Greater Victoria Harbour Authority appoints Jeremy Dunn as CEO to Strengthen Victoria Waterfront Leadership, Port Growth and Cruise Tourism Expansion Strategy

Jeremy Dunn will assume the position of Chief Executive Officer at the Greater Victoria Harbour Authority (GVHA), a crucial organisation in terms of harbour and port development and operation in British Columbia. The effective date of his appointment is 7 July 2026. The role of Dunn, as Chief Executive Officer of GVHA, will play an instrumental part in enhancing Victoria’s harbour and cruise tourism performance.

Having more than two decades’ worth of experience in the field, Dunn will provide GVHA with invaluable expertise in managing harbours and performing various port-related operations.

Strong Port and Infrastructure Expertise Shapes New Leadership Direction

Jeremy Dunn joins GVHA following senior leadership roles at the Hamilton-Oshawa Port Authority (HOPA Ports), where he served as Vice President of Operations. In that role, he oversaw significant commercial expansion across integrated port systems in Ontario. His earlier role as Commercial Vice President involved managing a portfolio of more than 150 commercial tenants and multiple waterfront real estate assets, strengthening port-led economic activity and regional development.

HOPA Ports operates a large-scale network across Hamilton, Oshawa, and the Niagara Region, including more than 1,400 acres of deep-water terminals, warehousing infrastructure, cargo facilities, and multimodal marine-rail connections. Dunn’s experience in this environment is expected to directly support Victoria’s evolving waterfront strategy.

Major Infrastructure Development Background Supports Waterfront Modernisation

During his tenure in Ontario’s port ecosystem, Dunn played a key role in advancing major industrial development projects. These included supporting commercial growth along the Welland Canal corridor, a critical logistics route for Canadian trade and shipping. He also contributed to major investment attraction initiatives, including a $135 million sugar refinery project and a $35 million agrifood terminal upgrade, both of which strengthened regional supply chains and industrial capacity.

Earlier in his career at The Miller Group, Dunn gained experience in transportation construction and civil infrastructure development, adding further depth to his expertise in large-scale infrastructure planning and execution. This combination of port, commercial, and construction experience positions him to address GVHA’s dual mandate of managing both working harbour operations and public waterfront development.

Leadership Transition Comes at Critical Phase for Victoria Harbour Strategy

Dunn succeeds Don Krusel, who served as interim CEO since December 2025 and will now return to the GVHA Board of Directors. During his interim tenure, Krusel supported several strategic initiatives that helped maintain continuity across GVHA’s operational priorities.

The leadership transition comes at a time when Victoria’s harbour is undergoing strategic evolution, balancing commercial port activity, tourism infrastructure, and public waterfront access. As a key asset in British Columbia’s coastal economy, the harbour plays a central role in regional development, supporting marine transport, tourism activity, and cruise ship operations.

Cruise Tourism Positioned as Key Growth Driver for Victoria Waterfront Economy

A major area of focus for GVHA under new leadership is expected to be cruise tourism expansion, which represents one of the most important economic drivers for Victoria’s waterfront. Victoria serves as a major stop on the Pacific cruise route, welcoming thousands of passengers annually from global cruise lines operating between Alaska and the U.S. west coast. Cruise arrivals contribute significantly to the local economy through visitor spending, shore excursions, retail activity, and hospitality demand.

With Dunn’s background in commercial port development and waterfront asset optimisation, GVHA is expected to further enhance its cruise terminal efficiency and passenger experience infrastructure. Improved coordination between port logistics, tourism services, and waterfront attractions could strengthen Victoria’s position as a premium cruise destination in the North American Pacific region.

Enhancing Waterfront Tourism and Passenger Experience Infrastructure

Beyond port operations, Victoria’s harbour plays a major role in the city’s tourism identity, serving as a gateway for international visitors arriving by sea. Cruise tourism brings a seasonal surge in visitor traffic, supporting local businesses, cultural attractions, and guided tour services across the region. As cruise volumes continue to evolve post-pandemic, ports are increasingly investing in modern passenger facilities, streamlined embarkation systems, and enhanced visitor flow management.

Under Dunn’s leadership, GVHA is expected to focus on integrating commercial waterfront development with tourism-driven infrastructure upgrades, ensuring that cruise passengers experience a seamless arrival and departure process. This includes potential improvements in terminal efficiency, waterfront connectivity, and passenger mobility between cruise docks and downtown Victoria.

Strengthening Economic Impact Through Integrated Harbour Development

Victoria’s harbour is not only a tourism hub but also a functioning economic engine supporting marine trade, logistics operations, and waterfront real estate activity. Dunn’s experience managing complex port ecosystems is expected to contribute to a more integrated approach that aligns commercial operations with tourism and community access goals.

This integrated model is increasingly important as global ports evolve into multi-purpose waterfront hubs, balancing industrial activity with public engagement and tourism development. For Victoria, this means strengthening its role as both a cruise destination and a working harbour economy, ensuring long-term sustainability and competitiveness.

Future Outlook: Cruise Growth, Waterfront Innovation, and Global Connectivity

The selection of Jeremy Dunn as the new CEO of GVHA is a significant milestone towards the waterfront development in Victoria. According to the expectations from his position, Dunn is expected to have an impact on three critical areas of growth, which include growth in cruise tourism, infrastructure development, and economic development of the waterfront area. In terms of increasing global demand and growth of the cruise market, Victoria is expected to increase its significance as a major gateway port in the Pacific region.

In the following years, the strategy of GVHA will likely revolve around developing Victoria into a top-notch cruise tourism destination that includes the development of an efficient waterfront ecosystem.

Image Source: Greater Victoria Harbour Authority