Changes within Central HR portfolio

The following message was sent on behalf of Adam Charania and Jerry Chen, AVPs HR, to central HR at both campuses on April 20, 2022.

It is with mixed emotions that we wish to announce the following two changes within the central HR portfolio:

First, we’d like to announce the appointment of Alexandra Bayne as the successful candidate for the Managing Director, Human Resources search at UBC’s Okanagan campus. Alex will be beginning her new role leading the Okanagan campus HR team on June 1, 2022, reporting to Lesley Cormack, Deputy Vice Chancellor, with a matrix reporting relationship to Adam Charania.

Alex joined UBC in 1998 and has had a long career in central HR, including in multiple roles within UBC HR based at the Vancouver campus, including as managing director since 2017, with responsibility for strategic workplace initiatives, learning and engagement. What you may not know is that earlier in her career, one of her major assignments was as part of the team which opened the Okanagan campus, where Alex led the workforce integration strategy and implementation as part of the transition of Okanagan University College’s North Kelowna campus to UBC Okanagan.

Alex has had a long lasting impact with her work in central HR and across the University, and she will be missed by all of us she worked with her in various roles. Alex’s last day with the central HR team will be May 31st.

Please join us in thanking Alex for all her contributions to the HR function at UBC and congratulating and wishing her success in her new role.

Second, we would like to announce that Lindi Frost has made the decision to retire as of July 1, 2022.

Lindi joined UBC in 1992 and has also had a long career in HR in various roles, most recently in the interim, Managing Director role leading Employee and Labour Relations, and Advisory Services. Lindi has been instrumental in building the relationships with our Unions and Associations, negotiating collective agreements, integrating the UBCO campus, working on UBC’s EDI efforts, and playing a leadership role as the University navigated the COVID pandemic. These are significant initiatives that will continue to impact the University for years to come.

Lindi will be celebrating her 30 year anniversary with UBC in June which is an amazing accomplishment. She wanted to express how grateful she is for all of the opportunities she’s had and for all of the people she’s met along the way.

Please join us in thanking Lindi for all her contributions to the University and wishing her well in retirement. Her last day will be June 30th.

As part of these changes, we wanted to announce that we will not be backfilling either of the Managing Director roles. Mike and Linda will report directly to Adam, and Yael, Jen, and Catherine will report directly to Jerry going forward. We will permanently backfill the Executive Director, Employee and Labour relations role with details to come.

Please join us in saying thank you for the many contributions Alex and Lindi have made to Human Resources and UBC, and in wishing them both well on their future plans.

Adam Charania
Associate Vice-President, Human Resources (Strategic Advisory Partnerships and LR)

Jerry Chen
Associate Vice-President, Human Resources (Communities of Expertise)