Senior Leadership
Roelof-Jan (RJ) Steenstra
President and CEO
Roelof-Jan (RJ) Steenstra is an accomplished and award-winning leader who is recognized for driving businesses forward by harnessing innovation, driving revenue diversification, and leveraging strategic insight to propel organizational achievement and growth. With experience across various sectors of business, Mr. Steenstra is most passionate about aviation as evidenced through chief executive roles with both the Red Deer Airport Authority and Fort McMurray Airport Authority. In 2022, Mr. Steenstra assumed the role of President & CEO of PortsToronto, which owns and operates Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport and the marine Port of Toronto, among other assets. Since joining PortsToronto, Mr. Steenstra has driven transformational change at the organization by prioritizing innovation, strategic planning, commercial development, inclusivity, collaboration, employee engagement and sustainability.
Mr. Steenstra’s commitment to the aviation industry and city building has led to such past roles as Co-Chair of the 2023 Arctic Winter Games Bid Committee, Director for the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)/ Airports Council International World (ACI) Community of Practice, and the American Association of Airport Executive’s (AAAE) Northwest Chapter. He is the immediate past Chair of the Policy Board for the Canadian Airports Council.
Mr. Steenstra currently serves as a Director on the Airports Council International – NA (ACI-NA) Board, and also sits on the global board for Airports Council International – World, which represents the collective interests of airports around the world to promote excellence in the aviation industry. In 2024, Mr. Steenstra joined the Advisory Committee for Toronto Global Forum, the Council for the Airports Council International (ACI) Fund, and the Board of Directors for Destination Toronto, which are relevant intersection points between the aviation industry and the industry’s role in the experience economy.
Mr. Steenstra holds a Bachelor of Science in Anthropology and a Bachelor of Arts in Communications from the University of Calgary, as well as an MBA from Royal Roads University. His professional certifications, including the Accredited Airport Executive (AAE) and International Airport Professional (IAP) designations from ICAO/ACI, alongside the Institute of Corporate Directors (ICD.D) designation from the University of Calgary’s Schulich School of Management, reflect his commitment to continuous professional development and leadership excellence.
John Peellegoda
Chief Financial Officer & Senior Vice President of Strategy
John Peellegoda is Chief Financial Officer and Senior Vice President of Strategy for PortsToronto.
Mr. Peellegoda is a strategic financial leader with over 20 years of experience leading corporate finance teams in the infrastructure space, including with such organizations as Greater Toronto Airports Authority (GTAA), Algonquin Power & Utilities Corp, PwC Canada, and various other financial services institutions.
He holds profound expertise in finance, strategic acumen and exceptional leadership qualities. He is a Chartered Accountant and Chartered Professional Accountant and holds an MBA from the Richard Ivey School of Business.
Will Ramjass
Senior Vice President & General Counsel
Will Ramjass is the Senior Vice President and General Counsel for PortsToronto. He joined PortsToronto in March 2023. Mr. Ramjass is an accomplished business lawyer who has practiced extensively in multiple areas of law, with a primary focus on real estate, corporate/commercial and technology law. Prior to joining PortsToronto, he worked in private practice for several years before transitioning to in-house counsel, for such organizations as Tim Hortons, and most recently as the Director and Assistant General Counsel of McDonald’s Restaurants of Canada.
Mr. Ramjass is currently the Chair of the City of Brampton Appeal Tribunal and is a past member of the Board of Directors of Ronald McDonald House Charities Canada. He is also a volunteer coach with the Law Society’s Coach and Advisor Network Program and has participated in a variety of professional mentoring programs over the years. Mr. Ramjass received his Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Windsor and holds an undergraduate degree in Economics from York University.
Deborah Wilson
Vice President, Communications and Public Affairs
Deborah Wilson is Vice President Communications and Public Affairs for PortsToronto. An accomplished business strategist and communications executive, Ms. Wilson has worked in a range of industries including broadcasting, banking, professional services and technology for such companies as Astral Media, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Scotiabank and American Express.
