Governance
We’re dedicated to shaping UBC’s future through integrity, innovation, and creating a lasting financial legacy.
UBC Properties Trust is governed by a Board of Directors who oversees our rental housing and development activities. The Board comprises experienced developers, industry professionals, and senior UBC administrators, including at least one member of the UBC Board of Governors. UBC-affiliated board members provide guidance based on their knowledge of the university’s vision, policies and objectives. UBC’s Vice President of Finance & Operations coordinates the governance for institutional projects undertaken by UBC Properties.
In addition to their Board duties, some directors sit on other committees that oversee the company’s operation. The Compensation Committee reviews and approves all senior-level compensation packages. The Audit Committee ensures proper systems and controls are in place to record transactions accurately and safeguard assets. This committee convenes at least twice a year to review and consider significant audit and accounting matters.
UBC Properties Trust commits to maintaining the highest standards of ethical, moral, and legal business conduct. We ensure transparency through our Whistleblower Policy, offering a confidential channel to expose misconduct. Supported by an impartial third party, this organization wields the authority to take remedial action.
Board of Directors
Carol Anne Lee is chair and co-founder of the Vancouver Chinatown Foundation. With long standing family ties to the history of Chinatown, she is strongly committed to the revitalization of the area. She serves on several other boards and organizations including the BC Achievement Foundation, National Coalition Against Anti-Asian Racism, and Harvard Business School Canadian Advisory Board. In 2022, she was the recipient of the YWCA Icon Award and the VPD Jim and Vicky Chu Community Safety Leader Award. In 2023 she was appointed to the Order of Canada, and the Independent Advisory Board Supreme Court of Canada Judicial Appointments. She is the recipient of an Honorary Doctorate of Laws degree from the University of British Columbia and an Honorary Doctorate of Technology from BCIT and the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal. She has been on Vancouver Magazine’s Power 50 list for the past 10 years.
Al Poettcker was CEO and President of UBC Properties Trust from 1997-2016 and is a lifetime resident of Vancouver. He graduated from the University of British Columbia in 1969 with a degree in Urban Land from the Faculty of Commerce. Since then, Al has been very active in real estate development, investment and property management. He started his career with Marathon Realty and, over the last 45 years, has been responsible for a variety of large-scale residential, commercial and land development projects, including the land assembly for Expo ’86. He is also a Past President of the UBC Alumni Association and one of the first directors of UBC Properties Trust.
Dr. Benoit-Antoine Bacon started a five-year term as the 17th President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of British Columbia in 2023.
Before joining UBC, Dr. Bacon served in several academic leadership roles, including as President and Vice-Chancellor of Carleton University in Ottawa, Provost and Vice-Principal (Academic) at Queen’s University in Kingston, and as Provost and Vice-President (Academic Affairs) at Concordia University in his hometown of Montreal. Dr. Bacon holds a PhD in neuropsychology from the University of Montreal, after which he undertook a post-doctoral fellowship at the University of Glasgow, Scotland.
Andrew Bibby was appointed to the Grosvenor Americas Board in 2009. He joined Grosvenor in 1984 and became Chief Executive of Grosvenor Americas in 2009. During this time, he has been involved with the acquisition, development and management of all property types and has worked in Vancouver, Calgary and San Francisco. He is currently a Director of Canadian Western Bank, Rugby Canada and UBC Properties Trust. He has served as a past Director of the Real Property Association of Canada and is a former member of the Sauder Business School Advisory Board.
Sandra has been a real estate appraiser and development consultant since 1981. She was a principal at Burgess Cawley Sullivan & Associates and is now a Regional Leader at Ryan ULC. Ms. Cawley specializes in real estate valuation, marketing studies, and development consultancy in the residential, office, shopping centre, industrial park, land subdivision, and hotel markets.
Professor Cormack is the Principal and Deputy Vice-Chancellor at UBC Okanagan. Professor Cormack joined UBC in July 2020 from the University of Alberta where she served as Dean of the Faculty of Arts from 2010 to 2020. Previously, Professor Cormack was Dean of Arts and Social Sciences at Simon Fraser University from 2007 to 2010 and, earlier, taught at the University of Alberta in the Department of History and Classics for 17 years.
Remco Daal joined QuadReal as President of Canadian Real Estate in June 2016. He focuses on the company’s domestic operations, including investment, development, and the management operation of the Canadian property portfolio.
He was formerly the President and Chief Operating Officer of Bentall Kennedy (now BentallGreenOak) in Canada, where he was responsible for overall Canadian financial and operating performance. Previously, he held senior positions with CIBC Development Corporation and a private Toronto-based development company.
Remco holds a Bachelor of Commerce Degree from Wilfrid Laurier University, and a Master’s of Business Administration from European University. He currently serves on the board of Parkbridge Lifestyle Communities.
