The UBC Staff Pension Plan Board consists of eight Board members and an Independent Chair. Four Board members are elected by Plan members, and four Board members are appointed by the University. The Independent Chair is also appointed by the University.
If you have any questions or concerns for the Board, please contact Derrick Johnstone, Secretary to the Board, at derrick.johnstone@ubc.ca.
Independent Chair
Barry Gros
Retired actuary
Current Term: January 1, 2022 to December 31, 2023
First Appointed: 2015
Barry is a retired actuary and has a wealth of experience and knowledge regarding pension plans. His most recent position was Associate Partner at Aon Hewitt, where he provided pension consulting services. Prior to Aon Hewitt, Barry was a Partner at Morneau Shepell and a Principal at Towers Watson. As well, Barry was previously a University Appointed member of the UBC Staff Pension Plan Board.
Barry has a B.Sc. in Mathematics from the University of Winnipeg, is a Fellow of the Canadian Institute of Actuaries and a Fellow of the Society of Actuaries.
Barry has been active throughout his career, serving on committees with the Canadian Institute of Actuaries, and the C.D. Howe Institute Pension Policy Council. He has also written and contributed to numerous pension-related articles and publications with Aon Hewitt, C.D. Howe Institute, National Post, and Benefits Canada among others.
Appointed Board Members
Kamila Giesbrecht
Executive Director, Investments, UBC Faculty Pension Plan
Current Term: January 1, 2021 to December 31, 2024
First Appointed: 2021
Kamila joined the UBC Pension Administration Office in 2020 as Executive Director, Investments for the UBC Faculty Pension Plan. Her primary duties with the Faculty Plan include; monitoring and reporting on the performance of the Plan’s fund options and on the external investment managers, ensuring proper implementation of the Plan’s Investment Policy, supporting the Board of Trustees with their governance duties as they relate to investment issues and assisting with member education and communication needs.
Kamila has worked in the investment consulting and investment management fields for 21 years. Prior to her role at UBC, she was Investment Consultant with George and Bell Consulting. She has advised university and international not-for-profit trusts, foundations, endowments and family offices, and she has worked extensively with regulated utilities, multi-employer and jointly-trusteed pension plans.
Kamila has a Bachelor of Commerce (BCom) from the University of Toronto. She holds the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation and is a Retirement Pension Associate (RPA).
Yale Loh
UBC Treasurer
Current Term: January 1, 2023 to December 31, 2026
First Appointed: 2019
Yale is currently the Treasurer at UBC. As such, he provides strategic direction and leadership support for financial liquidity, capital financing, corporate borrowing, cash management, financial projects management, tax, leases, and revenue accounting on all UBC campuses. Previously, Yale held progressively senior positions with BC Hydro, Finning International and Capital Power Corporation, and most recently was Treasurer at Aritzia where he was responsible for the treasury, sales audit and retail accounting functions. Yale served as the Chair of the Finning pension management committee and was a member of the BC Hydro pension management committee.
Yale is a commerce graduate from UBC and earned an MBA from Northwestern University’s Kellogg Graduate School of Management. Yale also holds his Chartered Financial Analyst and Chartered Professional Accountant designations.
Elected Board Members
Joanna Carson
Chief Financial Officer, TRIUMF
Current Term: January 1, 2023 to December 31, 2026
First Appointed: 2018
Joanna serves TRIUMF, Canada’s particle accelerator laboratory, as Chief Financial Officer and brings over two decades’ experience providing financial leadership, business management, and compliance services at leading Canadian research universities. Seven of these years have been at UBC where Joanna’s work focused on identifying and leveraging hidden opportunities and solutions, anticipating and solving problems, navigating bureaucracy, and earning the support of colleagues and internal stakeholders.
Shannon Dunn
Director, Business Operations
AVP Finance & Operations Portfolio, UBC Okanagan
Current Term: January 1, 2023 to December 31, 2026
First Elected: 2019
Shannon is the Director of Business Operations at the Okanagan campus of UBC where she previously served as the Director of Capital Planning and the Director of Student Housing and Hospitality Services.
In addition to having served six years on the UBC Board of Governors, Shannon is the current Chair of the President’s Non-Academic Misconduct Committee and Director for UBC’s Emergency Operations Centre. She is also the co-founder of the Canadian Senior Housing Officers Network and a member of the Policy Committee for the Canadian Association of College and University Student Services.
Shannon has a Bachelor of Commerce from Toronto Metropolitan University and a Master of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies with a focus on health, psychology and education from UBC.
Michael Guimond
Director of Finance, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Dean’s Office
Current Term: January 1, 2023 to December 31, 2024
First Elected: 2023
Michael is the Director of Finance for the UBC Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences. Reporting jointly to the Dean of the Faculty and the University Comptroller, Michael is responsible for providing comprehensive financial leadership, expertise, and direction to the Faculty. In addition, as a member of the Comptroller’s Team, Michael has served on numerous UBC-wide committees and working groups that have contributed to ongoing financial process and policy improvements, as well as systems implementations.
Michael brings over 16 years of UBC experience, including prior operational and financial leadership roles at the Bookstore and Campus Mail including both Vancouver and Okanagan campuses. He is dedicated to supporting the wellbeing of his colleagues, and to ensuring the sustainable management of the Staff Pension Plan and its assets for the benefit of all members.
Michael holds a Master of Business Administration degree, a Bachelor of Science degree, a Diploma in Accounting, and is designated as a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA, CGA).
Paul Kwon
Finance Manager, UBC Hiring Solutions
Current Term: January 1, 2021 to December 31, 2024
First Elected: 2021
Paul is the Finance Manager at UBC Hiring Solutions where he is responsible for monitoring payroll and benefits administration, identifying and implementing process improvements, and forecasting budget needs. He brings over 10 years of experience in finance and investment management prior to joining UBC.
Paul holds an undergraduate degree from the University of Toronto in Biology and Psychology, and is currently studying towards his CPA. Paul is an experienced asset manager and business analyst, and looks forward to working with colleagues and stakeholders to best manage and secure our pension.