Conference Program

Keep checking back for frequent updates as we confirm speakers, presentations and networking sessions!

August 10, 2025 9:00 am - 5:00 pm Off-site

COMPANION PROGRAM

August 10, 2025 10:00 am - 12:00 pm Douglas Rispin Room

APP Executive Committee Meeting

Association business.

August 10, 2025 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm Mt. Benson Ballroom A

Registration Desk

Your first stop! Get your name tag and delegate bag filled with sponsor goodies. Staff will be on hand to answer questions and assist you with getting familiar with the conference venue.  

August 10, 2025 1:30 pm - 4:30 pm Off-site

Golf: Nanaimo Golf Club

Nanaimo Golf Club is a spectacular 18-hole semi-private course, with full practice facilities and Pro Shop. At 6,700 yards from its championship tees, the course is a test for low handicap golfers to produce long, straight drives to reach the greens in regulation. At the same time, the five other sets of tees on each […]

August 10, 2025 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm Coast Bastion Hotel Malaspina Room

Welcome Reception

Kicking off the APP’s 11th Annual Conference, your first opportunity to meet new acquaintances, catch up with friends, and enjoy the view of Nanaimo Harbour with refreshments and appetizers.  

August 11, 2025 7:00 am - 9:00 am Mt. Benson Ballroom A

Monday Breakfast

August 11, 2025 7:30 am - 3:30 pm Nanaimo River Rooms A/B

Registration Desk

Your first stop! Get your name tag and delegate bag filled with sponsor goodies. Staff will be on hand to answer questions and assist you with getting familiar with the conference venue.  

August 11, 2025 8:30 am - 8:45 am Nanaimo River Rooms A/B

Welcome Remarks

August 11, 2025 8:45 am - 9:15 am Nanaimo River Rooms A/B

Keynote Speaker

August 11, 2025 9:15 am - 10:15 am Nanaimo River Rooms A/B

Session #1: Terminals: Innovations and Efficiencies

The goal of this session is to highlight best practices in terminal operations to achieve greater efficiencies and sustainability. Panel members will represent cruise and break bulk, container, and liquid bulk terminals.

Joe Carrillo Regional Vice President / SSA Pacific
August 11, 2025 10:15 am - 10:35 am Nanaimo River Rooms A/B

Networking / Refreshment Break #1

August 11, 2025 10:35 am - 12:00 pm Nanaimo River Rooms A/B

Session #2: Port Updates (I)

The tradition continues! This session is continually given the highest marks from attendees as port representatives provide updates within their jurisdictions. Learn about major projects, business trends, and issues faced. The topics raised during this session can then be discussed directly amongst colleagues during meals and networking sessions over the duration of the conference.

August 11, 2025 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm Mt. Benson Ballroom A

Monday Lunch

August 11, 2025 1:00 pm - 1:45 pm Nanaimo River Rooms A/B

Session #3: Port Updates (II)

The tradition continues! This session is continually given the highest marks from attendees as port representatives provide updates within their jurisdictions. Learn about major projects, business trends, and issues faced. The topics raised during this session can then be discussed directly amongst colleagues during meals and networking sessions over the duration of the conference.

August 11, 2025 1:45 pm - 2:30 pm Nanaimo River Rooms A/B

Session #4: Developing a Vibrant Cruise Industry

Focusing on what it takes to build a successful cruise industry, Donna Spalding, representing Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) is joined by representatives from top cruise destinations to discuss trends in the industry and what it takes to build a successful cruise business for your port.

Donna Spalding Government Affairs & Community Relations Advisor / Cruise Lines International Association
August 11, 2025 2:30 pm - 3:30 pm Nanaimo River Rooms A/B

Session #5: Commercial Shipping on the West Coast

Moderated by Jamie Marshall, National Sector Lead – Ports and Marine, Colliers Project Leaders, two of the leading marine-policy advocacy organizations on the West Coast of North America join together to highlight commonalities, differences, issues and opportunities for the interface between port, marine terminals and shippers.

Bonnie Gee President / Chamber of Shipping
Jamie Marshall National Sector Lead -- Ports and Marine / Colliers Project Leaders
Mike Jacob President / Pacific Merchant Shipping Association
August 11, 2025 3:30 pm - 4:00 pm Nanaimo River Rooms A/B

Session #6 (To Be Confirmed)

August 11, 2025 4:30 pm - 8:00 pm Off-site

Monday Dinner: Saysutshun Salmon Bake

O si:em siye’yu, nuw’ilum (Honoured friends, welcome) to Saysutshun (Newcastle Island) Marine Provincial Park. Known as Saysutshun by the Snuneymuxw, this family friendly park is accessible only by foot passenger ferry or boat. With breathtaking views of the Coastal Mountains and the Harbour City, the island offers a unique natural, historical and cultural experience for visitors. […]

August 12, 2025 7:00 am - 9:00 am Mt. Benson Ballroom A

Tuesday Breakfast

August 12, 2025 9:00 am - 9:40 am Nanaimo River Rooms A/B

Session #7: Host Port Spotlight

August 12, 2025 9:40 am - 10:20 am Nanaimo River Rooms A/B

Session #8: Host Port Spotlight

August 12, 2025 10:20 am - 10:40 am Nanaimo River Rooms A/B

Networking / Refreshment Break #2

August 12, 2025 10:40 am - 11:20 am Nanaimo River Rooms A/B

Session #9: Host Port Spotlight

August 12, 2025 11:20 am - 12:00 pm Nanaimo River Rooms A/B

Session #10: Transport Canada's National Supply Chain Office

August 12, 2025 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm Mt. Benson Ballroom A

