Announcing the new Vice-President, Development and Alumni Engagement

July 04, 2018

A message from Professor Santa J. Ono, President and Vice-Chancellor

I am pleased to announce the appointment of Heather McCaw as UBC’s new Vice-President, Development and Alumni Engagement (VPDAE).

Heather brings more than 25 years of experience in university fundraising and strategic business partnerships to the role.

She is currently Vice-President, Advancement, at the University of Alberta, where she leads the Office of Advancement in its fundraising and engagement efforts. Prior to this, Heather was Associate Vice-President, Development, at UBC, where she co-directed the university’s $1.5 billion fundraising and alumni engagement campaign. In addition to her university experience, she has been vice-president of consultancies Give Canada Fundraising Corporation and Spectrum Marketing Corporation, securing partnerships and donations for non-profit organizations such as: United Way of the Lower Mainland, the Rick Hansen Foundation, University of Victoria, University of Calgary and Toronto Rehab Foundation.

As VPDAE, Heather will work closely with me, the Board, Executive, Deans and other partners, in overseeing fundraising and alumni engagement for the university. She will also provide strategic leadership to ensure the university is successful in achieving the vision and goals set out in its strategic plan: Shaping UBC’s Next Century. Heather will begin this role in the fall of 2018.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank Jeff Todd, Interim VPDAE, for his assistance in this transition over the past few months. I'd also like to thank the members of the search committee who were instrumental in helping to find such an outstanding candidate to fill this role.

I am confident that Heather will be a valuable addition to our Executive team and ask that you join me in welcoming her to UBC.

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