The Honourable François-Philippe Champagne was elected the Member of Parliament for Saint-Maurice-Champlain on October 19, 2015. A few weeks later, he was appointed Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Finance of Canada, a position he held until January 10, 2017, when he was appointed Minister of International Trade of Canada by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
Businessman, lawyer and international trade specialist, François-Philippe Champagne has more than 20 years of experience in large international companies, particularly in the field of energy, engineering, and innovation. He was Vice-President and Senior Counsel of ABB Group, a leader in cutting-edge technology that operates in more than 100 countries. Later he served as Strategic Development Director, acting General Counsel, and Chief Ethics Officer and Member of the Group Management Committee of AMEC, a world leader in the energy sector.
Mr. S. Iswaran joined the Singapore Administrative Service in 1987. He served in the Ministries of Home Affairs and Education, was seconded to the National Trade Union Congress, and later to the Singapore Indian Development Association as its first Chief Executive Officer. Mr Iswaran was Director for International Trade at the Ministry of Trade and Industry in the lead up to Singapore’s hosting of the WTO Ministerial Conference in 1996. He then joined the private sector, as Director for Strategic Development at Singapore Technologies Pte Ltd. Later, as Managing Director at Temasek Holdings, he undertook investments, takeover, buy-out and merger transactions in the pharmaceuticals, biotech, hitech manufacturing, transport and logistics sectors. Mr. Iswaran has been elected as a Member of Parliament in five General Elections since 2 January 1997. Prior to his Cabinet appointment in 2006, he served on several Government Parliamentary Committees, and as the Deputy Speaker of Parliament from September 2004 to June 2006. Mr. Iswaran is currently the Minister for Trade and Industry (Industry), focusing on economic restructuring, productivity growth, and creating a vibrant domestic economy and enterprise ecosystem. He also oversees the Agency for Science, Technology and Research, Energy Market Authority, International Enterprise Singapore, Singapore Tourism Board, Sentosa Development Corporation and SPRING Singapore. Mr. Iswaran read Economics at the University of Adelaide and graduated with First Class Honours. He also holds a Masters in Public Administration from Harvard University.
Speaker
The Big Picture (Canada and ASEAN – March 22)
Dato Lim Jock Hoi was the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Brunei Darussalam since 2006.
During his tenure, he served as Brunei Darussalam’s Senior Official for the ASEAN Economic Community Pillar (SEOM), APEC (Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation) and the ASEM (Asia-Europe Meeting). He was a member of the High Level Task Force on ASEAN Economic Integration (HLTF-EI) since 2001, serving as the HLTF-EI Chair in 2017. He was Brunei Darussalam’s Chief Negotiator for the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPP), as well as for the P4, precursor to the TPP negotiations. Previously, he was also the Co-Chair during the negotiations for the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Area (AANZFTA), and also served as Brunei Darussalam’s Chief Negotiator for the Brunei Darussalam-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement (BJEPA). From June 2011-2017, he was the Chairman of the Governing Board of the Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA). He was also on the External Advisory Board for the ASEAN 2030 Study being undertaken by the Asian Development Bank (ADB). He entered the Government Service as an education officer in 1977 and served as principal of a Secondary School from 1981 – 1985. From February 2001 – July 2005, he was appointed as Director-General, International Relations and Trade Development, Ministry of Industry and Primary Resources. In September 2005, he was appointed as Deputy Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. He graduated from the City of London Polytechnic in B.Sc (Hons) Economics in 1976 and received his Post Graduate Certificate of Education in 1977. He was awarded The Most Honourable Order of Seri Paduka Mahkota Brunei, second Class (D.P.M.B) in 2007.
Speaker
Building a Smarter Nation (Canada and ASEAN – March 22)
Ms. Humera Malik is the founder and CEO of Canvass Analytics, where she drives the vision and strategy for changing the way industrial companies think about and use operational data. Humera has worked with some of the largest businesses around the world to transform their business strategies, enter new markets and create new revenue streams. Specifically, Humera has worked with Microsoft, AT&T and Bell Enterprise where she was responsible for defining innovative enterprise business solutions targeting several key industries – Transport, Manufacturing, Retail and Energy. Humera has received various recognitions with most recent being a recipient of the Women of M2M/IoT award and is a sought-after entrepreneur and expert to speak about the impact of industrial artificial intelligence on the global economy.
