Program

Unless otherwise stated, all sessions will be held in the
Halifax Convention Centre 1650 Argyle Street

 

Wednesday | September 9, 2026

08:00 – 15:00
Glen Arbour Golf Club
PSA-Hosted Golf Tournament
Motorcoach transportation provided from the Halifax Convention Centre, 1650 Argyle Street, 07:00 departure. 14:30 return to Halifax Convention Centre.
Glen Arbour Golf Club
17:30 – 19:00
Convention Level
Welcome Reception
Kick-off this year’s Forum in a casual setting that’s perfect for networking, meeting friends and colleagues. Enjoy a wide variety of passed hors d’oeuvres and food stations that can be a prelude to dinner-on-your-own prior to the business sessions that get under way the next day.
Sponsored by: Hatch
Convention Level
 

Thursday | September 10, 2026

07:30 – 14:00
Convention Level
Forum Information and Registration Desk Open
Convention Level
08:00
Light Breakfast
Sponsored by: Albatrans
08:30
Opening and Welcome to the Forum
Setting the Stage
Sponsored by: CBRE Limited
 
Fulvio Fracassi, President & Chief Executive Officer, Halifax Port Authority
09:00
Lars Jensen
Featured Speaker
Industry Insights
Lars is back by popular demand to present an update on the absolute latest developments affecting the global supply chain
Speaker:
Lars Jensen, Chief Executive Officer, Vespucci Maritime
Sponsored by: Kuehne + Nagel
Lars Jensen
10:00
Networking Break
Sponsored by: Triumph Express
10:30
Tim Houston
Featured Speaker
Speaker:
Tim Houston, Premier of Nova Scotia
Tim Houston
11:00
Panel Discussion 1
The Future of Canadian Trade: Is This Halifax’s Moment?
The drive to diversify Canada’s global trade markets will impact the country’s container supply chain. What are the most critical investments and policy decisions needed to simultaneously increase capacity, enhance competitiveness, and diversify trade beyond traditional markets while maintaining efficient access to global shipping networks? How can the Port of Halifax position itself to address these supply chain requirements and how does the port best position itself to serve Canadian importers and exporters?
Moderator: Mark Szakonyi, Executive Editor – Journal of Commerce
Sponsored by: Armour Transportation
12:00
John McCown
Luncheon & Keynote Address
North American Shippers’ Challenges and Opportunities Amidst the Evolving Global Container Shipping Landscape
Keynote Speaker:
John McCown, Shipping Expert
Sponsored by: Lighthouse Transportation
John McCown
13:30
Panel Discussion 2
Investing in resilience
With finite capital and growing demands on ports, railways, inland logistics networks, and digital infrastructure, where should Canada prioritize its investments to achieve the greatest improvement in supply chain resilience, efficiency, and global competitiveness, and how can industry and government align behind a common national logistics strategy?
Moderator: Mark Szakonyi, Executive Editor – Journal of Commerce; Panelist : Girish Nair, Vice President, Intermodal & Automotive, CN
Sponsored by: Classic Freight
15:00 – 16:30
Port Tour
The bus tour takes pre-registered SCF attendees on a 90-minute bus tour of the Port of Halifax’s Seaport area and an on-terminal visit to the PSA Halifax Atlantic Hub Terminal.
Sponsored by: Kintetsu World Express (Canada) Inc.
18:00 – 21:30
Supply Chain Forum Kitchen Party
18:00 – Reception • 19:00 – Lobster Dinner • 20:30 – 21:00 – Nova Scotia Kitchen Party
What better way to conclude two days of networking and business development than with a closing casual reception and lobster dinner? By adding in 30 minutes of memorable musical entertainment from a variety of Nova Scotia’s best talent at the Forum’s Nova Scotia Kitchen Party! Be sure to buy your ticket—or a table of eight—to network with colleagues and customers today as the event is filling up.
Lobster Dinner
Sponsored by: PSA BDP
  • Presenting Sponsor
  • Presenting Sponsor
  • Presenting Sponsor
  • Diamond SponsorSupply Chain Forum Kitchen Party
  • Conference Technology & Wi-Fi Sponsor Sponsor
  • Gold SponsorWelcome Reception
  • Gold SponsorKeynote Luncheon
  • Gold SponsorIndustry Insights with Lars Jensen
  • Silver SponsorPanel Discussion 1
  • Silver SponsorPanel Discussion 2
  • Bronze SponsorLight Breakfast
  • Bronze SponsorOpening Session
  • Bronze SponsorPort Bus Tour
  • Bronze SponsorNetworking Break

Thank you for joining us in Halifax.

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2026 PORT OF HALIFAX SUPPLY CHAIN FORUM

Lars Jensen

Chief Executive Officer

Vespucci Maritime

Lars Jensen has 20 years of experience from inside the container shipping industry. This covers a combined period of 8 years as Director of driving and developing market intelligence & analysis for Maersk Line, Maersk Logistics and The Containership Company. Additionally, Lars Jensen has for 2 years been CEO of the purely online container carrier Youship, as well as in charge of developing and implementing eCommerce strategy in Maersk Line.

