Shared Vision, Shared Responsibilities

About the Speaker

Mr. Silvester was appointed president and chief executive officer of Port Metro Vancouver in 2009, bringing to the position extensive international experience in both the port and property sectors. Prior to joining Port Metro Vancouver, Mr. Silvester served as chief executive for the property and facilities management business, United Group Services ANZ in Australia.

Mr. Silvester spent a significant portion of his career serving in senior roles internationally with P&O Ports. As chief development officer, Mr. Silvester led the company's strategy and global acquisition program, including the businesses that became P&O Ports Canada. Having completed that acquisition, in 2003 Mr. Silvester was appointed the first president and chief executive officer of P&O Ports Canada, based in Vancouver.

In 2004, Mr. Silvester relocated from Vancouver to London, United Kingdom, and later to Sydney, Australia, as a member of the P&O Ports global executive team. Following the acquisition of P&O, then the world's fourth largest container terminal operator, by Dubai Ports World in 2006, Mr. Silvester remained in Sydney and joined United Group Limited, an ASX 100 listed Engineering and Property Services firm, as chief development officer. He led the $500 million acquisition of U.S.A facilities management business Unicco. He was later appointed chief executive of United Group Services ANZ, responsible for leading the company's property and facilities management business in Australia and New Zealand.