Moderator
Building Trust in Business, and How Trusted is Canada in Asia (Canada and ASEAN – March 22)
Ms. Marie-Louise Hannan was appointed ambassador to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) on January 16, 2016. Prior she was consul and senior trade commissioner at the Canadian consulate general in Sydney, Australia (2013-2016). She joined the Canadian Foreign Service in 1997 and has represented Canada on postings to Malaysia, Taiwan and the United States, as well as during assignments to China and India. In Ottawa, Ms. Hannan has worked on the China desk, as Director of Trade Commissioner Service renewal and as senior policy adviser to the assistant deputy minister for International Business Development, Investment and Innovation. From 2011-2012, she worked in the Privy Council Office as a foreign policy analyst and was responsible for the United States and for energy files. She studied Chinese at National Taiwan Normal University and is fluent in Mandarin.
Speaker
Engaging Governments in South East Asia (Canada and ASEAN – March 22)
Ms. Melissa Kennedy joined Sun Life in 2014 and is responsible for the company’s enterprise legal, compliance, corporate secretarial and public affairs functions. Melissa has received a number of awards and recognition for her exemplary leadership and focus on building sustainable, healthier communities. In 2017, Melissa received the Outstanding Contribution to the Legal Profession award from Chambers Canada for her work championing the integration of sustainability principles into Sun Life’s corporate DNA. Melissa is also the recipient of multiple honours from the Canadian General Counsel Awards. In 2017, she received the Environmental, Social and Governance award in recognition of her contributions to Sun Life’s sustainability program and in 2012, was named Canadian General Counsel of the Year.
The Honourable Jean Charest, as a former Deputy Prime Minister of Canada and a former Premier of Québec, Jean Charest is one of Canada’s best known political figures. The Honourable Jean Charest was notably the initiator of the negotiation for the Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic Trade Agreement (CETA). Furthermore, the Charest government initiated an unprecedented labour mobility agreement between France and Québec and was best known for a major initiative for the sustainable development of Northern Québec called “Plan Nord”. Jean Charest is a Partner at McCarthy Tétrault. He provides invaluable expertise to the firm’s clients with his in-depth knowledge and experience with public policy, corporate Canada and international matters.
Speaker
The Big Picture (Canada and ASEAN – March 22)
Mr. Dang Huy Dong was assisting the Minister in guiding the following fields: state-owned enterprise reorganization and renewal, small and medium-sized enterprise development, business registration, socio-economic development master planning, collective economic development, cooperatives, IT application in the Ministry and other assignments allocated by the Minister. Mr. Dang Huy Dong was in charge of supervising the Northern Central region, Central Coastal region and the Central pivotal economic zone. He was participating in the inter-sectorial committees established by the Government and Prime Minister related to the domain of responsibility or assigned by the Minister, and directly supervising the following departments: Enterprise Development Agency, Business Registration Management Agency, Department of Planning Management, Department of Cooperative, Informatics Centre, Department of Legislation, Public procurement Agency, and Foreign Investment Agency.
Ms. Lynn McDonald (BA, Trinity College, University of Toronto; LL.B, University of Toronto) joined the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade in 1996. After working in both the Legal and Trade Policy Bureaux of DFAIT from 1996-1999, she took up a position as Legal Advisor to Canada’s Permanent Mission to the World Trade Organization in Geneva, Switzerland from 1999-2002. From 2005-2009, she served as Counsellor and Head of the Trade Policy Section at the Embassy of Canada in Washington, D.C., USA. Ms. McDonald was Director of the Intellectual Property Trade Policy Division at Global Affairs Canada headquarters from 2011-2014. In 2014, she became Consul and Senior Trade Commissioner at the Consulate General of Canada in Hong Kong and Macao. Ms. McDonald was appointed as High Commissioner to Singapore in 2016.
Speaker
Politics of Trade and Investment $ Building a Smarter Nation (Canada and ASEAN – March 22)
Ms. Jan De Silva is a seasoned international business executive with a proven track record of excelling in on the-ground leadership roles. As President & CEO of the Toronto Region Board of Trade, Jan is spearheading efforts to make Toronto one of the most competitive and sought-after business regions in the world. Prior to joining the Board, Jan spent 14 years in leadership roles in Asia. She served as CEO of Sun Life Financial’s Hong Kong subsidiary and Mainland China joint venture. She co-founded and was CEO of Retail China Limited, which was acquired in 2010. She later served as Dean of Ivey Asia, leading the Hong Kong campus and Asia operations of Ivey Business School of Western University.
