The VPFA R.I.S.E. Newsletter recognizes employee excellence across the portfolio by breaking down silos across units and departments, showcases priority projects, and aims to build a sense of community and belonging.
Focused on the Future
Dear VPFA Community,
Welcome to the June edition of our VPFA R.I.S.E. newsletter. We are pleased to spotlight two of our amazing portfolio members, highlight our dynamic Human Resources team, and share updates on the completed revitalization of the JDUC and more details on the Queen’s Renew Program within the context of our portfolio.
As we navigate ongoing budget constraints, our focus must remain firmly on the future. It is essential that short-term decisions do not compromise long-term goals. Instead, we should use this moment to reinforce our commitment to delivering high-quality services and driving meaningful, sustainable change through the Queen’s Renew Program.
While transitions can be difficult, these changes also present opportunities for us to adapt and improve. This is our opportunity to refine our approach, improve service delivery, and position the university for longer term savings.
With summer here, I encourage you to take the opportunity to recharge and refresh. Taking care of ourselves is vital as we prepare for the next phase of our journey together. I am certainly looking forward to some warmer weather, which my West Indian blood craves, and spending leisurely and fun-filled time at the cottage with friends and family - most especially with our grandchildren.
Thank you for your continued hard work and dedication to Queen’s.
Warm regards,
Donna
Donna Janiec, FCPA, FCA
Vice-Principal (Finance and Administration)
Portfolio News
Leadership Updates
Best wishes to Andy Green, Director, Strategic Procurement Services, who will be retiring September 1, 2025, after a decade of distinguished service at Queen’s. Among his many accomplishments, Andy led the implementation of acQuire for Queen’s and the Scotia Bank payment program. Both the Queen’s University Scotia Bank payment program and the implementation of our procure to pay system (acQuire) are viewed as best practices within the sector and have contributed significant value to the University.
JDUC Revitalized
The Queen's community is celebrating the full reopening of the revitalized John Deutsch University Centre (JDUC) this month.
Following three years of construction, the SGPS and AMS offices, the Tri-Colour Store, commissions, clubs, and student experience and wellness services are now set up and operating within their new spaces, and the Agora student collaboration area is available.
The Queen's Pub (and patio) has reopened and is welcoming patrons over the summer. Additional dining will reopen prior to students returning in the fall. These outlets will include Clove and Spice, Bento, Brew (formerly Common Ground), and Cow.
The revitalization prioritized inclusivity with new elevators, along with accessible and gender-neutral washrooms.
Contractors and Facilities team members will be completing work to attend to minor deficiencies and warranty items over the summer, perfecting the new spaces ahead of the ribbon-cutting and opening celebration on October 17.
Renew Program x VPFA
The Queen’s Renew Program is co-led by the VPFA and Provost aimed at ensuring Queen’s professional services are operating effectively to support delivery of our academic and research mission.
Three functions have been selected for review: Finance, Human Resources, and Facilities.
For the finance and human resources process improvements, more than 70 Queen’s staff members participated in 55 engagement sessions, including workshops, focus groups, and interviews. For HR, these engagements were supplemented with two surveys completed by 68 Queen’s staff members.
The process improvements recommendations for the finance and HR functions will help to streamline and standardize some key processes, reduce manual effort for staff, and ensure that those processes are carried out in a consistent, reliable way across the university. Some of the smaller scale process improvement recommendations will be implemented over the coming months while others will require more time, consultation, and planning to put into place.
Work within the Facilities unit has started to identify challenges and possible solutions, with additional implementation work planned for later this year.
Team Highlights
From recruitment to onboarding and throughout the employee lifecycle, Human Resources (HR) is integral to attracting and retaining top talent at Queen’s University. More than 50 team members serve specialized functions centrally, with another 20 colleagues embedded in faculties and departments across campus. Together, they support the diverse HR needs of nearly 17,000 employees at Queen’s.
At a strategic level, HR strives to offer an integrated client experience to all potential and current employees, with the overarching goal of consistent and excellent service delivery. In alignment with the department’s change mandate to improve processes and services, teams are actively working to identify and implement enhancements that support this goal. Under the leadership of Lisa Walsh, Associate Vice Principal of Human Resource (AVPHR), many areas of expertise within and outside the department are systematically refining and enhancing their processes to offer this client-first service.
The department is deeply committed to employment equity and diversity in the workplace, putting at the forefront values of compassion, curiosity, collaboration, and continuous improvement. HR practitioners serve as trusted and resilient advisors to the university community, strengthening our workforce to propel Queen's forward in its academic mission.
HR’s Services
Team members partner with faculties and departments across the university to meet their professional, strategic, and operational goals at all stages of the employee life cycle, including the HR administration required to support payroll.
