Tag Archive

For: UBC

Celebrating the 2019 alumni UBC Achievement Awards

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PFM Partner, Shelina Esmail, along with other PFM staff and spouses, recently attended the 2019 alumni UBC Achievement Awards, where seven inspiring members of the UBC community were honoured. Shelina currently sits on the alumni UBC Committee.

Congratulations to the 2019 recipients!

For more information, please go to: https://www.alumni.ubc.ca/events/awards/

Nominations are now open for the 2020 alumni UBC Achievement Awards. To nominate, please go to: https://www.alumni.ubc.ca/events/awards/nominate/

Marcia Buchholz – Managing Director, Human Resources for The University of British Columbia (UBC)

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PFM Executive Search is pleased to announce that Marcia Buchholz has recently accepted the role of Managing Director, Human Resources – Advisory Partnerships, Central Services and Professional Standards with The University of British Columbia (UBC).

Marcia was previously the Associate Vice-President, Human Resources, at the University of Calgary, where the HR team provided HR support to over 11,000 faculty and staff, and championed emerging and priority HR programs, policies and practices.

Since 2011, Marcia had guided the university’s people practices in employee programs, employee, labour and faculty relations, change management and business transformation with a commitment to building positive and respectful workplace cultures.

Marcia led U.Calgary’s transformation to a new HR shared services model, evolving HR operational business practices in advance of an enterprise-level systems renewal project (similar to UBC’s IRP/Workday project).

Marcia has a key focus on employee engagement and culture initiatives, creating the “Respect in the Workplace” initiative that led to a more engaged and supportive culture of work.

She was instrumental in the launch of the mental health strategy and initiatives for faculty and staff, including a WellBeing and WorkLife portfolio, which led to U.Calgary being the first Canadian university and first Canadian organization to receive the World at Work “Seal of Distinction” for flexible and supportive employee policies and programs.

Marcia has served as a senior HR professional across Canada in both post-secondary and the private sector for over 20 years, with such organizations as IBM Canada, Jayman, CIBC, EDS Canada, and Ceridian Canada. She has led large teams and has worked collaboratively with all stakeholders in these organizations.

Marcia has been a life-long learner and has also been actively involved in the development of the HR profession throughout her career and has been actively involved in organizations such as CAUBO and HRAUWC.

PFM Executive Search is recognized as a national leader in recruiting senior officials to progressive post-secondary institutions. Our firm is known for creating an inclusive and transparent facilitation procedure with stakeholders and partner groups, ensuring a fair and open selection process that brings forward a diverse slate of qualified candidates for senior academic and non-academic roles.

Yale Loh – Treasurer for The University of British Columbia (UBC)

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PFM Executive Search is excited to announce that Yale Loh has accepted the position as The University of British Columbia’s (UBC) Treasurer. Yale joins UBC from Aritzia, where he served as Treasurer and was responsible for leading all treasury, retail accounting, and sales audit functions. Previously, Yale held positions with Finning International and Capital Power Corporation, along with progressively senior financial positions at BC Hydro, including five years as Treasurer.

Yale’s extensive treasury experience with private and public sector organizations will help the University continue to build 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. Yale currently serves his community as a member of the Finance Committee of the Board at West Point Grey Academy and the United Way of the Lower Mainland Campaign Cabinet, and has been an occasional guest lecturer at the UBC Sauder School of Business. 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.

PFM Executive Search is a recognized leader in senior leadership recruitment and is known for its ability to facilitate large and complex Selection Committees in the public, private and not-for-profit sectors. Over the past 26 years, PFM has recruited senior leaders from all over the world.

Kurt Heinrich – Senior Director, Media Relations for The University of British Columbia (UBC)

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PFM Executive Search welcomes Kurt Heinrich to the position of Senior Director, Media Relations at the University of British Columbia. UBC with over 65,000 students is a global centre for research and teaching, consistently ranks among the 40 best universities in the world.Recognized for creating an exceptional learning environment that fosters global citizenship, advances a civil and sustainable society, and supports outstanding research to serve the people of British Columbia, Canada and the world, UBC is a premier international post-secondary institution.

PFM Executive Search was engaged to conduct a national search for this senior communications role with UBC and recruited Kurt into the position. Kurt is a seasoned communicator with extensive media relations, issues management and crisis communications experience. He joins UBC from Simon Fraser University, consistently ranked among Canada’s top comprehensive universities, where he held the role of Director, University Communications, for the past three years.

Prior to this, Kurt was the Public Relations Manager of the Vancouver School Board, one of the largest public school districts in the country. He is a past President of the Vancouver Chapter of the Canadian Public Relations Society and currently sits as a Trustee on the Vancouver Public Library Board.

PFM Executive search is known for its ability to recruit senior leaders to positions in major post-secondary institutions and works closely with the Global Higher Education Practice Group of Panorama Search Partner offices around the world. Our firm is well established in working collegially and collaboratively with diverse selection committees and creating a proactive, open and transparent search process for universities and colleges.