budget process in the year to come!
I also would like to thank the whole portfolio for the warm welcome I’ve received thus far. Connecting with our team has been really important for me in my first few weeks — I’ve met utility plumbers, electricians, engineers, and accountants. I met Andy Carr who is our Head Mechanic, and he’s going to show me around Municipal Services on Wednesday. I was delighted to run into Manmohan Mand from UBC Campus Security, who I met at one of our meet and greets and then ran into again on campus. I had a great chat with Russell Neal from Energy & Water Services, and I learned a lot from Sreekanth about the Adaptive Planning Project. And there’ve been so many more folks who’ve shared interesting information about their work here in the VPFO.
I look forward to continuing to learn about everyone’s roles and work, and wish you the best for the coming week.
Frank