Speaker
The Big Picture (Canada and ASEAN – March 22)
The Hon . John Manley is a former Deputy Prime Minister of Canada. He was first elected to Parliament in 1988, and re-elected three times. From 1993 to 2003 he was a Minister in the governments of Jean Chrétien, serving in the portfolios of Industry, Foreign Affairs, and Finance, in addition to being Deputy Prime Minister. Following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, Mr. Manley was named Chair of a Cabinet Committee on Public Security and Anti-terrorism, serving as counterpart to Governor Tom Ridge, the first U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security. After a 16-year career in politics, Mr. Manley returned to the private sector in 2004. Since leaving government, Mr. Manley has continued to be active in public policy, as a media commentator, speaker and adviser to governments of differing political stripes. In addition to his role as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Council, Mr. Manley serves on the boards of several publicly traded companies and is active in the not-for-profit sector. An Officer of the Order of Canada, Mr. Manley has received honorary doctorates from Carleton, York and Western universities, and the universities of Ottawa, Toronto and Windsor.
Speaker
Engaging Governments in South East Asia (Canada and ASEAN – March 22)
Mr. Robert Asselin joined BlackBerry in 2017 as Senior Global Director, Public Policy. He was recently appointed Senior Fellow at the School of Public Policy and Governance at the University of Toronto and at the Public Policy Forum in Ottawa. For the last two years, he served as Policy and Budget Director to Canada Finance Minister. From 2007 to 2015, Mr. Asselin was the Associate Director of the Graduate School of Public and International Affairs at the University of Ottawa. In 2014, he was a Visiting Public Policy Scholar at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars in Washington, D.C.
Speaker
Politics of Trade and Investment (Canada and ASEAN – March 22)
The Hon. Wayne G. Wouters is a Strategic and Policy Advisor with McCarthy Tétrault LLP. Before joining the private sector, Mr. Wouters was the Clerk of the Privy Council, Secretary to the Cabinet, and Head of the Public Service of Canada. Appointed by Prime Minister Harper, Mr. Wouters served from July 1, 2009 until October 3, 2014, at which time he retired from the Public Service of Canada. Mr. Wouters has an Undergraduate Bachelor of Commerce degree at the University of Saskatchewan and a Master’s Degree in Economics from Queen’s University. He has also held progressively senior positions in several departments including the Department of Finance and the Privy Council Office.
Speaker
Infrastructure (Canada and ASEAN – March 22)
Ms. Karen Cvornyek is the Regional Managing Principal, Asia at B+H Architects. Karen has been practicing architecture in Asia, Canada, England, Japan, Italy, Germany and the United Arab Emirates. She graduated from the University of Waterloo, Canada in 1987. Karen joined B+H Architects as a Partner in 2002. She relocated to the Shanghai Studio in 2003 to oversee an unprecedented period of growth in Asia. Involved in planning, architectural and interior design, and project management, she currently oversees nearly 200 staff members at B+H’s operations in Singapore, Vietnam, Hong Kong and China. A regular speaker at major events & conferences, Karen has delivered thought leadership pieces sharing insight on the business of architecture and educating the public on the role of architecture and its global impact.
Speaker
SMU Study on Legal Barriers in ASEAN (Canada and ASEAN – March 22)
Ms. Locknie Hsu is a full Professor of Law at Singapore Management University (SMU). She completed her LL.B. studies at the National University of Singapore (NUS), and Harvard University.
Locknie specializes in international trade, investment and ASEAN integration law. She is a Research Fellow in the International Academy of the Belt and Road (Hong Kong) and a member of the Advisory Panel of the Vietnamese Chamber of Commerce in Singapore. In the ASEAN Law Association, Locknie is Chair of the Trade and Investment Group, a member of the Legal Harmonization Working Group, and the Singapore National Committee’s Executive Council. In the International Law Association, she is a co-rapporteur of the Committee on Sustainable Development and the Green Economy.
