Robin Silvester
President and Chief Executive Officer
Robin Silvester leads the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority, the federal agency responsible for enabling Canada’s trade through the Port of Vancouver, which is Canada’s largest port. The port handles approximately $305 billion in trade annually and sustains 115,300 jobs across Canada in the supply chain alone.
In just over a decade leading the port authority, Robin has overseen unprecedented port growth due to port authority-led infrastructure investments in Vancouver’s gateway, which have supported and catalyzed private-sector investments throughout the port. During Robin’s tenure, these investments in the gateway have helped drive more than 40% growth in international trade through the Port of Vancouver.
Under Robin’s leadership, the port authority set and is actively advancing a vision to make the Port of Vancouver the world’s most sustainable port—a port that is a global leader at delivering economic prosperity through trade, protecting the environment, and enabling thriving local communities.
The port authority is winning significant recognition for its environmental programs, including the world-leading ECHO program, as well as its three-pillar sustainability work. Recent awards include the Ocean Award for leadership in ocean conservation, a Lloyd’s List Americas Award in the environment category, and a Governance Professionals of Canada Excellence award for sustainability governance.
Prior to joining the port authority, Robin served as chief executive for Australian property and facilities management business, United Group Services ANZ; held senior roles in Vancouver, London, and Sydney with P&O Ports, including acquiring and operating Centerm Terminal in Vancouver; and held business management and strategy roles in the U.K. steel and chemicals industries.
He holds a master’s degree in mechanical engineering from Cambridge University and has completed a corporate finance program at the London Business School, and the ICD Directors Education Program.
Robin is currently a board member and former chair of the Association of Canadian Port Authorities, a vice president representing North America at the International Association of Ports and Harbors, an executive member and chair of the Greater Vancouver Gateway Council, a director of the Western Transportation Advisory Council, and a member of the executive committee of the British Columbia Business Council.
Robin is a member of the Presidents Group, a network of business leaders in B.C. focused on helping increase employment opportunities for people with disabilities. He has served as chair of the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade, including chair of its Policy Council, and a past board member of the British Columbia Maritime Employers’ Association, and of the Canada West Foundation.
Tom Corsie
Vice President, Real Estate
Tom has been involved in port business for over 41 years, joining the Fraser River Harbour Commission in 1980 and served as vice president, property development for the Fraser River Port Authority beginning in 1991. Tom joined the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority’s executive team in 2008 as vice president, infrastructure development, and is now vice president, real estate responsible for all matters pertaining to real estate management, engineering, asset maintenance, planning and development, and Canada Place. Throughout his tenure, Tom has assisted with growing, developing, and managing the port authority’s land base. This work has included leading the acquisition of over 565 acres of land, advocating for the protection of industrial land, and managing the iconic Canada Place.
After attending school in his native New Westminster, Tom studied at both Simon Fraser University and Douglas College. He attended the Pacific Marine Training Institute, where he received a Master of a Minor Water Steamship Certificate. He is also a graduate Queen’s University’s Executive Program and has been awarded the designation of Professional Port Manager by the American Association of Port Authorities. Tom is currently a board member and former chair of the Royal Columbian Hospital Foundation.
Mark Gustafson
Vice President, Legal, Risk and Compliance
As vice president, legal, risk and compliance, Mark Gustafson leads the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority’s legal and enterprise risk management and internal audit functions. He was appointed to the position in 2021.
Mark began his legal career in Vancouver at Fasken, where he worked in the real estate and natural resources division.
After developing an interest in practising law in-house, Mark moved to the legal department at the City of Vancouver. In 2011, he joined the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority as legal counsel. Mark became general counsel, corporate secretary, and director of legal services in 2017.
Mark holds a law degree from the University of Victoria; a master’s degree in International Business Law from Vrije University, Amsterdam; and an executive master of business administration from Queen’s University.
In 2020, Mark received a Lexpert Rising Stars Award, which recognizes leading lawyers in Canada under 40. He was also recognized in 2021 as one of the leading general counsel in B.C. by Business in Vancouver, in its BC500.
Parm Hari
Vice President, People, Process and Performance
Parm Hari joined the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority as vice president, people, process and performance in 2021. In her role, she is responsible for human resources, project management, internal communications, facilities, and process improvement at the port authority.
Bringing more than 20 years of HR, change management, and business optimization experience at a global level, Parm is a strategic leader who uses a people-first approach to deliver sustainable long-term growth, while unlocking critical short to medium-term people and performance goals.
Prior to joining the port authority, Parm was executive director, people and culture at Vancouver Coastal Health Authority (VCH), where she led VCH’s transformation into a values-based organization and served as the people strategy lead in B.C. for the largest-ever vaccination campaign in history, ensuring COVID-19 vaccination clinics were staffed by partnering and collaborating with unions, multiple sectors, industries and professions. Before her time at VCH, Parm was vice president of global strategy for Pierre Fabre Group, a French multinational, where she transformed a key subsidiary from a US-market only brand to an international player in 10 countries.
