Changes to the university’s administrative structure

I am writing today to share changes to our leadership structure designed to align teams based on the type of work they do, and to enhance our ability to achieve the vision outlined in our Ahead of Tomorrow strategic plan.     

We will be: 

• Reuniting finance and services as a single department. Jonathan “Jake” Gebert will be returning to UCalgary as the interim vice-president while the university searches for a permanent leader.   
• Recruiting for a new vice-president (digital transformation and technology) to place greater emphasis on technology and process enhancement.   
• Appointing Kate Hamilton as the new vice-president (external relations) overseeing government relations, international relations, community engagement, partnerships, and communications.   

Further details for each of these changes are outlined below.

Vice-President Finance and Services

The offices of finance and services will be reunited under a single vice-president moving forward. This realignment of teams and functions will allow us to establish nimble processes and effective services that enhance university operations.   

Finance and services will include:

• Finance
• Supply Chain Management  
• Facilities Development   
• Facilities Management   
• Ancillary Services
• Emergency Management
• Campus Security  
• Environment, Health and Safety 
• Risk Management and Insurance  
• Internal Audit

I am pleased to announce that Jonathan “Jake” Gebert will lead finance and services as interim vice-president. Jake brings a wealth of experience, having previously held this role and other senior leadership roles at UCalgary from 2001 until 2014 before acting as vice-president of finance and operations for Alberta-based office supply and service company RGO.   

A search firm has been retained to recruit a permanent leader for this position.

Please join me in thanking Ron Kim and Mike Van Hee for their years of service to the University of Calgary. Ron joined the university in 2021 as senior associate vice-president (finance) before stepping into the role of vice-president (finance) and chief financial officer where he helped the university navigate budget constraints. Mike joined the university in 2020 as associate vice-president (human resources) helping guide the university through the pandemic before taking on the vice-president (services and operations) role where he supported the growth of UCalgary facilities and the implementation of a hybrid work program.     

Vice-President Digital Transformation and Technology

A new role will be created to lead digital transformation across the University of Calgary. This position will be instrumental in guiding the university in building and supporting the digital infrastructure critical to our success as a leading research university. It will also help us continue to expand our process enhancement efforts.

Digital Transformation and Technology will include:

• Information Technologies
• Process Excellence and Transformation

For now, Information Technologies and Process Excellence and Transformation will report to Jake Gebert. A search firm has been retained to recruit for the new vice-president (digital transformation and technology). 

Vice-President External Relations

We are also bringing together teams responsible for cultivating relationships with external partners and audiences under one vice-president. This new leadership position will be critical in fostering support from our external community to enable the university to grow and achieve our significant ambitions going forward.   

External relations will include:

• Government Relations  
• Global Partnerships and International Relations  
• Community Engagement  
• Industry Partnerships  
• Communications  

I am pleased to announce that Kate Hamilton has been appointed vice-president (external relations). Kate joined UCalgary in 2019 as the executive director and chief of staff for the president’s office. For the last two years she has been associate vice-president of strategy and performance, where she played a significant role in leading the strategic plan development and supporting its implementation. A public policy and strategy professional, Kate has extensive experience in the public sector, with particular expertise in the areas of health and higher education.

Please join me in thanking Corey Hogan, the former vice-president (communications and community engagement), for his commitment to enhancing UCalgary’s reputation including launching the Start Something brand. Corey was recently elected as a Member of Parliament and as such has resigned from his position at the University of Calgary. And thank you to Amanda Affonso, who stepped in as interim vice-president following Corey’s departure earlier this spring.

Next steps

The changes announced today will take place over the coming months. As leaders take on their new roles, they will reach out to impacted teams to discuss next steps in this transition period.  

While our leadership structure is shifting, our Ahead of Tomorrow goals and priorities remain unchanged. The work you do continues to be important.

Thank you all for everything you do for UCalgary.

Ed McCauley, PhD, FRSC  
President and Vice-Chancellor