Since 2011, Lars Jensen has acted as an independent strategic analyst, advisor and thought leader in the container shipping industry with customers including container lines, ports and terminals, universities as well as innovative digital and IT companies in the shipping sector.

Lars co-founded Sea-Intelligence in 2011 and later founded SeaIntelligence Consulting in 2013. In 2021 SeaIntelligence Consulting changed its name to Vespucci Maritime.

Prior to entering the container shipping industry, Lars Jensen completed a Ph.D. on complex mathematical analysis in physics, as well as worked with technological innovation and modelling in the Oil & Gas industry.

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2026 PORT OF HALIFAX SUPPLY CHAIN FORUM

John McCown

Shipping Expert

John D. McCown is a globally recognized authority on maritime trade, shipping economics, and transportation strategy. He currently serves as a Non-Resident Senior Fellow at the Navy League’s Center for Maritime Security, where he contributes thought leadership on critical issues shaping global supply chains.

He is the author of The McCown Report, a widely respected industry publication offering in-depth analysis of container shipping markets, and the acclaimed book Giants of the Sea: Ships & Men Who Changed the World, which chronicles the evolution of the modern shipping industry.

McCown brings a rare blend of operational and financial expertise, with more than two decades of C-suite leadership in publicly traded transportation companies. He co-founded and led an integrated U.S.-flag shipping and trucking company through its growth and public offering. Earlier in his career, he was an alpha-generating investor in transportation equities at a major hedge fund.

A protégé of containerization pioneer Malcolm McLean, McCown has also been active in maritime entrepreneurship and innovation, holding two patents in the field. He earned his MBA from Harvard Business School.

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2026 PORT OF HALIFAX SUPPLY CHAIN FORUM

Fulvio Fracassi

President & Chief Executive Officer

Halifax Port Authority

Fulvio Fracassi is a seasoned CEO and senior executive with extensive experience working with the marine industry, and has public sector experience spanning more than 30 years.

As the CEO of the Laurentian Pilotage Authority (LPA) for more than 10 years (2012-2022), he led the strategic direction, 24/7 operations and legislative mandate of Canada’s largest marine pilotage authority. In this role, he successfully developed and implemented an ambitious vision and strategy for the organization, led transformative initiatives and repositioned the LPA as a leader within the industry it services. He also played a leading role in respect of legislative reforms to modernize pilotage services in Canada and improve the marine transportation system.

Following his leadership as CEO of the LPA, Fulvio provided advisory and consultancy services and most recently joined Delegatus, a Quebec business law firm.

Prior to joining the LPA, Fulvio worked as Director General with Transport Canada, where he led the strategic direction, management and oversight of the National Marine Security Program, including inspection services and compliance activities within the scope of the Marine Transportation Security Act and Regulations.

He was also Director General at the Labour Program, a federal institution within the department of Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC). In this capacity, he was responsible for the management and delivery of national programs in the areas of occupational health and safety, labour standards and employment equity coming under the responsibility of the federal minister of labour.

Fulvio also held a variety of legal counsel positions of increasing responsibility within the Department of Justice Canada for over 15 years providing advice in the areas of transportation law, labour law, and international trade law.

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2026 PORT OF HALIFAX SUPPLY CHAIN FORUM

Tim Houston

Premier of Nova Scotia

Tim Houston is Nova Scotia’s 30th Premier.

Born in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Tim was raised in a military family and grew up on military bases in Summerside, PEI, Trenton, Ontario and Comox, British Columbia before the family ultimately returned to Nova Scotia for his father’s retirement posting to Shearwater.

First and foremost, Tim is a dad. He and his wife, Carol, have been married since 1995 and have two children, Paget and Zachary.

Tim attended Saint Mary’s University where he obtained a Bachelor of Commerce. He then earned his Chartered Accountant designation in Halifax. After graduation, he and Carol moved to Bermuda where he worked with both Deloitte and in the reinsurance industry. In 2007, knowing that they wanted to raise their children closer to their extended family, Carol and Tim returned to Nova Scotia and have lived in Pictou County ever since.

On November 2, 2020, Tim was awarded his profession’s highest mark of distinction, the Fellow (FCPA) designation, by Chartered Professional Accountants of Nova Scotia.

Tim’s love for this province and its people — and discussions in hockey rinks — sparked his interest in politics. He successfully sought the Pictou East PC nomination in 2012 and was first elected to the Nova Scotia House of Assembly in the 2013 provincial election. He was re-elected in 2017, 2021, and again in November 2024.

In 2018, Tim was elected Leader of the PC Party of Nova Scotia. He was sworn in as Premier of Nova Scotia on August 31, 2021, and started his second term in office in December 2024.

Premier Houston also serves as Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs and Trade.