Hubert obtained his law degree from Queen’s University. He articled in Vancouver with Barrigar & Oyen (now known as Oyen Wiggs Green & Mutala LLP), and practised law with the national firm of Fraser & Beatty (now known as Dentons Canada LLP). Hubert was appointed as University Counsel at the University of British Columbia in 2001. At the time, he was the youngest person to have ever served in such a capacity at a major Canadian university. From 2006 to 2007, he simultaneously served as the University’s Associate Vice President, Government Relations. Since 2007, he has served as a member of the University Executive. In 2012, he was appointed as Queen’s Counsel (now King’s Counsel) by the Lieutenant Governor in Council. Hubert has been involved in a number of organizations, both related and unrelated to the University. In 2022, he was named one of the Top 25 Most Influential Lawyers in Canada by Canadian Lawyer Magazine.
Robert Fung has been active in Vancouver’s real estate development since 1990. Mr. Fung began his career as a Development Manager with Concord Pacific Developments, and was responsible for rezoning and development of the former “Expo 86” site in Vancouver. After seven years with Concord Pacific, Mr. Fung became Director of Development with the Narland Group where he was responsible for all aspects of the residential development process. He is the founder and President of the Salient Group, which focuses on the creation and restoration vibrant communities in urban environments. His recent projects include the restoration of the historic Flack Block adjacent to Vancouver’s Victory Square, and the former Grand and Terminus hotels on Water Street.
Miranda Lam is the Chief Legal Officer & Vice President, Business Development at a biotechnology company: Acuitas Therapeutics, Inc. Miranda is currently the Chair of the Board of Governors of the University of British Columbia, and a member of the boards of directors of UBC Properties Trust, the BC Cancer Foundation, and the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade. She has previously chaired the boards of the Vancouver Foundation, the largest community foundation in Canada, the UBC Alumni Association and Vantage Point, and has served as a director of the boards of the United Way of the Lower Mainland and Imagine Canada. She was appointed King’s Counsel in December 2023.
Frank Laezza is the Vice President, Finance & Operations for UBC where he leads a team of over 1400 individuals in the core financial, facilities, and safety functions of the university across both the Vancouver and Okanagan campuses.
Frank joined UBC in March 2023 from Murdoch University, Australia, where he was Chief Financial Officer with responsibility for leading the university’s business and finance functions, as well as management of its financial and capital resources.
Anne McMullin is the President and CEO of the Urban Development Institute (UDI). Previously she was the President and General Manager of the North Vancouver Chamber of Commerce. Before that, Ms. McMullin was Director of Communications at Port Metro Vancouver. Anne is a Board Member with BC’s Knowledge Network, a Trustee with the Jack Webster Foundation Excellence in Journalism, Vice Chair of Field Hockey Canada, President of West Vancouver Field Hockey Club, and is a volunteer with many other community organizations.
Before joining UBC, Melanie held a number of executive positions with the Province of British Columbia, the last of which being Associate Deputy Minister in the Ministry of Education and Child Care. She was a member of corporate executive in the BC Public Service for over 10 years. Prior to working in the public service, Melanie taught courses and presented in political science and communications at York University, the University of Victoria and Royal Roads University. She holds a PhD in Political Science (political theory), an MA in Women’s Studies from York University and a BA in Political Science from the University of Victoria. As Vice President of External Relations, Melanie leads university communications, government relations, campus and community planning, ceremonies and events, and broad-based engagement with communities.
Hendrik is Vice Chairman of Canada’s Equity, Debt & Structured Finance Group, joining the team in July 2021. He is an esteemed and well-respected industry specialist with over 40 years’ experience, formerly serving as the Executive Managing Director & Western Canada Leader. Under Hendrik’s tutelage, the Vancouver operations of Cushman & Wakefield was consistently one of the firm’s top producing offices in Canada and North America. Hendrik has earned a distinguished reputation with major pension funds and large real estate companies nationally and internationally, and his deep industry experience has afforded him the opportunity to be involved in the sales and leasing of a vast array of high-profile properties across Western Canada. Hendrik first began his career with A.E. LePage in 1979 as a sales representative in industrial real estate. In 1983, he brokered investment properties with Dexter Properties and Prospero Group. In 1995, Hendrik joined Royal LePage Commercial as Vice President and General Manager.
Founding Chair
Robert H. Lee CM, OBC
Founding Chair: 1988-2011, Director: 2011-2018
Mr. Lee graduated from UBC in 1956 with a Bachelor of Commerce degree. In 1966 he co-founded Wall Financial Corporation, and in 1979 he branched out on his own and founded Prospero International Realty.
In the mid-1980s, he served on UBC’s Board of Governors and was appointed as Chancellor of UBC in 1993. Bob’s support was instrumental in creating the Robert H. Lee Graduate School at UBC’s Sauder School of Business. In 1990, he was appointed the Order of British Columbia and in 1999, the Order of Canada. More recently, the Robert H. Lee Alumni Centre is named after him as one of UBC’s most exemplary alums.
Bob considered the founding of UBC Properties Trust as the most outstanding achievement of his career, as it is a gift that keeps on giving with the growth of the endowment and the community. Mr. Lee passed in February 2020.