New Director Appointed to Prince Rupert Port Authority Board

EFFECTIVE JUNE 26, 2024

PRINCE RUPERT, BRITISH COLUMBIA – The Prince Rupert Port Authority (PRPA) announced today changes to its Board of Directors. The Honourable Pablo Rodriguez, Minister of Transport for the Government of Canada, has confirmed the appointment of Rod Graham. 

Mr. Graham is the President of Velocity Truck Centres in Canada and has extensive experience as senior corporate executive in various sectors including financial/investment, transportation, alternative energy, construction, manufacturing, and resource services. Mr. Graham is a Chartered Financial Analyst with an MBA from the Ivey School of Business at Western University and a graduate of the Institute of Corporate Directors (ICD) program. Based in Calgary, he has served on more than two dozen public, private, and not-for-profit boards in western Canada, including the Board of Governors of the Business Council of British Columbia and Alberta Indigenous Opportunities Corporation. His three-year term commenced June 17, 2024. 

“On behalf of our organization, I congratulate and welcome Rod,” said Shaun Stevenson, President and CEO of the Prince Rupert Port Authority. “Rod brings valuable experience and insight to PRPA’s Board of Directors as we enter the most significant phase of development in the Port of Prince Rupert’s history.” 

Mr. Graham will replace outgoing Board member Frans Tjallingii, who was appointed by the Minister of Transport in 2017. Mr. Tjallingii served as Chair from 2019 until 2024. PRPA’s Board of Directors will select a new Chair from its membership in the coming weeks.

“We extend our appreciation to Frans for his leadership of the Board and his contributions during a critical period of investment and gateway growth, particularly in regard to his commitment and leadership in advancing the Port of Prince Rupert’s sustainability strategy and decarbonization goals,” said Stevenson. 

The Prince Rupert Port Authority’s Board of Directors is comprised of seven people. Three of the Board members are appointed directly by each level of government—municipal, provincial, and federal—while the balance is appointed by the federal government in consultation with the Port User Nominating Committee. Board members are appointed for a term of no more than three years with a maximum tenure of three terms.

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ABOUT THE PRINCE RUPERT PORT AUTHORITY

The Prince Rupert Port Authority manages the Port of Prince Rupert, Canada’s northernmost trade gateway on the west coast. The Port of Prince Rupert anchors one of the fastest and most reliable supply chains between North America and Asia, providing vital infrastructure to support shippers and industries as they move their goods and resources to market. The port handles approximately $60 billion in trade value per year and supports an estimated 3,300 direct supply-chain jobs in northern BC, $340 million in annual wages, and generates $1.4 billion for the northern B.C. economy.

FOR MEDIA INQUIRIES CONTACT:   

Olivia Mowatt  
Senior Communications Officer 
Prince Rupert Port Authority   
omowatt@rupertport.com