Port Pod(cast): Leadership Flowing Through Creativity and Impact-Focused Goals
Craig Estabrooks shares how Port Saint John is making its presence known to grow the positive economic and community impact of a deep water port in Saint John, New Brunswick.
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Leadership is not limited to one industry. Strong leaders can grow in any business with the proper support and the space to grow and flex creativity. You only have to listen to how Craig Estabrooks, President and CEO for Port Saint John, speaks about his career path and how they motivate their employees and positively impact economic growth for their community.
Port Saint John is changing the game by increasing the number of container ships they can handle yearly, bringing in the largest cruise ships in the world, educating and entertaining the community and visitors with projects like Area506, and so much more. They are even launching a podcast! All of those projects are powered by strong leaders motivated to make things happen that came out of a re-design of their goals and strategies.
A great conversation that lifts the curtain on how port cities work, how leadership plays a key role in infrastructure and supply chain growth, and how it’s underlined by staying focused on the good for the community.
Craig Estabrooks
President and CEO, Port Saint John
Craig Bell Estabrooks was appointed President & CEO of Port Saint John effective November 22, 2021.
Over the past decade, Craig has worked in progressively responsible leadership positions at Port Saint John. These roles have included managing both government relations and the strategic planning process and being instrumental in the Port’s rebranding. Most recently Craig had been Vice President of Corporate Services, a department which included his former areas of responsibility in government relations and strategic
planning but added leadership of the finance, human resources, and information technology functions for the Port.
Craig holds both a Bachelor of Arts (UNB) and Master of Arts (Dalhousie) in political science. He has recently achieved alumni status at Harvard Business School having completed its Comprehensive Program for Leadership Development (PLDA).
Born and raised in Saint John, Craig is a strong community advocate, he has been awarded both the Community Builder Award by FUSION Saint John (2013) and the YMCA Red Triangle Leader to Watch (2016). Over the past ten years, Craig has contributed his skills on Boards such as Sculpture Saint John, Crescent Valley Resource Centre, Living Saint John, Saint John Learning Exchange, Fort LaTour Development Authority, and Saint John High School Alumni Association.
In the role of President & CEO, Craig will focus on continuing to adapt Port Saint John to major global issues around climate change, energy transition, and supply chain resiliency. He is keenly focused on how we can all continue to grow as a community and Province by leveraging the infrastructure capacity created by the West Side Modernization, as it comes online in 2023. Also, as evidenced by his involvement in this community, Craig is committed to ensuring that the relationship between the Port, City and citizens is at the core of decision making on the waterfront.
Craig is thrilled at the opportunity to work with a dynamic team Board and management team, and with the
innovative and energized group of employees at Port Saint John who commit day-in and day-out to the Port’s core purpose of providing infrastructure and facilitating business which drives economic activity for the region.
Craig and his wife Emily Teed live in Uptown Saint John with their dog Frank.