Tuesday Lunch

August 12, 2025 1:00 pm - 1:30 pm Nanaimo River Rooms A/B

Session #11: Oil Spill Response - Ready Today, Prepared for Tomorrow

As Canada’s West Coast marine response organization for almost 50 years, Western Canada Marine Response Corporation (originally known as Burrard Clean Operations) is internationally renowned for their knowledge and expertise in spill response strategies. Senior Communications Manager Michael Lowry describes the growth of the organization and the plans in place for prevention, preparedness and response […]

Michael Lowry Senior Communications Manager / Western Canada Marine Response Corporation
August 12, 2025 1:30 pm - 2:00 pm Nanaimo River Rooms A/B

Session #12: Emergency Management and Resiliency

Representative Paul Evans, Oregon State Legislature leans on a 30-plus-year career spanning military, National Guard, firefighting and emergency services to share insights into emergency preparedness and resiliency for the transportation sector.

Paul Evans Oregon House Representative / District 20, Oregon State Legislature
August 12, 2025 2:00 pm - 2:20 pm Nanaimo River Rooms A/B

Networking / Refreshment Break #3

August 12, 2025 2:20 pm - 3:30 pm Nanaimo River Rooms A/B

Session #13: Associate Member Updates

Practice your two-minute elevator pitch! An open forum for APP’s Associate Members to introduce themselves and explain their products and services that are invaluable to the port community.

August 12, 2025 4:00 pm - 8:00 pm Off-site

Port of Nanaimo Waterfront Operations Tour & Dinner Cruise

A guided tour of the Port of Nanaimo’s waterfront operations followed by dinner and entertainment on board the Magic Spirit, a three-level yacht with panoramic windows, a spacious wraparound deck and a beautiful top sundeck where guests will soak in the beauty of Nanaimo’s surrounding waterfront.

August 13, 2025 7:00 am - 9:00 am Mt. Benson Ballroom A

Wednesday Breakfast

August 13, 2025 8:30 am - 9:00 am Nanaimo River Rooms A/B

APP Annual General Meeting

The Association of Pacific Ports Annual General Meeting — all are welcome!

August 13, 2025 9:00 am - 9:40 am Nanaimo River Rooms A/B

Session #14: One Waterway, Two Legal Systems

American Maritime Lawyer Alan Goldstein and Canadian Maritime Lawyer (TBC) discuss where Canada and the U.S. agree, disagree, cooperate and conflict on major maritime issues.

August 13, 2025 9:40 am - 10:10 am Nanaimo River Rooms A/B

Session # 15: Looking to the Future: Vessel Traffic and Port Infrastructure Needs

Clear Seas looks at increased vessel traffic numbers and talks about investment options that could apply to the ports in the Pacific region for proposed projects. Clear Seas is a Canadian not-for-profit organization that provides independent fact-based information to enable governments, industry, and the public to make informed decisions on marine shipping issues.

August 13, 2025 10:10 am - 10:30 am Nanaimo River Rooms A/B

Networking / Refreshment Break #4

August 13, 2025 10:30 am - 11:15 am Nanaimo River Rooms A/B

Session #16: Governance, Executive Recruitment, and Retention

Shey-Harding Executive Search’s Managing Partner Susan Dvonch is joined by Katie Miller, Deputy Port Director, Administration, Port of Stockton, to enlighten attendees on the keys to building an effective team. Both speakers are renown for their successful recruitment strategies.

Katie Miller Deputy Port Director, Administration / Port of Stockton
Susan Dvonch Managing Partner / Shey-Harding Executive Search
August 13, 2025 11:15 am - 12:00 pm Nanaimo River Rooms A/B

Session #17: The Elephant in the Room – Ship Dismantling and Recycling

Alex Rueben, Executive Director for the Association of British Columbia Marine Industries (ABCMI) and Catherine  Hofmann, Principal, Catherine Hofmann Law, highlight the issues and implications of regulations covering ship recycling and the resulting implications for ports.

Alex Rueben Executive Director / Association of British Columbia Marine Industries (ABCMI)
August 13, 2025 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm Mt. Benson Ballroom A

Wednesday Lunch

August 13, 2025 1:00 pm - 1:15 pm Nanaimo River Rooms A/B

Session #18: Harboring Sustainability: Port Partnerships for Marine Waste

A big part of a port’s responsibility is to handle waste from its vessels. For the Port of Newport in Oregon, that is everything from engine waste to commercial fishing nets. Handling waste properly is incredibly important and something we should all be concerned about; the proximity to the ocean means that anything mismanaged has […]

August 13, 2025 1:15 pm - 1:30 pm Nanaimo River Rooms A/B

Session #19: To be confirmed

August 13, 2025 1:30 pm - 1:45 pm Nanaimo River Rooms A/B

Session #20: Inspect and Detect to Protect

Konrad Mech highlights the features of Cellula Robotics and its use in underwater security and critical infrastructure inspection.

August 13, 2025 1:45 pm - 2:00 pm Nanaimo River Rooms A/B

Session #21: Coastal Intelligence for Marine Safety and Climate Resilience

CEO Scott Beatty described how MarineLabs harnesses the power of their continuously expanding sensor network to provide the highest-resolution data, enhancing safety, streamlining marine operations, and building climate-resilient coastlines.

August 13, 2025 2:00 pm - 2:15 pm Nanaimo River Rooms A/B

Session #22: Aid to Navigation

Details to follow…

August 13, 2025 2:15 pm - 2:30 pm Nanaimo River Rooms A/B

Closing Ceremony: Preview of 112th Annual Conference

Final remarks plus a preview of the APP’s 112th Annual Conference location: Guam! Hosted by the Port Authority of Guam.