July 17, 2019
The Hamilton-Oshawa Port Authority (HOPA) is pleased to announce its inaugural Board of Directors and Senior Executive Team. The new Board and Executive Team will oversee the amalgamated operations of the Ports of Hamilton and Oshawa, and will serve the goals outlined in the new organization’s Letters Patent:
“To ensure the long-term sustainability of port operations and strengthen the Canadian supply chain in Ontario by providing a coordinated approach to port management, development, land use and marketing.”
While maintaining regular port operations, HOPA will base all future shipping and land use decisions on enhancing the trade network and strengthening global competitiveness in both port locations and across the GTHA. The merged authority will give a stronger voice to Ontario’s interests in marine policy and investments, and a detailed land use plan and a rebranding of the new entity will be developed over the coming year and months, respectively.
“With a broader scope of influence, we look forward to maximizing our contribution to the GTHA, as well as regional and national economies,” said newly appointed Chair of HOPA’s Board of Directors, Anne Waldes. “Building on Hamilton’s model of success modernizing port infrastructure, we can further develop transportation corridors that are competitive and environmentally sustainable.”
“HOPA will continue to drive economic prosperity in the cities of Hamilton and Oshawa, with transportation and land use decisions now benefiting from a regional perspective,” said Ian Hamilton, HOPA President & CEO. “Working together now as a single team, HOPA will be reaching out to customers and stakeholders to identify trade development opportunities, and ensure land use priorities are aligned.”
As part of the amalgamation process, Oshawa’s former President and CEO, Donna Taylor, will help guide its progress as Amalgamation Director before her eventual retirement this fall. “While we work through the operational details of this transition, the announcement of the new board members and unified executive team formalizes the structure of new authority, and the process of how we will work together as one,” said Donna Taylor.
Hamilton-Oshawa Port Authority Board of Directors
Chairperson: Anne Waldes – Class 2 User Appointment
Anne Waldes has been selected as the inaugural Board Chair for the Hamilton-Oshawa Port Authority. Anne was appointed to the Hamilton Port Authority Board on July 8, 2018 for a three year term, which carries over to the new HOPA organization. Anne brings more than 35 years progressive management experience in international logistics and global freight transportation and is at the forefront of developing innovative supply chain solutions for clients with the most complex logistics challenges.
In her current role as President and CEO of Trade Link International Ltd., which she founded in 1993, Anne creates bottom line impact for global clients in diverse sectors by optimizing entire supply chains, including elements of logistics management, inventory control, product sequencing, overseas site selection, multi-modal transportation and international trade-related procedures. Prior to founding Trade Link, Anne held senior leadership roles with international transportation and steamship lines.
Anne is Director and past President of the Hong Kong Canadian Business Association, a Director and board member of Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transportation and regular invited guest speaker on logistics and supply chain themes at transportation conferences and events.
Board Members
Keanin Loomis – Federal Government Appointment
HOPA is pleased to welcome its newest Board Member: Keanin Loomis was appointed to the Board of Directors in June 2019. He is in his sixth year as President & CEO of the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce, where he’s led the complete transformation of a 174-year old institution. Prior to that he was Chief Operating Officer of Innovation Factory, Hamilton’s Regional Innovation Centre, and a lawyer at Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld in Washington, DC. He is a graduate of the University of Waterloo and the College of William & Mary School of Law. He serves on the Board of Supercrawl and proudly lives with his wife and three children in Hamilton’s lower city.
Bruce McArthur – Class 2 User Appointment
HOPA also welcomes the reappointment of Bruce McArthur of Oshawa, formerly municipal representative for the Oshawa Port Authority, reappointed by Governor in Council as the federal Class 2 port user representative. Bruce worked for General Motors for 30 years and also started a successful retail operation called Ring Fare Inc. which included locations in Toronto, Pickering, Whitby and Oshawa. During his career, Bruce served on the Durham Regional Police Service Board as a Provincial appointment for two terms, as an executive member of the Central Lake Ontario Conservation Authority, as a member of the Canadian Automotive Museum Operation Board and he was also a Regional and City Councillor with Durham Regional Council for 12 years. An ardent sailor, Bruce enjoyed crossing the Atlantic in his sailboat and sailing in the Caribbean, eastern U.S.A., and the Great Lakes.
Meghan Davis – Class 3 User Appointment
Dr. Meghan Davis was appointed to the Board of Directors on July 8, 2018 for a three year term. Meghan has lived and worked in Hamilton for over 20 years. She has practiced as a family physician since 1994 and sits on the board of directors and ethics committee of the Hamilton Family Health Team.
Meghan is passionate about proactive healthcare and wellness and its wider impact in the community. She recently completed the Advanced Health Leadership program through Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto to enhance her understanding in the areas of change management, governance, emotional and political intelligence and integrative thinking. Since 2013 she has been the medical lead of the Screen For Life mobile cancer screening coach and from 2015 she has also been Cancer Care Ontario’s regional primary care lead. She is an Assistant Clinical Professor in the Department of Family Medicine at McMaster, where she graduated from medical school in 1992 and previously in Chemical Engineering in 1986.
Meghan is a mother of two university aged daughters and is an active user of the harbour through rowing, biking and hiking.
