Robert Lewis-Manning is a strategic executive with 30+ years of experience in global supply chains, national defence, and regulatory environments. As the former CEO of the Greater Victoria Harbour Authority and the Chamber of Shipping, he spearheaded aggressive growth and market access, led industry-wide responses to national crises, and secured significant public infrastructure funding. He is a dedicated champion for the welfare of seafarers, progressing environmental stewardship, and has negotiated high-stakes international trade agreements.
His leadership is grounded in a 24-year Canadian Armed Forces career, including commanding HMCS VANCOUVER and serving as Chief of Staff Operations for Maritime Headquarters Pacific. Robert also brings entrepreneurial experience as the former CEO of a cleantech start-up, where he led foundational governance and seed capital acquisition.
Robert adopts a “mission-first, people-always” approach to mentoring, focusing on building resilient organizational structures that empower founders to navigate complex stakeholder landscapes. He acts as a collaborative strategic sounding board and is a proponent of group mentoring, providing a forum to leverage multiple perspectives. He helps founders sharpen decision-making, leverage partnerships, and scale with purpose.
An MBA graduate and Chairperson of the Vancouver Maritime Museum, Robert specializes in transparent governance and equity-based partnerships with Indigenous rights holders.
Outside of work, he is an avid backcountry hiker, enjoys sailing, cycling, and golfing, and remains active as a BC Hockey official.
