Situated within the 10,000 acres of Poole Harbour, the Port of Poole is managed by the Poole Harbour Commissioners. The Trust Port was established by an Act of Parliament in 1895 to conserve, regulate and improve the Port and Harbour of Poole and for the construction of works and other purposes.

Poole Harbour Commissioners currently comprise a board of 12 Trustees (Commissioners) with a staff of some 157. All board members are required to sign a declaration that they will act impartially and make decisions in the best interests of the harbour.

Commissioners' responsibilities'
Poole Harbour Commissioners’ main responsibilities are:

• ensuring that statutory duties are fulfilled, such as maintaining an open Port
• maintaining the shipping channels by surveying, dredging and marking with navigational aids such as buoys and lights
• providing a pilotage service for ships visiting the Harbour
• allocating areas of the Harbour for yacht moorings
• licensing works around the Harbour (e.g. construction of jetties, etc.)
• providing and co-ordinating resources in the event of oil or chemical pollution in the Harbour
• contributing to the management of any maritime emergency in the harbour
• providing a 24 hour manned Harbour Control Office, for harbour traffic management and emergency response
• maintaining and developing Port facilities to retain existing customers and encourage new ones
• offering a full range of cargo handling services
• enforcement of harbour byelaws and keeping them under review
• taking account of the environmental requirements of the Transport and Works Act 1992 and other relevant legislation
• ensuring the safety of harbour users and employees alike
• addressing the obligations placed upon the Trust by legislation including the Waste Disposal Regulations and the Habitats Directive.

Chairman
Richard Lacey was appointed as a Commissioner in October 2004 and Chariman in 2008. He is a Chartered Civil Engineer with a lifetime experience in the Water Supply Industry both in the UK and overseas, where he has held both Executive and Non Executive Directorships in Water Companies. Following early retirement from corporate life he set up his own consulting practice and worked for several years for the United Nations and European Union in Kosovo to restructure the water industry of Kosovo. Richard now holds several non Executive directorships in the voluntary sector to which he devotes about 50% of his time. A keen sailor Richard keeps 2 boats in Poole Harbour.

Chief Executive
Jim Stewart was appointed Chief Executive in 2002. He has been involved in the commercial shipping sector since 1980, and has managed companies since 1990. He acts as a director of Dorset Business and the Poole Arts Trust. He sits on the National Policy Council of the British Chambers of Commerce and is a Council Member of the British Ports Association. Jim was elected a member of the Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers in 1983 and gained an MBA (Master in Business Administration) in 1999.

Vice Chairman
Ian Davies was appointed as a Commissioner in 2003 and Vice Chairman in October 2009. Ian farms shellfish on leased beds in Poole Harbour. He is an honorary member of the Poole & District Fishermen’s Association; having served as Secretary from 1995 to 2002. Ian now administrates the fishermen’s section of the Poole Quay Boat Haven on their behalf.

Commissioner
Peter Burt was appointed as a Commissioners in 1998. Peter has been in the boat business since 1962 and Managing Director of Arthur Bray Limited, the local boatyard, and other business's in Poole since 1970 and was Commodore of the Royal Motor Yacht Club 1995/97. Peter is a cruising sailor and keeps a sailing cruiser and a large dory in Poole. He is the past Chairman of the Poole Harbour watch and a member of he Wessex Marine Business Association. Peter is a fellow of the Royal Society of Arts..

Commissioner

Graham Sutton was appointed as a Commissioner in November 2005 after serving a forty year career in H.M. Customs & Excise. He was on duty in the port for the arrival of the first Ro/Ro ferry in 1973 and later served as Surveyor Poole Customs from 1989 to 1999. Most recently he was appointed as Operational Commander of the National Strike Force where his duties took him to most major British ports and airports. Graham is interested in all matters relating to the harbour and enjoys a wide range of sporting and leisure pursuits. He has a BSc (Hons) Economics.

Commissioner
Michael Mitchell was appointed as a Commissioner in October 2008. Having read Law & Economics at Cambridge University, he developed a career in retailing and from 1982 to 2002 was CEO of the locally based store, Beales plc. Michael now acts as a non-execuitve director and consultant for local retail companies and for Bournemouth and Poole NHS.

Commissioner
Alec Monk was appointed as a Commissioners in november 2009. For more than 40 years Alec has held major posts in a wide range of companies both at home and abroad, including - Director of RTZ, Scottish Eastern Investment Trust, and AEA Investors Inc., and was also Chariman of Charles Wells Ltd. Alec graduated in PPE and his route into senior management was economics, finance, tax and marketing. He is an honorary fellow of both Jesus College and St. Hugh's College, Oxford and is a Foundation Fellow of Murray Edwards College, Cambridge.

Commissioner
Mrs Sarah Welton was appointed a Commissioner in October 2001. Sarah has worked in coastal zone management, marine conservation, training and education, in the UK and abroad, for over 25 years. Sarah is currently a consultant in coastal matters and environmental education and is also an Auxiliary Coastguard, Chairman of the Joint Dorset Marine Committee (Dorset Wildlife Trust/Dorset Coast Forum) and Trustee of the Dorset Wildlife Trust. Sarah has a BSc (Honours) Zoology attained at the University College of Swansea.

Commissioner
Captain Clive Lane has been involved in the port sector for the past 33 years with his previous career spanning 17 years at sea attaining command. In 1992 he changed direction and joined the Port of Southampton. His achievements included the creation of the new container depot, the general management of a bonded warehouse and stevedore operations. In February 2007 Clive moved to Poole as Port Manager bringing his experience to enhance the harbour as a premier port on the south coast and in November 2007 Clive was invited to become a Commissioner.

Commissioner
David Greenslade was first appointed a Commissioner representing the T&GWU in May 2001, and was subsequently reappointed in November 2007. David began his employment with Poole Harbour Commissioners in 1972. His father was the first T&GWU representative to be a Commissioner. As an active trade union member he represents the branch locally and nationally and in 1985 he became Secretary of the Poole Dockers Branch, a position he still holds today. He is also a member of the National Docks & Waterways Committee and a Trustee of the former RDW Pension Fund.

Commissioner

Brian Thomas was appointed a Commissioners in November2009. Brian has worked in the shipping and transport related industry for 30 years. Brian was an Operations and Projects Director of a Poole based shipping company with offices along the south coast of England in the ealry 1990's until he formed his own freight forwarding company based in Poole.

Commissioner
Charles Cunningham was appointed as a Commissioner in November 2007. He worked in the Shipping Industry for most of his career and was Finance Director of P&O Ferries from 1990-2002. He is a qualified accountant and a graduate of Manchester Business School. He uses his boat frequently both in Poole Harbour and further afield. He is also a Non-Executive Director of Poole Hospital.