Ms. Wilson holds an undergraduate degree from Western University, a Master of Arts (MA) degree in Communications, Culture and Public Policy from York University, and holds certifications in such areas as marketing, editing and governance. She is an IABC Gold Quill recipient for Excellence in Communications Management and a former board member of the Redpath Waterfront Festival, Canadian Women in Communications, and Youth Media Alliance. She currently sits on the Advisory Council for Hope Air.
Bojan Drakul
Vice President, Infrastructure, Planning and Environment
Bojan Drakul is the Vice President of Infrastructure, Planning and Environment for PortsToronto. He joined PortsToronto in 2018, and has 26 years of experience in the aviation and transportation industry including capital projects / programs management. Mr. Drakul has led major infrastructure projects in Toronto and internationally, with a primary focus on aviation related projects, and has extensive experience liaising with government partners and industry stakeholders to ensure the successful delivery of projects. Prior to joining PortsToronto, he served in various Project Management roles in the aviation consulting industry for a large number of airside and landside development projects in Canada, USA and internationally, most recently as the Senior Project Manager, Aviation at WSP.
Mr. Drakul holds a Bachelor Degree of Applied Science in Civil Engineering from the University of Toronto and is a registered professional engineer in Ontario.
Warren Askew
Vice President, Airport
Warren Askew is the Vice President Airport for PortsToronto. Mr. Askew joined PortsToronto in May 2023, and is an accomplished transportation and infrastructure executive with extensive experience in the aviation industry. He is known as a change initiator, consensus builder and visionary leader. Prior to joining PortsToronto, he served in various management and leadership roles at the John C. Munro Hamilton International Airport, the Greater Toronto Airports Authority, and most recently as the Chief Operating Officer of The Federal Bridge Corporation Limited.
Mr. Askew is in the process of completing an MBA from the University of Fredericton, holds an Honours Aviation Management diploma from Georgian College, and holds certifications in strategic leadership and innovation, and climate governance. He is also a member of the International Association of Airport Executives (IAEE) Canada.
Kelly McDonald
Senior Director, Human Resources
Kelly McDonald is the Senior Director, Human Resources for PortsToronto. An accomplished professional, Ms. McDonald joined PortsToronto in 2014 and has more than 25 years of operational and HR experience working in a range of industries including telecommunications, professional services, retail, non-profit, and transportation.
Ms. McDonald has certifications in areas such as human resources and board governance. She currently serves as a board director for the Mission to Seafarers Southern Ontario and International Longshoreman Health and Welfare Trust, and sits on the Black Aviation Professionals Network’s Alliance – which aims to promote diversity and inclusion in the aviation industry. She is a career mentor to both newcomers to Canada and aspiring HR professionals. Ms. McDonald serves on the CHRL Exam Validation Committee of the Human Resources Professional Association (HRPA) governing body. Ms. McDonald volunteers as a Welcome Team Member at Toronto Pearson International Airport and has served as a panelist on Addressing Barriers to Employment for Immigrant and Racialized Women and Youth led by Achev and Women and Gender Equality Canada.
Ms. McDonald holds the following designations: Certified Human Resources Leader (CHRL) from the Human Resources Professional Association (HRPA) and Masters of Trust Management Standards (MTMS) from the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans (IFEBP).
Sylvain Thériault
Corporate Fire Chief
Sylvain Thériault is the Corporate Fire Chief for PortsToronto. He returned to PortsToronto in April 2023 and is a Senior Fire and Emergency Services Officer with over 37 years of military firefighting, ERS training, ARFF, and corporate experience. Chief Thériault previously served as the Fire Chief/Emergency Response and Planning Manager at Billy Bishop Airport from 2012 to 2015. Prior to returning to PortsToronto, he was the Fire Chief at the Calgary International Airport, and most recently was the Fire Chief for the Saskatoon Airport and Regional Fire Chief for Canadian Operations for Pro-Tec Fire Services Ltd.
Chief Thériault holds a Master’s Degree in Disaster and Emergency Management from Royal Roads University, and has multiple International Fire Service Accreditation Congress (IFSAC) certifications.