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.
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.
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.
