Port People: Halifax, San Diego

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The Nova Scotia provincial government has appointed Thomas J. Hayes to the board of directors of the Halifax Port Authority. Job Nelson has joined the Port of San Diego as chief policy advisor, with responsibility for programs and activities related to public policy and governmental relations.

Tom Hayes Appointed to Halifax Port Authority Board of Directors

Thomas J. Hayes has been appointed by the Province of Nova Scotia as the provincial director to the Halifax Port Authority board of directors.

Mr. Hayes is president and CEO of Growth Works Atlantic Ltd., a firm specializing in the management and growth of regionally based venture capital funds. He previously chaired the Halifax-Dartmouth Port Development Commission and the board of governors of the Atlantic Provinces Economic Council. He also worked as CEO of Atlantic Fish Specialties Ltd., and chief of staff in the office of former Nova Scotia Premier Russell MacLellan. He is a board member of the Canadian Venture Capital Association.

Geoff Machum is chairman of the seven-member board, which also includes Vice Chair David Henderson and directors Anne Galbraith, Hector Jacques, Ted Larsen and Lantz Siteman. They include one representative each of the federal, municipal, and provincial governments and four representatives of port users. Members are appointed to terms of three years and may serve no more than nine consecutive years.

Thomas J. Hayes
Photo/Halifax Port Authority

San Diego Appoints Job Nelson Chief Policy Advisor

Job Nelson is the newly named chief policy advisor at the Port of San Diego. In that role, he will oversee programs and activities related to public policy and governmental relations, and represent the port district on legislative, regulatory and intergovernmental issues and initiatives.

Mr. Nelson most recently served as chief of staff for San Diego Councilmember Lorie Zapf and before that as senior policy advisor and deputy chief of staff to former San Diego Mayor Susan Golding and as a policy consultant to the California Senate Minority Leader. Private sector positions include assistant to the president for university relations at Point Loma Nazarene University, and director at public policy strategies and research analyst at Competitive Edge Research. He has a bachelor's degree in communications from Point Loma Nazarene University and an MA in public policy from Claremont Graduate University.

"I am pleased to welcome Job Nelson as our Chief Policy Advisor to help our team build on its successful record of regional, statewide and federal relationship building and collaboration that drives good public policy," said Brandy Christian, the port’s vice president for strategy and business development. "As a state public agency representing five member cities and as a Strategic Port, we strive for a collaborative relationship with partner agencies, tenants and all stakeholders. Job Nelson brings policy, advocacy and leadership experience, making him a strong addition to the port team of board and staff."

Job Nelson
Port of San Diego