Speaker
Country Specific Session -Singapore (Canada and ASEAN – March 22)
Ms. Nathalie Benzing is the Chief Operating Officer at TradeGecko, a fast-growing Singapore startup providing a SaaS inventory and order management platform solution for SME brand owners and distributors. Nathalie’s focus is on driving, supporting and enabling TradeGecko’s aggressive expansion plans to better serve its global customer base. Prior to this, Nathalie spent six years as Autodesk’s Global Head of Acquisition Integration within their Corporate Development team. In this and her previous role, as Autodesk’s EMEA Integration Lead, she led more than 60 merger integrations, from due diligence through to integration completion. Prior to joining Autodesk she held a number of IT Programme and Project Management roles focusing on CRM and ERP implementations working with clients such as NIKE and Philips Healthcare (formerly ADAC Laboratories).
Speaker
(Women’s Leadership – Transforming Business– March 21)
Ms Le Hoang Lan, is co-founder of LABO, a start up with the mission to bring comprehensive financial solutions to Vietnamese individuals and families through a user-friendly, one-stop shop approach enabled by advanced technology. Relocating to Asia in 1997 as co-founder and member of the Board of Directors at Prudential Vietnam Insurance Company, she led the company from start-up to 50,000 staff within 10 years. Her deep understanding of the importance of human relationships in the workplace and in financial services led her to pursue her interests in the culinary, healthcare and wellness industries.
Ms Le Hoang Lan trained in marketing management at McGill University in Canada and holds an MBA from the Henley Business School at the University of Reading, UK.
Speaker
Transitioning to Clean Technologies (Canada andASEAN – March 22)
Mr. Adrian Lembong is the Director of Technology of PT. Adaro Power, a subsidiary of PT. Adaro Energy, Tbk. Mr. Lembong worked at Elf Autochem, Sudchemie AG, PT. Adaro Indonesia, and PT. Adaro Power, with placements in France, Germany, Mexico and Jakarta. Through the efforts of Adrian and his team of highly professional experts, PT. Adaro Power have achieved several accomplishments, which include the 2×30 MW Captive Coal Fired Power Plant in South Kalimantan (run by PT. Makmur Sejahtera Wisesa), the 2×1000 MW CFPP mega project in Central Java (run by PT. Bhimasena Power Indonesia), and the 2×100 MW CFPP in South Kalimantan (run by PT. Tanjung Power Indonesia).
Speaker
Driving Global Innovation (Canada and ASEAN – March 22)
Mr. Allen Gilstrap is a senior financial services industry executive with global experience in the creation and management of new digital payment businesses. Mr. Gilstrap currently serves as CEO of Ongo, a smartphone app-enabled digital payment network in Myanmar. The Ongo Network consists of agent service points, FMCG distributors, wholesalers, merchants, social media, employers, payment processors, mobile airtime distributors, utility companies and e-commerce retailers. Prior to Ongo, Mr. Gilstrap served as CEO of OpenRevolution, a leading mobile payment Fintech provider that implemented over 40 mobile, digital financial service projects in 25 countries. Previously, Mr. Gilstrap served as General Manager and Vice President for American Express in London leading the Global Network Services’ Smart Solution business. Mr. Gilstrap is based in Yangon, Myanmar.
For over 15 years, Mr. Alex Capri has been a trusted advisor to the world’s leading companies, throughout Asia and beyond, on international trade strategies, supply- chain optimization and cross-border risk management. From 2007-2012, Alex was the Asia Pacific Partner-in Charge for KPMG’s International Trade & Customs practice. He has advised MNEs in more than 50 countries and in some of the most challenging business environments in the world. Alex earned a M.Sc. from the London School of Economics, in International Political Economy. He holds a B.Sc. in International Relations, from the University of Southern California. He is currently conducting research on the tectonic changes impacting international value chains.
Speaker
Transitioning to Clean Technologies (Canada and ASEAN – March 22)
Dr. Anthony Watanabe has spent the past 15 years working at the forefront of sustainability. Adept at connecting dots and data to originate opportunities, he is an incorrigible glass half full eco-preneur. While based in Canada, he developed CSR strategies for multinational companies, built low carbon roadmaps in Latin America, pioneered the country’s leading water conference, and helped cleantech companies with strategies for accessing new markets. Since arriving in Asia, he has been helping Canadian cleantech companies in energy, water and air quality access the dynamic markets of ASEAN. Under his leadership, ACI is also working with global brands to help green the considerable supply chain here in the region.
