Executive Team

• Karen Oldfield, President & CEO
• Paul MacIsaac, Senior Vice President
• George Malec, Vice President, Business Development & Operations
• Krista Dempsey, Vice President Real Estate

Karen Oldfield
President & CEO

Karen Oldfield has been President and Chief Executive Officer of the Halifax Port Authority since 2002. She leads the development of the Port of Halifax, a trade and transportation gateway that generates $1.58 billion in economic impact and over 11,000 port-related jobs.

The Port of Halifax is a diverse cargo port handling containerized, bulk, breakbulk and roll-on/roll-off cargo year-round. The Port connects importers and exporters to 150 countries through 19 shipping lines, offering the deepest container berths on the Eastern Seaboard and quick connections to major inland markets. Over $350 million has been invested in port-related infrastructure by the private and public sector in the past 5 years. Halifax became the first port in Canada to achieve an investment grade credit rating and the first port in Canada to achieve the ISO 14001 certification – an internationally recognized standard for environmental management systems. Halifax has also become the marquee cruise port in Atlantic Canada with over 200,000 passengers aboard 120 ships calling Halifax for over 6 months each year.

After graduating from Saint Mary’s and Dalhousie universities, Karen began her professional career in 1985 with the law firm McInnes Cooper, becoming partner a few years later. In 1999, she assumed the role of Chief of Staff for Nova Scotia Premier John Hamm. For two and a half years, Karen was instrumental in ensuring the strategic plans and priorities of the Government of Nova Scotia were carried out.

Karen was recently appointed to the Advisory Council on National Security, established in 2005. The ACNS provides expert advice about national security issues to the Government through the National Security Advisor to the Prime Minister.

Karen is an active volunteer, with her current role as the Canadian Delegation Chair for the American Association of Port Authorities and an executive member of Association of Canadian Port Authorities. She is the Vice Chair of the Atlantic Chapter of the International Women’s Forum, and a member of the International Board of Directors. She volunteers on numerous boards including the Nova Scotia Division of the Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters, the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, the Board of Governors of Saint Mary’s University and she is past Chair of the Halifax Gateway Council.

Back to Top ^

Paul MacIsaac
Senior Vice-President

Paul MacIsaac joined the Halifax Port Authority in September 2005 as Senior Vice-President. Currently, Paul has overall responsibility for finance, infrastructure, environmental management and the Seaport Redevelopment Project.

Prior to joining the Halifax Port Authority, Paul worked with the Bragg Group of Companies as Vice President of Finance for two of the operating companies within the group. Previously, he held the position of Senior Manager, Corporate Advisory Services with Ernst & Young Chartered Accountants.

Actively involved in his profession and community, Paul is a Past-Chair of the ACPA Finance Committee and is a member of Financial Executives International. He has worked with the United Way of Halifax and serves as a coach and executive member of Bedford Minor Hockey.

Back to Top ^

George Malec
Vice President, Business Development & Operations

 

George Malec is the Vice-President of Business Development & Operations for the Halifax Port Authority. He oversees development of the cargo and cruise business, customer relations, marketing, vessel and cargo activities and security at the Port of Halifax. As a member of the port Senior Management team, he participates in the strategic decision making for port development activities. George has over 25 years of experience in port management, encompassing both the private and public sectors.

George holds a Combined Honours Degree from York University and a Masters Degree in Marine Management from Dalhousie University. He has extensive training in emergency response management and has completed numerous industry related training programs sponsored by the federal government and the American Association of Port Authorities.

He is actively involved in professional committees with the Association of Canadian Port Authorities, where he has been the Chair of the National Operations Committee and the Association of American Port Authorities Operations Committee. He is the founding Chair of the Port of Halifax Security Committee.

Back to Top ^

 

Krista Dempsey
Vice-President Real Estate

As Vice President, Real Estate, Krista Dempsey is responsible for real estate acquisitions and the strategic direction of the Halifax Port Authority's real property, which currently consists of 258 acres of land plus a wide variety of facilities that support the diverse core activities of the Port of Halifax.

Prior to joining the Halifax Port Authority, Krista spent more than 20 years in various real estate capacities throughout Atlantic Canada. She has held increasingly senior roles in the commercial real estate industry having been accountable for the acquisition and disposal of real property as well as the leasing and property management of both office buildings and retail shopping centres. In the public sector, Krista has extensive experience with the Federal Government - Public Works and Government Services.

Actively involved in her community, professionally and personally, Krista is currently a member of the Halifax Harbour Planning Committee, the Building Owners and Managers Association, the Urban Development Institute and the Real Estate Institute of Canada.

Back to Top ^