Parm holds a master of business administration degree in strategy and consulting, and a bachelor of commerce degree from the University of British Columbia, Sauder School of Business. She also holds certifications in executive and organizational coaching, advanced change management, project management, process improvement, leadership and organizational development.
Victor Pang
Chief Financial Officer
Victor Pang was appointed chief financial officer of the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority in November 2016. In his role, he is responsible for the finance, accounting, information services, procurement, and corporate strategy functions. Throughout his tenure at the port authority, Victor’s has led the transformation of his division into a strong business partner for other functions. His focus has also enhanced the division’s strategic planning, system implementation, and commercial, financial and procurement decision-making.
Victor brings more than 20 years of diverse finance and operations experience to the port authority. His industry experience spans the transportation, technology, mining, consumer packaged goods, and banking sectors. Most recently, he served as vice president of financial planning and analysis and corporate development at CHC Helicopter, where he was responsible for leading the company’s global strategic planning, financial planning and mergers and acquisitions. In 2014, Victor helped CHC complete an initial public offering as well as a significant private-equity transaction.
Victor is currently a board member and chair of the Finance and Audit Committee of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce. In addition, he serves on the Audit and Finance committee for Stratford Hall, an independent school. Previously, he was a board member of Slemon Park Corporation, an aerospace park in Atlantic Canada.
Victor began his finance career at HSBC and articled at law firm McCarthy Tétrault. He earned both his Bachelor of Commerce and Bachelor of Laws degrees from the University of British Columbia.
Cliff Stewart
Vice President, Infrastructure
Mr. Stewart is the vice president, infrastructure of the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority. Mr. Stewart leads all of the organizations large infrastructure delivery programs which include road, rail and terminal interfaces as well as off-port supporting infrastructure. He is also responsible for the the port authority’s Container Capacity Improvement Program including the expansion of capacity at existing container terminals as well as delivery of new terminals.
Prior to joining the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority, Mr. Stewart held the position of vice president, operations for DP World Canada Inc. In this role he was responsible for both the operation and redevelopment of Centerm container terminal. This included a three-year program that accomplished the reconstruction of the terminal while continuing operations and nearly doubling its throughput capacity. Mr. Stewart also led the redevelopment of North Vancouver’s Vancouver Wharves bulk terminal site in the late 1990’s.
During his 29 year career, Mr. Stewart has held maintenance, engineering and major project roles with BCR Marine and Quintette Coal. Mr. Stewart is a Professional Engineer and holds a Bachelor of Applied Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of British Columbia.
Duncan Wilson
Vice President, Environment and External Affairs
As vice president, environment and external affairs, Duncan Wilson leads the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority’s environmental programs, including climate action and sustainability; project and environmental review; government, community, and Indigenous relations; communications; and customer engagement functions.
In his tenure at the port authority, Duncan led the development of the port authority’s vision: for the Port of Vancouver to be the world’s most sustainable port—a port that delivers economic prosperity through trade, maintains a healthy environment, and enables thriving communities. Duncan has also overseen the significant expansion of the port authority’s environmental work, including the development of the world-leading ECHO Program.
With more than 20 years of experience working in communications, public engagement and marketing, Duncan also has a distinguished track record of community leadership, having served three consecutive terms as commissioner on the Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation, including three years as chair of the board.
Duncan previously served as chair and governor of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, in addition to serving on the boards of the Vancouver Aboriginal Skills and Employment Program, Vancouver Public Library, Downtown Vancouver Association, and Hastings Park Conservancy. Today, he is director of the Clear Seas Centre for Responsible Marine Shipping. Duncan is a recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal.
Duncan holds a Bachelor of Arts degree and Certificate in Liberal Arts from Simon Fraser University, and a post-graduate Diploma in Financial Strategy from the University of Oxford. He is also a graduate of the University of Oxford’s Advanced Leadership and Management Program.
Peter Xotta
Vice President, Operations and Supply Chain
In his role as vice president, operations and supply chain, Peter Xotta is responsible for the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority’s land and marine operations, health, safety and security, and port and supply chain optimization activities.
For the past decade, Peter has led the development and funding of the port authority’s gateway infrastructure programs to deliver an enhanced Lower Mainland road and rail network to better facilitate trade through the Port of Vancouver. He also oversees the organization’s port and supply-chain optimization work streams, including active vessel traffic management and supply chain visibility initiatives.
Peter has held diverse portfolios including business development and leading strategic port projects. He was previously president of Modalink Distribution Hub Ltd., a multi-modal logistics facility in South Richmond, British Columbia. He is the former chair of Canada Place Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority.
He is on the board of the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade, the Freight Management Association of Canada, and the Clear Seas Centre for Responsible Marine Shipping.
Peter has a Masters in Business Administration from Simon Fraser University’s Segal Graduate School of Business and has served as a mentor in the program.