Jim Howlett – City of Hamilton Appointment
Jim Howlett was appointed to the Board of Directors on February 14, 2018. Jim is a lifetime Hamiltonian who has served on a wide variety of councils and boards since the 1980s. These include the International Joint Commission to the Great Lakes, several community councils and non-profit groups, and also as a tribunal judge for the Province of Ontario in his capacity as Chair of the Hamilton Source Protection Authority, and Hamilton Conservation Authority. He and his wife, Carol, also operate a 100 acre farm. Jim retired from business in 2011 and today works as a freelance writer and radio producer on the Hamilton Beach Strip.
(Board vacancies: Class 1 User appointment; Provincial government appointment)
Hamilton-Oshawa Port Authority Senior Executive & Leadership Team
Ian Hamilton, President & CEO
Ian Hamilton has been confirmed as the inaugural President & CEO of the Hamilton-Oshawa Port Authority. He assumed the same role at the Hamilton Port Authority role in January 2017, after serving as HPA’s Vice President of Business Development and Real Estate since 2008, in which he was instrumental in the Port’s success in attracting more than $300M in external investment.
Ian possesses more than 25 years of experience in international transportation and logistics in Europe and North America, and has held progressively senior positions in the liner shipping industry, including Transatlantic Trade Director (Europe) for CP Ships and Business Development Manager for Hapag-Lloyd. Ian holds an MBA from Aston University (UK) and a BSc in business administration and economics from the College of Charleston, South Carolina. Ian is a Charter Member of the Institute of Logistics and Transport North America, and currently serves as President of the Ontario Marine Transportation Forum.
Janet Knight, Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer
Serving as Chief Financial Officer at the Hamilton Port Authority since 2008, Janet joined HPA in 1998 as Accounting Supervisor and subsequently served as Controller. Prior to joining HPA, Janet held the position of Financial Analyst with St. Joseph’s Hospital, as well as various positions, including Marketing Communications/Research Lead with Zeneca Agro. Janet graduated from McMaster University with a Bachelor of Commerce. She attained the professional designation of Certified Management Accountant in 1992.
Bill Fitzgerald, Vice President, Operations
Bill has held the position Vice President, Operations since 2008. Bill joined the Hamilton Port Authority in July 1995 as Project Engineer. He previously worked with the Regional Municipality of Ottawa’s Transportation Department, as well as for the Toronto Transit Commission and the City of Waterloo.
Bill received a Bachelor of Applied Science, civil engineering/water resources from the University of Waterloo and registered with the Professional Engineers of Ontario in 1997.
Jeremy Dunn, Commercial Vice President
HOPA is pleased to welcome the newest member of its Senior management team: Jeremy Dunn joined in May 2019 as Commercial Vice President. Prior to joining HPA/HOPA, Jeremy served in successive leadership roles at The Miller Group, one of Canada’s leading transportation construction and infrastructure maintenance companies. Jeremy has managed multiple business groups in the heavy construction, asphalt paving and aggregates sectors driving results through business restructuring, service improvement and strategic growth. In his most recent role, Jeremy served as General Manager of Miller Maintenance, responsible for managing and growing Miller’s highway maintenance business in Ontario.
Previous to The Miller Group, Jeremy held the position of Director of Operations for the Dunn Group of Companies.
Jeremy earned his Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) through Queen’s University, and also holds a Master’s Certificate in Project Management.
Larissa Fenn, Director, Public Affairs & Corporate Secretary
Larissa Fenn recently assumed the role of Corporate Secretary, responsible for board governance and administration. She also serves as HOPA’s lead on public affairs, overseeing external communications, government relations, community relations, and sustainability reporting. Larissa holds a B.A.(Hons) in Political Science from Queen’s University, and has worked in communications and public policy within a range of public and private sector organizations, including the Canadian Bankers Association and the Regional Municipality of Halton. She currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Royal Botanical Gardens, and the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce Policy Council.
Donna Taylor, Amalgamation Director
With a background in the insurance and investment fields, Donna Taylor first joined the Oshawa Harbour Commission in 1977. She was appointed Chief Executive Officer in 1984, becoming the first female port manager in North America and was the longest serving CEO of a port in Canada. Following the amalgamation, Donna will now help lead the transition of HOPA as Amalgamation Director. Some of her transition priorities will include interfacing with customers and making recommendations based on her vast experience in marine shipping and working with local stakeholders in Oshawa.
Her expertise as the former CEO of the OPA, a past President of the International Association of Great Lakes Ports and a member of Hwy H20 give her a range of invaluable experience in issues concerning the Great Lakes and promoting trade on its waterways. As current Chair of the Association of Canadian Port Authorities, Ms. Taylor also works closely with her fellow Port Authority CEOs on matters of national interest.
Vicki Gruber, Manager, Port Security and Harbour Master
Vicki joined the Harbour Master’s Office/Port Patrol team in Hamilton in 2006, and assumed the role of Patrol Supervisor in 2014. Later that year, Vicki was promoted to her current role, where she oversees port security, emergency response and harbour operations for the Port of Hamilton, and now, the Port of Oshawa.
Of the 17 Canadian Port Authorities, Vicki is one of only two female Harbour Masters and the only one on the Great Lakes. Vicki has over 24 years of experience in the security industry, and is involved with numerous community and professional organizations. Vicki is a member of the Board of Directors for the Mission to Seafarers Southern Ontario and Vice Chair of the Community Awareness and Emergency Response Group.
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HOPA has also recently announced a number of new additions to its team, retirements and role changes. Please see https://www.hopaports.ca/port-people/ for details.
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Media Contact:
Larissa Fenn
Hamilton-Oshawa Port Authority
Tel: 905-525-4330 ext. 235
[email protected]
