Vice-President, Administration and Finance
Peter Hickey
Peter Hickey is Lakehead University’s Vice-President, Administration and Finance, bringing extensive leadership experience across the postsecondary, public, and private sectors. He joined Lakehead from Brandon University in Manitoba, where he served as Vice-President, Administration and Finance.
In his role at Lakehead, Peter provides leadership for key university services, including Finance, Human Resources, Information Technology, and Physical Plant. His leadership approach is grounded in transparency, collaboration, strong relationships, and data-informed decision-making, with a focus on ensuring that financial and operational strategies support the University’s teaching, learning, and research mission.
Prior to joining Brandon University, Peter served as Director, Finance and Administration, including a period as Interim Chief Financial Officer, with the Children’s Aid Society of Toronto. He previously spent eight years in finance leadership within Ontario’s child welfare sector. Earlier in his career, Peter held a variety of leadership roles in the consumer-packaged goods sector with organizations including Maple Leaf Foods, Nestlé Canada, and Kraft Canada.
Peter holds the Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA, CGA) and Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designations, as well as a Master of Business Administration from Wilfrid Laurier University and an Honours Bachelor of Commerce from Laurentian University. He has also served on a number of not-for-profit boards, including the Canadian Universities Reciprocal Insurance Exchange (CURIE) and eCampusOntario.
Peter is committed to collaborative leadership and to building strong relationships with faculty, staff, students, and community partners. At Lakehead, he is supporting the University’s strategic priorities and longterm financial sustainability as it advances major initiatives, including the Collaborative Doctor of Veterinary Medicine program, the Orillia Campus expansion, the Barrie STEM Hub, and the re-envisioning of Gichi Kendaasiwin.
Position Overview
As the University’s Chief Financial Officer, the Administration & Finance Vice-President ensures that Lakehead remains financially sustainable and poised for growth. The VP puts sound financial policies in place to protect the financial integrity of the University, ensure compliance on all financial matters, maximize operational and capital funds, and maintain a balanced budget. Managing and developing separate and distinct profit centers that offer exceptional service to the University community such as residence and food services further contributes to the University’s financial sustainability.
This portfolio encompasses the following administrative units of the University: Financial Services, Human Resources, Technology Services, Physical Plant, Risk Management, Security Services, Residence & Conference Services, Food Services, Athletics, Human Rights & Equity, Bookstores, Campus Tech, Parking, and Switchboard operations. Together with the Provost, the VP Administration & Finance builds an infrastructure that supports excellence in administration, teaching, learning, and research by setting physical facilities and information technology priorities.
Leading capital and infrastructure planning and projects, including the development of the multi-year capital plan and maintaining the integrity and security of a physical plant on two distinct campuses (37 buildings across 371 hectares), is a core responsibility of this position.
In addition, the Administration & Finance Vice-President oversees human resources policy and organization development initiatives, safeguards the financial stability of two pension plans, and oversees eight collective agreements, two non-union employee groups, and all associated benefit plans. The VP is the executive lead in grievance and arbitration matters and oversees all human rights, harassment, discrimination, and sexual violence concerns.