Speaker
Engaging Governments in South East Asia (Canada and ASEAN – March 22)
Mr. Aaron Franz is the Managing Director of Vriens & Partners’ head office in Singapore. Vriens & Partners is Southeast Asia’s leading government affairs consulting firm, with offices in Jakarta, Bangkok, Hanoi, Kuala Lumpur, Manila, Yangon and Phnom Penh. Aaron advises multinational companies on government affairs and political risk in sectors ranging from health care to disruptive technology to toys. Aaron has lived in the region for over 15 years, including the past 10 years in Singapore. He holds a master’s degree in international studies from the National University of Singapore and studied Mandarin for two years at Fo Guang University in Taiwan.
Speaker
Building Trust in Business, and How Trusted is Canada in Asia (Canada and ASEAN – March 22)
Mr. Bill Brown joined Export Development Canada (EDC) in 1995 and has more than 20 years of international finance, trade, insurance and business development experience. In early 2015, he was appointed Regional Vice-President, International Business Development, Asia, based in Singapore. Prior to his most recent appointment, Mr. Brown was the Regional Vice-President, Americas. Before joining EDC, Mr. Brown also worked at Bell Canada in Montreal as a Financing Manager and at one of Bell Canada’s subsidiaries, Telesat Canada in Ottawa as Manager, Treasury. Mr. Brown holds a Masters of Business Administration degree from the University of Victoria Wellington, New Zealand and a Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) degree from Queens’s University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada. Mr. Brown also holds a Charter Professional Accountant (CPA) designation.
Moderator
Politics of Trade and Investment (Canada and ASEAN – March 22)
Mr. Bill Tarrant has spent the past 32 years working in almost every country in Asia for Reuters, as a correspondent, bureau chief and editor. He was Asia’s first Enterprise Editor for Reuters and oversaw special reports that won a number of international awards, including Reuters first Pulitzer Prize for text in 2014. He is the author of a book about the Jakarta Post, an English-language daily he helped to start in 1983. For the past two years, he has been a top news editor, editing major initiative pieces on topics ranging from Islamic politics in Indonesia and Malaysia, the North Korea missile crisis and the impact of Trump’s policies on Asia to the IMDB scandal and issues around foreign banking in the region. Born in Springfield, Mass., Bill also has Irish citizenship and holds an MA from the University of Missouri School of Journalism.
Speaker
Country Specific Session -Singapore (Canada and ASEAN – March 22)
Ms. Chelsea Guy is the Executive Director at the Canadian Chamber of Commerce in Singapore. She supports members to build valuable in-market contacts in Singapore, while facilitating business ties between the Canada-Singapore business communities. Prior to this, Chelsea was the Marketing Manager at L’OCCITANE en Provence Singapore Pte Ltd. In her previous role, Chelsea was appointed Business Development Manager at Medi Myanmar Group Ltd., in Yangon, Myanmar. She played a lead role in developing its retail division and was responsible for launching retail brands, opening retail shops and initiating B2B distribution for several International retail brands. Born in Vancouver, Chelsea holds an MBA from Simon Fraser University and a Bachelor’s in Human Kinetics from the University of British Columbia.
Speaker
Infrastructure (Canada and ASEAN – March 22)
Mr. Chris Birdsong is the chief executive officer for SNC-Lavalin’s Engineering, Design and Project Management business in Asia Pacific.
Prior to the acquisition of Atkins by SNC-Lavalin in July 2017, Chris held the role of regional CEO for Atkins in Asia Pacific, leading the strategic development of the region in key growth markets. Prior to that, Chris held a number of senior leadership roles in Atkins. Chris previously worked for Bechtel, a leading construction and project management firm, for over 33 years in large scale project development and delivery in several business sectors, including infrastructure, transport, oil and gas, power generation, heavy industries and telecommunications. Chris is a fellow of the Institute of Business Consulting (IBC) and is on the IBC Council.
Moderator
Driving Global Inovation (Canada and ASEAN – March 22)
Mr. Craig Brown is a partner with Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP, and an active member of several practice groups including Securities and Mergers & Acquisitions and the Asia Pacific Practice Group. Craig’s expertise is in the areas of mergers and acquisitions and corporate finance in both the public and private market contexts. Craig is a member of the leadership team driving Fasken’s International Emerging Technologies Practice and a member of its national Blockchain Task Force. Craig represents some of Canada’s most dynamic entrepreneurs who are breaking new ground in multiple areas including blockchain, artificial intelligence, medical devices and antibody engineering. Recognized by the Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory, he is a Member of the Canada India Business Council and the Canadian Venture Capital Association.
