Prince George, B.C. – Danielle Forsythe, a senior executive with more than two decades of leadership experience in finance, enterprise risk management and organizational resilience, has been appointed the University of Northern British Columbia’s next Vice-President, Finance and Administration (VPFA).
With strong connections to northern B.C., Forsythe stepped into her new role on May 19. In overseeing key operational and administrative areas across the University, the new VPFA will work to advance UNBC’s commitment to sustainable operations, financial accountability, employee well-being and responsive, student-focused service delivery.
“Danielle brings significant expertise to a portfolio that supports every aspect of the University community, from financial stewardship and campus operations to employee well-being and student-focused services,” says UNBC Interim President Dr. Bill Owen. “Her leadership experience, strategic insight and understanding of the communities UNBC serves make her an excellent fit for this role and we welcome her to the Prince George campus.”
Forsythe’s experience includes working in both for-profit and non-profit fields. She has held executive roles in the financial services and health-care sectors across northern B.C. and beyond. In her role at the Financial Institutions Commission, she provided regulatory oversight calling on boards and executives to take action when risks fell outside of acceptable tolerance levels. Her national and international experience spans the Red Cross and Médecins Sans Frontières.
A Chartered Professional Accountant, she has earned multiple other professional designations and has a Master of Forensic Accounting and a postgraduate diploma in Investigative and Forensic Accounting from the University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM). In addition to her executive leadership experience, Forsythe has taught health-care managers, administrators, physicians and nurses in an executive program at UTM, specializing in forensic considerations for health care, and has mentored graduate students in forensic accounting.
A Gitxsan from the Gitanmaax Band in Hazelton, B.C., Forsythe was born and raised in Prince George and says she was drawn to this opportunity by UNBC’s strong connections to northern and Indigenous communities and its commitment to Reconciliation.
“UNBC’s impact on Indigenous students and communities deeply resonated with me,” she says. “I’ve been particularly inspired by the work of the Office of Indigenous Initiatives and the University’s commitment to advancing Reconciliation in ways that honour Indigenous knowledge and traditions. Returning to northern B.C. in this role is both professionally and personally meaningful, and I look forward to contributing to the University and the communities it serves.”