About the Speaker:

Peter Xotta is the President and CEO of the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority, the federal agency responsible for enabling Canada’s trade through the Port of Vancouver, Canada’s largest port. Peter joined the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority’s executive leadership team over a decade ago, most recently serving as vice President, Operations and Supply Chain.

The proud son of immigrant parents, Peter was born and raised on Canada’s West Coast. Growing up surrounded by the country’s vibrant maritime industry, Peter developed an appreciation of the value and complexity of the port from an early age. He started his port career over 35 years ago—nearly 30 of which have been spent at the port authority—and progressively advanced through various roles. Today, he applies the experiences, relationships, and passion he has cultivated throughout his life and career to his role as the port authority’s President and CEO.

Peter’s long career in port environments has given him a deep understanding of the things that matter to the customers and partners that keep goods moving through the Port of Vancouver. He is particularly interested in work that keeps the port competitive and goods moving efficiently for the benefit of all Canadians, such as addressing resiliency and fragility in the supply chain and developing innovation within operational systems.

Prior to his appointment to President and CEO in 2023, Peter’s diverse portfolios at the port authority included port operations, business development and strategic projects. He played a key role in working with local partners to identify and secure funding for a suite of off-terminal trade enabling infrastructure projects throughout the region, which were developed to improve the movement of goods to and from the port and support Canada’s competitiveness in international trade. He also led the organization’s port and supply chain optimization work, such as the Active Vessel Traffic Management Program and other supply chain visibility initiatives.

Peter sits on the boards of Invest Vancouver Management, Burnaby Hospital Foundation, the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade, the Association of Canadian Port Authorities, and on Western Transportation Advisory Council (WESTAC)’s Executive Committee. He previously served on the boards of the Freight Management Association of Canada and the Clear Seas Centre for Responsible Marine Shipping. He is also the former Chair of Canada Place Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority.

Peter has a Master of Business Administration degree from Simon Fraser University’s Segal Graduate School of Business and has served as a mentor in the program.