Speaker
Building a Smarter Nation (Canada and ASEAN – March 22)
Mr. David Wynne has over thirty five years’ experience in international business development, venture capital, fund management and business operations. He served as a senior diplomat for Canada in Korea, Japan and Singapore, and has since held senior management and Board positions in several hi-tech, investment and fund management companies.
He holds a BA from Concordia University,and an MA (Public Admin) from Carleton University. He has served on the Executive Committee of the Singapore Venture Capital Association, the Executive Council of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce in Singapore, and was a founding member of the Singapore Biotech Association.
He presently leads Greentech Asia Pte Ltd, is President and CEO of Inuktun Asia Pte Ltd, and Director of Upstream Ventures and other non-exec Directorships.
Mr. Jacques holds the position of Deputy Vice-President, International Development at National Bank of Canada. He is responsible for managing the Bank’s portfolio of international investments and developing ancillary business opportunities.
Mr. Jacques started his career as an auditor at PricewaterhouseCoopers. In 2010 Mr. Jacques joined National Bank of Canada.
Mr. Jacques has a sound knowledge of the banking industry, having spent 15 years advising financial institutions on transactions and partnerships. Over the years, he has been based in Montreal, London, Paris and in the Silicon Valley (USA). In April 2016, Mr. Jacques was appointed to the Board of Directors of ABA Bank.
Speaker
Engaging Governments in South East Asia (Canada and ASEAN – March 22)
Ms. Émilie Potvin currently heads Uber’s public policy efforts in SouthEast and North Asia. Previously, Émilie served as Vice President, Public Affairs and Stakeholder Relations at the Canadian Chamber of Commerce- Canada’s most influential business association and acted as Canada’s Sherpa to the B20 Coalition- the Business group affiliated to the G20 and G8. Prior to that, Emilie served as Chief of staff to ministers in the Canadian Government and held many positions in the private sector with Bombardier and CAE. Emilie began her career as a Foreign Service Officer. She holds an MBA in International Management from HEC Montréal.
Moderator
Country Specific Session – Invest in Canada (Canada and ASEAN – March 22)
Ms. Franca Ciambella is trained in law and business in Canada, New York and Singapore. Franca was one of the first foreign lawyers to gain admission to the Singapore Bar. Her legal career of 27 years encompasses being a partner at a major Canadian law firm, General Counsel for Asia for a US based Fortune 500 corporation, and since 2010, being Managing Director of Consilium Law Corporation. Consilium represents clients doing business in ASEAN and Canada, in diverse sectors. Franca’s expertise lies in corporate and commercial law, contracts, technology law, fintech, cross border M & A, foreign investment law, and international trade. Her focus is on technology projects and a cutting edge multi-jurisdictional practice in cryptocurrency and ICOs.
Speaker
(Women’s Leadership – Transforming Business– March 21)Ms.
Marie-Claude Dumas is President of SNC-Lavalin’s Clean Power sector, which develops and manages hydro, wind, solar, transmission & distribution, energy storage and telecommunications & security solutions across the world. Ms. Dumas first joined SNC-Lavalin in 2006 and went on to hold increasingly senior positions, including Vice-President – Operations and Executive Vice-President of the Hydro business unit. Throughout her tenure, her emphasis has been on growing this business in Canada and in key international markets. Before assuming her current position, Ms. Dumas was Executive Vice-President – Human Resources for SNC-Lavalin. There, she led key strategic business initiatives to foster a stronger constructive and empowered corporate culture, including the launch of a diversity and inclusion program. Marie-Claude holds a Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering and a Master’s degree in Hydrogeological Engineering, as well as a Master’s of Business Administration.
Moderator
Aerospace (Canada and ASEAN – March 22)
Mr. Francis St-Louis is a dynamic and cross-cultural business leader entrusted to build and grow profitable business. Trained as a lawyer, Francis holds graduate and undergraduate degrees from the University of Montreal in Canada. Francis has nearly 20 years of experience in legal services, strategy, marketing, sales and business development in the aviation and aerospace sector. His international experience includes programs and pursuits in the Americas, Europe, Asia (China, India, SEA, North East Asia), and Australia. Francis is located in Singapore and works for Rockwell Collins as a Principal Strategic Development Manager.
