Board Profile - Pacific Pilotage Authority

Pacific Pilotage Authority

Corporation Mandate

To establish, operate, maintain, and administer in the interest of safety, an efficient pilotage service within the regions set out in respect of the Authority, on a basis of financial self-sufficiency.

Roles and Responsibilities

The Board’s duty is to comply with the requirements outlined in the Pilotage Act and the Financial Administration Act. As well, it is bound by the applicable Regulations arising from the Acts. Requirements include, but are not limited to:

  1. Fiduciary duty to act honestly and in good faith.
  2. The exercise of prudence, diligence and skill.
  3. Observance of the rules governing the application and disclosure relating to conflict of interest.

While Directors are normally removed from the day-to-day decision making of the Authority, their role is vitally important. Successful corporate governance is directly associated with the degree individuals understand and appreciate the significance of relationships in carrying out their roles and responsibilities as stewards and leaders. In conjunction with the President and CEO, the Board should ensure an appropriate allocation of responsibilities between the Board and Management.

As stewards of the Authority, the Board will:

  • set the strategic direction of the Authority
  • ensure the integrity and adequacy of the Authority’s information systems and management practices
  • ensure the main corporate risks are managed
  • evaluate the Authority’s performance and monitor the Authority’s financial results
  • ensure CEO and executive succession planning is in place
  • be responsible for the overall corporate governance of the Authority

The management of the Authority presents information, seeks advice, and requests the approval of proposals from the Board of Directors. Each Director is called upon to exercise his/her judgement and the independence of his/her position in formulating the Board’s decisions to approve, reject or request deferral of the proposals brought by management.

Challenges, Issues and Initiatives

The Authority’s Board of Directors must ensure that the potentially varying interests and priorities of the shipping industry, vessel owners and operators, ports, government agencies and other service providers are met in a balanced manner consistent with the mandate of the Authority. This is to be accomplished during a period of expected economic pressures affecting traffic levels and increasing challenges regarding sourcing of adequately qualified Pilot candidates.

Core Attributes, Competencies and Experience

In order to carry out its mandate, the Board must possess the necessary credentials to “establish, operate, maintain, and administer in the interest of safety, an efficient pilotage service within the regions set out in respect of the Authority, on a basis of financial self-sufficiency.” Board members, both individually and collectively, must accept and promote and guide management to endorse and reflect the Authority’s stated values of:

  • Honesty and Integrity,
  • Positive Stakeholder Relations,
  • Service Quality – assuring that the highest standards are met,
  • Accountability and Responsibility,
  • Adaptability and Innovation.

Specific Skills, Knowledge and Experience

The Board, collectively, requires a balanced set of skills, knowledge and experience to provide oversight and direction, in the following areas:

  • Strategic Planning
  • Business Leadership
  • Risk Management
  • Human Resources Management
  • Financial Literacy
  • Corporate Governance
  • Social/Environmental/Community Responsibility
  • Government Relations
  • Shipping Industry
  • Project Management
  • West Coast Pilotage
  • Safety Management

Representation

In terms of Board size, structure and representation, the following arrangement continues to provide effective governance for the Authority.

The Authority’s Board of Directors is composed of seven members designed to reflect stakeholder’s diversity and public policy requirements:

  • Two Directors nominated by the Industry
  • Two Directors nominated by the British Columbia Coast Pilots Ltd.
  • Two Directors appointed to represent the public interest
  • An appointed Chair

Working Conditions

The Authority’s Board of Directors meets at regularly scheduled meetings the last Thursday of each month with exception to the months of August and December. The meetings usually take place in the Authority’s office in downtown Vancouver, BC.

The Board of Directors has delegated certain responsibilities to six Committees (Audit Committee; Governance, Nominating and H.R. Committee; Pilot Training and Examination Committee; Pilot Launch & Transportation Safety Committee; Safety and Operating Review Committee, and Enterprise-Wide Risk Management and Emergency Preparedness Committee). Each Director is appointed as Chair to one of these committees, based upon their individual experience and knowledge. Committee meetings are held two to four times per year (or more often, as deemed necessary).

The average time commitment for each Board member, not including the Chair, can vary quite considerably depending upon the committee itself. Some committees are less demanding and a Board member can expect to spend approximately 50 hours per year preparing for and attending meetings. Other committees can utilize up to 150 hours per year of a Board member’s time.

The PPA Board receives Governor-in-Council approved schedule of fees along with Board approved expenses.