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 is President and Chief Executive Officer of the Halifax Port Authority. Karen joined the HPA in 2002 and with her team leads in the development and marketing internationally of the Port’s three lines of business - cargo, cruise and lands under
administration. She has been instrumental in developing the Port of Halifax as a strategic national asset. The Port of Halifax annually generates $1.58 billion in economic impact and over 11,000 portrelated 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 a wide range of 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. Currently, the Port Authority is partnering with the Federal Government to
invest over $100 million in two key cargo terminals.
Halifax became the first port in Canada to achieve and maintain an investment grade credit rating,
starting in 2007. Halifax was also the first port in Canada to achieve the ISO14001 certification
– an internationally recognized standard for environmental management systems. Halifax has
become the marquee cruise port in Atlantic Canada, generating $50 million in local economic
impact each year.

Nationally, Karen is a member of the Advisory Council on National Security, established in 2005,
which provides expert advice about national security issues through the National Security Advisor
to the Prime Minister. She is also a Member of the Board of Directors of the Association of
Canadian Port Authorities, the Public Policy Forum and the Canadian Chamber of Commerce.
She serves as the Vice Chair of the Atlantic Chapter of the International Women’s Forum, and a
member of the Canadian Board of Directors of IWF. Locally, Karen sits on the Board of Governors
for Saint Mary’s University, the NS Division of the Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters and the
Halifax Gateway Council.

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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.

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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.

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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.

 

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