UBC's Department of Information Technology supports the academic, research, and administrative functions of the university by providing IT-related strategy, and reliable, innovative and secure technology solutions. We work collaboratively with the UBC community to maintain and enhance the university’s IT infrastructure, applications, products and services, to ensure students, faculty, and staff have access to the IT solutions and resources needed for success.
UBC IT plays a critical role in enhancing the institution's technological capabilities, focusing on innovation, automation, and the integration of AI to enhance the teaching learning experience and propel research forward. Innovation is central to our work, and we implement cutting-edge solutions that improve both the student experience and academic processes, such as cloud-based collaboration tools and enterprise learning management systems.
We empower the university to embrace a dynamic and future-ready teaching and learning environment. From network support and web development to cybersecurity and helpdesk services, UBC IT ensures that leading-edge technology is readily accessible to support excellence in teaching, learning, and research.
UBC IT partners with the UBC community through various avenues, including initiatives and working groups. Find out more about IT governance at UBC at the Office of the CIO website.
Our Vision
To empower and transform UBC’s academic and research mission through innovative, reliable, and secure technology solutions. We will enable students, faculty, and staff to excel in their pursuits by fostering a connected, collaborative, and inclusive digital ecosystem that supports learning, discovery, and institutional growth.
Commitments and Goals
UBC IT's core commitments are to Community Service, Operational Stability, Technology Leadership and People Development. Our commitments have been chosen to support UBC IT's mission, capitalize on our strengths and focus on the needs of our community.
UBC IT Plan
The UBC IT plan honours and reflects the extensive community input provided through external reviews, the emerging digital framework, UBC’s Strategic Plan, and the perspectives of the advisory bodies that guide our efforts. Read more
Community Engagement
Our Engagement Services team engages the UBC community by bringing together functional and technical expertise to define and implement practical, strategic customer-oriented services. Our Client Service Managers are the liaison between UBC IT and faculty and administrative units, identifying opportunities and responding to client escalations, as well as playing a key role in ensuring the successful delivery of IT solutions.
Learn more about our Client Services team and the portfolios they support.
The Office of the CIO provides the leadership and strategic vision for information technology at UBC, and includes the senior management team that represents and delivers on enterprise-wide initiatives at the institution.
IT Senior Leadership Team
Jennifer Burns#
Associate Vice-President, Information Technology
Chief Information Officer
Jennifer provides IT leadership across the university to ensure technology enables the academic mission of the university. Her focus includes ensuring a seamless delivery of technology and support for stakeholders across the institution, consulting with senior executives to ensure existing and emerging technology needs are met, and working with her leadership team on the talent development of the IT community. Read the CIO bio.
Stephen Lamb#
Deputy Chief Information Officer
As Deputy CIO, Stephen oversees governance and investment planning processes, project and portfolio management, IT-related risk management, workforce planning, service management, financial maturity improvement, engagement services and communications. In addition, he collaborates with senior executives across UBC on the development and implementation of projects at the enterprise and local level.
Marcela Hernandez#
Chief Data Officer
Marcela is responsible for UBC's enterprise data and information strategy. The data governance function ensures data processes and standards are built and reviewed to prevent misuse of institutional data assets. Marcela's work includes developing a data governance framework, and collaborating with institutional data stewards representing academic and administrative areas across campus. Discover more on Data Governance.
Grainne McElroy#
Deputy Chief Information Officer, Faculty of Medicine
Grainne provides accountability for strategic planning and execution of IT while supporting a federated IT model that respects local decision-making and delivery. The role has a Faculty-wide mandate and will ensure that the Office of the CIO is represented in the relationship with our health partners. More on MedIT.
Don Thompson#
Chief Information Security Officer
Don provides leadership and guidance for policy, standards, practices, communication and awareness about information security issues at UBC. He manages a team of cybersecurity experts to ensure the institution is protected in a high-risk technology environment, and to establish UBC as a post-secondary leader among post-secondary peers. Discover more on Privacy Matters.
Steve Cundy#
Director, Advanced Research Computing
Steve leads the Advanced Research Computing (ARC) team, a joint initiative of the VP, Research and the Provost and VP, Academic. ARC provides an institutionally dedicated service for researchers across all disciplines to enable research excellence. Discover more about ARC.
Aarti Paul#
Director, Engagement Services
Aarti leads the Engagement Services unit with responsibility for stakeholder engagement, Teaching and Learning Technologies teams and the Emerging Media Lab. Engagement with the UBC community is key for bringing together the functional and technical expertise to implement strategic customer-oriented solutions and services. Ensuring that technology solutions are approachable and accessible for diverse range of educational programs, distributed faculty and students.
Read more on our Engagement Services Framework and Emerging Media Lab.
Salman Shahid#
Chief Enterprise Architect
Salman provides leadership and guidance to deliver Enterprise Architecture (EA) services. The EA function offers strategic services like translating business strategies into IT investments through future state planning and road-mapping. Tactical services include delivering solution concepts and solution blue prints to inform IT business cases and guide implementations. EA also de-risks IT investments by offering solution oversight and developing technology standards and guidelines.
Aisha Sinclair#
Director, Communications
Aisha leads the IT Communications team, delivering strategic internal and external communications planning, brand management, marketing research, issues management, and content production for stakeholder audiences. The team supports the Office of the CIO and the IT community at UBC, and leverages their working relationships with campus communicators.
Yolanda Gonzales#
Associate Director, Finance
Yolanda oversees the IT's Financial Services group, providing financial information including financial reporting, planning framework, consolidated budgeting and analysis for IT Operations and IT Projects. These services facilitate fiscally responsible decisions within UBC IT and ensure ongoing financial stability
Kevin Labadie#
Director, Digital Enablement
Kevin oversees the Digital Delivery & Solutions (DD&S) group, providing strategic leadership to a portfolio delivering a wide variety of technology services across UBC. Working in close partnership with academic and administrative leaders, DD&S develops and maintains innovative solutions in support of UBC's long term strategic goals.
Laleh Mosadegh#
Director of Enterprise Automation and Solution Delivery
Laleh leads the Integration Enablement Centre, Salesforce Solution Delivery team, Automation Solution Delivery team, as well as responsible for implementation of IT Capital Projects. Her portfolio focuses on continuous improvement activities to deliver UBC goals and works collaboratively across the university to create and sustain a culture that supports UBC's vision, purpose, and values.
Organizational Design of the Office of the CIO
Please refer to Workday for the most current Organization Chart information. For any related inquiries, please connect with the UBC IT HR at ubcuit-g-ubcithr@mail.ubc.ca