Through HR, Queen’s benchmarks compensation and benefits against peer institutions, conducts research on best practices, interprets policy and legislation, increases employee awareness of their total rewards, and assesses the impact of total rewards programs. The department manages the relationship with our insured group benefits plan provider (Manulife), the University Pension Plan and supports employees, retirees, and their families seeking information on retirement and estate matters.
Another way HR works collaboratively is by supporting colleagues, managers, unions, and other key partners to enhance the relationship between the university and its employees while also working to minimize risk and workplace conflict. Subject matter experts on employee and labour relations specialize in collective bargaining, issue resolution, and best practices for managing employees in alignment with the university’s values.
In support of ongoing learning, HR provides workshops and certificate programs open to all employees as well as customized offerings. Queen’s is unique within the Canadian post-secondary sector, offering comprehensive leadership programming that is evidence-based, sponsored by the Office of the Principal, and advised by a Dean’s Oversight Committee. This creates an exclusive opportunity to provide impactful leadership programming designed by Queen’s for Queen’s, supporting employee professional development at all stages through the cultivation of meaningful connections, shared learnings, and mentorship opportunities.
Sick leaves, return to work arrangements, and workplace accommodations are also coordinated by HR. Thrive 365 programming provided year-round preventative support that is diverse and responsive to the current needs of Queen’s employees and supports the university’s advancement of the Campus Wellbeing Framework and the Roadmap to Wellbeing.
Underpinning strategic decision making is technical expertise and exploration of opportunities to find efficiencies and optimize processes. HR team members, in partnership with IT Services, create reports and queries to deliver employee and organizational data that provide insights on the interconnectivity of systems and services across campus.
Leadership Highlight: AVPHR
Lisa Walsh hails from Kingston and has fond memories of learning to swim at university facilities and vying for a spot at school City track competitions hosted at Richardson Stadium.
“Queen’s always loomed large in the background and was an important part of the community and our lives,” Lisa shares.
After high school, she moved to Toronto but for three years spent back home at Queen’s Law until ultimately returning to Toronto to launch her legal career at a full-service law firm.
“During that time, I realized that what I liked better than cleaning up issues was trying to find ways to prevent them from occurring in the first place,” Lisa explains, which led her to pivot away from private sector legal practice toward in-house HR.
Lisa has a deep understanding of and appreciation for the value of strong relationships in finding common ground. Law school for Lisa was a monumental learning experience in highlighting the importance of a collaborative community.
“I learned from law school the value of a community supporting each other through a strenuous professional program. That’s not always what I saw when I got to Bay Street. There were stories at other law schools of students taking books out of libraires they did not necessarily need, ripping pages out of books – all in the interest of self-advancement which was very different form my experience here.”
When the opportunity to join Queen’s in a leadership capacity with HR came during the pandemic, Lisa made the move back to Queen’s.
Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her family and friends, whether on land or water, attending every Radiohead concert possible and time with her cats Otis and Olive.
Employee Spotlights
Get to know the people across our portfolio serving in a variety of roles.
Jeff Leggett, Insurance Services Coordinator, Risk and Safety Services
What do you enjoy most about your role?
It’s the people I have the pleasure of working with. Our team is knowledgeable, collaborative, friendly, and incredibly supportive. Even as the team has evolved with retirements and promotions, they made me feel welcome from day one.
I also really enjoy the opportunity to work with staff and faculty across the entire university community. Every day brings something new—supporting and solving issues related to risk management and insurance is both exciting and rewarding. I take pride in helping ensure projects continue smoothly, even when complex or challenging situations arise. One of the unexpected perks of the role has been getting to explore some truly unique locations on campus. I've had the pleasure of visiting the top of the Grant Hall tower, experiencing the historic beauty of Theological Hall, and stepping into the modern gem that is the new JDUC. It’s a privilege to see both the heritage and innovation that make our campus so special.
What project have you recently been involved with that you’re most proud of?
One recent accomplishment I’m especially proud of is earning my Canadian Risk Management (CRM) designation through RIMS, the Risk Management Society. It was a rewarding journey that involved completing rigorous coursework at the University of Toronto and passing the final accreditation exams with RIMS. Along the way, I also earned a Certificate in Risk Management from U of T. This achievement represents more than just a credential—it reflects my commitment, and that of our entire Insurance Services team, to professional excellence and continued learning. I’m excited to bring the insights and skills I’ve gained into my role and continue supporting Queen’s with a strong foundation in risk management.
Please tell us about your career journey.
I have built a strong foundation in insurance and risk management, with extensive experience in the property and casualty insurance sector. Over the years, I’ve taken on progressively challenging roles, including staff trainer, business analyst, project manager, and overseeing both event and budget management. One of the highlights of my career was working with the 2015 Pan Am/Parapan Am Games Organizing Committee in Fleet Management for what became the largest multi-sport event ever held in Canada. Additionally, I’ve had the privilege of serving on the board of directors for a financial and insurance association, which deepened my industry insights and leadership experience.
