Executive Team

The Prince Rupert Port Authority is a local port authority constituted under the Canada Marine Act, and Letters Patent issued under the Act, to operate the Port in the Prince Rupert Harbour. We’re an autonomous and commercially viable agency, governed by an independent Board of Directors with full control over all Port decisions. Our mandate is to facilitate and expand the movement of cargo and passengers through the Port of Prince Rupert.

Kurt Slocombe

President & CEO

Bio
Kurt joined PRPA in May 2019 as Vice President, Operations, Planning and Infrastructure. He has an extensive background in gateway operations. Residing in Prince Rupert with his family since 2007, Mr. Slocombe moved to the community as part of the team that started operations at the then newly converted Fairview Container Terminal. During his time at the Terminal, he held successive roles including Director of Operations and Director, Gateway Operations Centre, a joint venture between DP World and CN.
Agnes Piotrowski

Chief Financial Officer

Bio
Agnes joined PRPA in 2022. As a CPA, she leads the financing, financial control and reporting, internal audit, business analysis, risk management, and information technology activities of the organization.
Shelby O’Brien

Vice President, Indigenous Relations, Human Resources, and Regulatory Affairs

Bio
Shelby joined PRPA in 2013. She oversees regulatory matters affecting port operations, leads commercial negotiations for new developments and terminal expansion projects, and is responsible for the negotiation and implementation of settlement agreements with First Nations. Shelby is a member of the Canadian Maritime Law Association and sits as Chair of the association’s Ports and Harbours Committee.
Will Pederson

Chief Operating Officer

Bio
Will has been with PRPA since 2022, leading the Operations and Planning team as Director of Gateway Operations and Planning before assuming the Vice President, Operations, Planning & Infrastructure role. Prior to joining PRPA, Will gained progressive experience in a variety of roles with terminal operators in Prince Rupert.
Heather Ash

Vice President, Communications, Community Relations, and General Counsel

Bio
Heather Ash brings experience in corporate-commercial law, real estate, governance, and infrastructure development to PRPA. Heather joined PRPA in 2023 as Director of Legal Services, providing strategic, risk-informed in-house counsel across complex commercial, regulatory, and operational matters supporting executive leadership decision-making.
Travis Bernhardt

Vice President, Infrastructure and Sustainability

Bio
Travis Bernhardt joined PRPA in 2006 and has held successive positions within the organization, most recently serving as the Director, Infrastructure Planning & Delivery. He is an experienced project engineer in the areas of railway, roadway and utility design and construction planning.