September 9, 2024 — The Association of Pacific Ports (APP) is pleased to welcome Ian Marr as our newly elected President. Representing the Port of Nanaimo (NPA), Mr. Marr assumes the role following the tenure of Shao-Liang Chen, President of the Taiwan International Ports Corporation (TIPC), host of the recent APP 110th Annual Conference. “It is an honor to lead the APP in the coming year,” said Mr. Marr, adding that he was excited about welcoming Association members to Nanaimo, British Columbia, for the APP’s 111th Annual Conference in August 2025.
While named as the President and CEO of NPA in 2019, Mr. Marr has been with the Port Authority since 1987, starting in the property leasing department and working his way through the organization to become Senior Vice President of Finance & Administration before assuming the leadership role. Originally from Scotland, Mr. Marr is a Certified General Accountant and Chartered Professional Accountant.
Under Marr’s leadership, the Port of Nanaimo has undertaken initiatives such as the diversification of cargo at Duke Point and the addition of the Vehicle Processing Centre – resulting in overall growth for the Port and the surrounding community. Today, the Port of Nanaimo provides a key link between Vancouver Island and more than 24 ports in over 13 countries, including the U.S., China, Taiwan, and Japan. The Port is also designated as a Foreign Trade Zone Point, a strategic location for international trade that is supported by a single point of access to information on relevant government policies and programs.
This is Mr. Marr’s second stint as President of the Association of Pacific Ports. First elected in 2019, Marr successfully led the APP through both a staff transition and the COVID pandemic. “The years during COVID were challenging for the Association given that our main activities include two conferences per year. However, adjusting to the realities of COVID provided opportunities to develop new initiatives, including Pacific Ports Magazine, that have resulted in an even stronger and more resilient Association.”
During this year’s Annual General Meeting in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, APP members voted not only on the following 2024/25 Executive Committee slate which included Mr. Marr’s position as President, but also to create a new regional representative position to recognize the inclusion of Mexican ports.
Officers
President – Ian Marr (Nanaimo, BC)
First Vice President – Conchita Taitano (Guam)
Second Vice President – Stephen Ribuffo (Alaska)
Third Vice President – Jerry Nathan (Republic of Marshall Islands)
Past President – Shao-Liang Chen (Taiwan)
Regional Representatives
Shu-Hui Cheng (Taiwan) — Asia
Zoran Knezevic (Port Alberni, BC) – Northwest (British Columbia/Alaska)
Sara Young / Kevin Ware (Skagit, WA) – Northern U.S. (Washington/Oregon)
Representative to be confirmed (Redwood City, CA) – Northern California
Sharon Weissman (Long Beach, CA) – Southern California
Falenaoti Loi-On Fruean / Tumua Matuu (American Samoa) – Pacific Islands
Manuel Fernando Gutiérrez Gallardo (General Coordination of Ports and Merchant Marine) — Mexico
At-Large Representatives
Kim B. Puzey (Oregon)
Leo Tudela (Commonwealth Northern Mariana Islands)
Associate Member Sub-Committee Representatives
Jeannie Beckett, The Beckett Group
Joe Carrillo, SSA Marine
For more information or an interview with Mr. Marr, please contact:
Jane McIvor, Executive Director
Association of Pacific Ports
300 – 1275 West 6th Avenue
Vancouver, BC V6H 1A6 Canada
jane@pacificports.org / 604-893-8800