What motivates you?
I’m driven by the quality of my work. I take pride in producing results that are thorough, thoughtful, and reliable. It’s important to me that my work reflects a high standard—because that’s what our university community deserves. I’m also motivated by the impact Risk and Safety has across campus. Helping to implement strong risk mitigation strategies and providing effective insurance solutions means supporting the university community and projects in meaningful ways.
What have been some of the most important lessons you’ve learned throughout your career?
One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is to always be open to new possibilities. Embracing change, learning new skills, and staying curious has helped me grow professionally and adapt to the evolving needs of Queen’s. I’ve also learned the importance of anticipating the needs of internal clients, understanding their goals and challenges so I can offer proactive, effective support. And maybe most importantly: don’t be afraid to take a chance. Some of the most rewarding experiences in my career have come from stepping out of my comfort zone. Earlier in my career, I turned down a guaranteed job offer to compete for a more challenging opportunity in the insurance industry. It was a risk, but I ended up getting that role—and it turned out to be a much better fit. It taught me that sometimes taking a leap of faith can lead to greater growth and satisfaction.
Tell me about someone in your life and an important lesson they taught you?
I’ve been deeply influenced by my parents and grandparents. Through their actions more than their words, they taught me the power of kindness, the importance of treating others with respect, and the value of putting family first. Those lessons have stayed with me and continue to shape how I approach life.
What would you like to tackle next?
I’m looking forward to exploring more of the internal education opportunities available through the Learning Catalogue. Continuous learning is something I value, and I’m excited to build on my current skill set to support the university even more effectively. A key project I’m aiming to contribute to in 2025 is the Fleet Management Working Group Policies and Procedures document. I’ll be working closely with the user group to ensure the document is practical, comprehensive, and aligned with our risk management goals. It’s a great opportunity to collaborate with different departments and contribute to a well-structured and safe operational environment.
What are your future goals/where do you see yourself in five years?
I’ve advanced into a leadership role where I provide risk management and insurance expertise to the university community, and I’m excited to continue building on that foundation. One of my future goals is to complete the Advancing Leadership Program to further enhance my skills and effectiveness as a leader. Looking ahead, I see myself continuing to grow within the university, taking on larger strategic initiatives, and helping to shape the future of risk management here. Ultimately, I want to contribute to a culture of proactive risk awareness and collaborative problem-solving across the university.
What’s one thing on your bucket list
One thing on my bucket list is to travel more and explore some dream destinations—including Bora Bora, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, or return to Italy and Barbados. Each place offers something special: The crystal-clear waters and vibrant culture of the Caribbean and the timeless history and cuisine of Italy.
If you could choose one word that sums up Queen’s, what would it be?
"Dynamic." The cutting-edge research produced at Queen’s extends far beyond campus borders, positively impacting communities around the world. It’s fulfilling to be part of an institution where I can support a mission that drives meaningful, global change.
Darcy McNinch, Functional Space Planning Analyst, Facilities
What do you enjoy most about your role?
What I love most about my role is how in depth I have gotten to know the physical landscape of the University; I have become intimately familiar with every building on campus, I have poured over their floor plans and visited all of them and seen parts of buildings that many people that work at the University don’t even know exist.
What project have you recently been involved with that you’re most proud of?
I am currently in the middle of a major update to the Campus Master Plan, the 250+ page document that guides all space planning at the University, it’s last major update was in 2014 and done by outside consultants, but we will be doing this update all in house.
Please tell us about your career journey.
I have a bachelor’s and master’s degree in architecture and worked in a few large architecture firms in Toronto and Pittsburgh before realizing I liked analyzing buildings and studying architecture more than practicing it. My husband, Keith, and I moved to Kingston and started a lavender farm as a reprieve from our hectic lives in Toronto but soon realized we weren’t cut out to be farmers. Keith got a job at Queen’s, working in the Principal’s office and I applied to Queen’s to do a PhD in Cultural Studies. I had actually been reading the Campus Master Plan out of personal interest when I found the job posting to work in what was University Planning at the time, and it seemed perfect for me. I completely forgot about my PhD application after happily working at Queen’s for several months when I received the acceptance letter, so now I am both a student and staff at Queen’s.
What motivates you?
I think I am most motivated by bringing others joy, whether it be simple tasks that help others out or making changes on campus that can improve people’s quality of life. We recently installed picnic tables across campus and the positive responses we have received has really been amazing.
What have been some of the most important lessons you’ve learned throughout your career?
One of the most important things I have learnt is that tasks that might seem tedious are more enjoyable if you can look at the value in it and the purpose it serves. I never thought I would enjoy working with spreadsheets and data entry but it is very satisfying when I get to use that data to look at the bigger picture; also learning how to use pivot tables has been a game changer for me.
Tell me about someone in your life and an important lesson they taught you.
My husband Keith is a constant source of inspiration. One of the most important things I’ve learnt from him is the ability to recognize that what I do is important and does make a difference, and that I should be proud of my accomplishments.
What would you like to tackle next?
I would really like to tackle my PhD. My research is focused on institutional architecture and Queer identities, which I think is very important and could be of great benefit to Queen’s.
What are your future goals/where do you see yourself in five years?
I would be very happy to be in the same role at the University in Campus Planning and Real Estate, though I hope to have completed my dissertation and have the ability to leverage my knowledge to support Queen's growth.
What is one skill you’d love to learn?
I always love learning new design programs, but I would really like to learn how to play piano, I can play a few simple tunes but I’m still pretty rough.
What do you do for fun?
Summer in Kingston is great; there is always some sort of event or festival going on. During Pride Month, there is a lot happening for the Kingston Queer community and our allies. I am a member of the board of the ReelOut Queer Film Festival, and we march in the parade together.
What book/movie/show has made an impact on you and why?
Severance, I love that show. Happily, not because I see a connection between it and working at Queen’s but because I love the sets, cinematography, and storytelling. It is very beautiful and architecturally stylized, while also incredibly exciting and disturbing. I highly recommend it.
If you could choose one word that sums up Queen’s, what would it be?
Complex.
Well at Work: Short Stories of Big Impact
What does it mean to be well at work? Here are some recent testimonials from our colleagues highlighting the impacts of Queen’s wellness programming:
"I appreciated hearing a firsthand account of how important it is to take your mental health seriously. It's easy to minimize the severity of how we truly feel, but this session was a reminder that our mental health is every bit as important as our physical health. The speaker was excellent and presented the perfect mix of humour with emotion."
"It was challenging to step away from all the work but it was necessary. It was great to take time and just be with the team I work with in a space where we were being creative. The facilitator had such enthusiasm and clearly practiced what she preached. It was beautiful to see and hope to be able to live out her guiding words."
“I loved that our team was able to join the session together. We booked a meeting room and enjoyed some hot beverages and laughs together. Thank you for such a wonderful session, she was a great key note speaker!”
Keep thriving all year long! There are many upcoming sessions to join over the summer.
Upcoming Programming Highlights:
- (June 26 from 1:00-2:00 pm, Online): A reminder of the full suite of wellness and wellbeing supports available through our EFAP provider to support your wellbeing.
- Putting Workload Management on the Agenda (July 7, 1:00–3:00 pm, Online): Explore actionable strategies for reducing workload-related stress. Led by Linda Henderson.
- (July 10, 1:30–2:30 pm, In-person): Discover our skies with Queen’s Observatory experts, an inspiring tie between science and the environment.
- (July 17, 11:00 am –12:00 pm, Hybrid – Ellis Hall 321): Led by campus experts, this interactive session breaks down Queen’s carbon footprint and steps for collective action.
VPFA Recommends
In this section, you'll find a suggested recipe, book and podcast to explore.
Caprese Skewers
Caprese skewers are an easy and fun summer appetizer. Topped with a tangy balsamic glaze, they're light, flavorful, and fresh.
The Creative Act: A Way of Being
The Creative Act: A Way of Being is New York Times bestseller that offers insights into the creative process and the philosophy surrounding creativity.
Hidden Brain with Shankar Vedantam
Hidden Brain hosted by Shankar Vedantam explores the unconscious patterns that drive human behaviour and questions that lie at the heart of our complex and changing world.
Finn Visits the ¸ŁŔűĽ§ University Biological Station (QUBS)
Join VP “Finn”ance and Administration adventurer, Finn Cottontail, as he hops through Queen's campus and its enchanting surroundings, bringing joy and discovery to all he encounters. Finn is an Eastern Cottontail with an insatiable curiosity for the world around him.
Today, Finn has ventured out to the .
The ¸ŁŔűĽ§ Biological Station (QUBS) is one of the premier scientific field stations in Canada. The site covers a footprint of 3,400 hectares amidst the dense forests and countless lakes making up the Canadian Shield country north of Kingston in the Frontenac Arch (about an hour's drive away from Main Campus), an area designated by UNESCO as a biosphere.
In 2025, QUBS is celebrating 80 years of research, outreach and stewardship activities.
Over the years, researchers and students have gathered at QUBS to conduct leading-edge research and participate in courses spanning ecology, evolution, conservation, geography, and environmental science.
Can you spot Finn?
When you find our friend, a Tim Hortons gift card!
Take a Closer Look - Find Finn (PNG, 5 MB)