Speaker
Politics of Trade and Investment (Canada and ASEAN – March 22)
Mr. Gordon Brown, member of the Canadian House of Commons representing Ontario as a Conservative member. Mr. Brown was elected to Parliament in 2004 and has been re-elected in three subsequent elections. Currently, in 2014, he is Chair of the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage and is the House of Commons Chair of the Canada-United States Inter-Parliamentary Group. He is a member of the Trilateral Commission. He also sits on several all-party caucuses focusing on rural, health, border and other issues. He has also participated in numerous Parliamentary Groups. He was chosen in an earlier Parliament by Prime Minister Stephen Harper to Chair the Special Committee that reviewed the Anti-Terrorism Act. He was also chosen in an earlier Parliament by Prime Minister Stephen Harper to Chair the Ontario Conservative Caucus.
Speaker
The Latest on the Free Trade Agreement in South East Asia (Canada and ASEAN – March 22)
Mr. Eduardo Pedrosa is the Secretary General of the Pacific Economic Cooperation Council and coordinator of its report on the State of the Region. Mr. Pedrosa first joined PECC as its Director (Policy Program) in 2001 where his responsibilities included the management and coordination of the Council’s research program. Before moving to Singapore, he was the coordinator of the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung’s Southeast Asia cooperation program based in Manila and also the co-editor of its journal on regional economics and politics. He has also worked for the government of the Philippines and the Economist Intelligence Unit. He is a graduate of the London School of Economics.
Speaker
Financial Services (Canada and ASEAN – March 22)
Mr. Hal Bosher is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Yoma Bank headquartered in Yangon, Myanmar. Over the past five years he has forged partnerships with the International Finance Corporation (IFC), Telenor, GIZ and the Livelihoods and Security Trust Fund (LIFT) while growing the Bank’s assets by over $1.5B USD. Prior to joining Yoma Bank, Mr. Bosher spent 10 years with the World Bank Group. Most recently, he was MIGA’s Regional Representative for Northern Asia based in Hong Kong. He is a Member of the Board of Directors of Wave Money Myanmar, a joint venture between Telenor and Yoma Bank as well as a member of the Serge Pun and Associates Executive Committee. A Canadian national, Mr. Bosher holds a BA in economics and political science from McGill University; an MA in International Finance and Southeast Asian Studies from the John Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS); and an MBA from IESE Business School.
Moderator
Building Trust in Business, and How Trusted is Canada in Asia (Canada and ASEAN – March 22)
Mr. Iain Twine leads Edelman’s Reputation business across Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa, overseeing 700 professionals across the area of reputation, public affairs and issues management. Iain previously oversaw the six Edelman offices and over 400 staff in Southeast Asia and Australasia. Before relocating to his current base of Singapore, Iain was the general manager of Edelman’s operations across the Middle East and Africa until June 2013. He was the first employee of Edelman’s Middle East operations and grew the business into what the Middle East PR Association and The Holmes Report named Middle East Agency of the Year. Iain has extensive experience in the field of government relations, reputation management, market entry, media relations, training and policy development.
Speaker
Transitioning to Clean Technologies (Canada and ASEAN – March 22)
Ms. Jane Kearns is a senior advisor with MaRS Cleantech. She is a recognized leader in sustainable innovation and has extensive experience growing companies at the intersection of business and sustainability. She co-founded, grew and profitably sold a full-service renewable energy company, and leverages over 20 years of experience in the cleantech, finance and sustainability sectors to help build businesses that matter. She has advised entrepreneurs and executives on project and equity financing, M&A, strategic planning and business development. Jane is a co-founder of the CanadaCleantech Alliance, a board director at the Water Technology Acceleration Project (WaterTAP) and sits on advisory boards for the MaRS Catalyst Fund, Standup Ventures, Shell’s Quest Climate Grant and the Pembina Institute’s UnGALA. Jane holds an MBA from Columbia University.
Speaker
Financial Services (Canada and ASEAN – March 22)
Mr. Jay Jobanputra is responsible for overseeing all business activities in the Asia-Pacific region for TD Securities. He has over 25 years of experience in the financial markets, holding leadership positions for the last ten years. