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To: Faculty and staff in Vancouver and the Okanagan
I am very pleased to announce the appointment of Ms. Barbara Meens Thistle as UBC’s new Vice President, Human Resources. She will begin this role on February 5, 2018.
Barbara is currently Vice-President, Central Services at the Insurance Corporation of BC (ICBC) where, since April 2014, she has had responsibility for a diverse portfolio including all aspects of Human Resources. With over 25 years of experience as a senior leader in the Energy Sector (Emera Inc., Nova Scotia Power, Westcoast Energy) and Public Sector (ICBC, Provincial Health Services Authority, Powerex, BC Hydro), Barbara brings a wealth of experience in the areas of strategic planning, change management, operational excellence, procurement, health and wellness, and safety.
She is a Certified Professional in Human Resources and a Fellow in the Canadian Board Diversity Council, and in 2016 was voted HR Professional of the Year by Chartered Professionals in Human Resources, BC and Yukon. Barbara is an active volunteer in her community including being a Board Director with OceanWise (Vancouver Aquarium) and with Big Sisters of BC, Lower Mainland.
Barbara is a long-time champion of equity, diversity and inclusion. Throughout her career, she has worked collaboratively with senior leaders and employees to create relevant, aspirational and comprehensive diversity and inclusion strategies that have been successfully implemented.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank the outgoing Vice-President, Human Resources, Lisa Castle, for her remarkable contribution to UBC over the past twenty-three years. I’d also like to thank the members of the search committee who were instrumental in helping to find such an outstanding new candidate to fill this role.
Barbara will be a very valuable addition to our Executive team and I have full confidence she will be able to build on the excellent progress made to make UBC such a rewarding and fulfilling place to work. Please join me in welcoming Barbara to UBC.
Professor Santa J. Ono
President and Vice-Chancellor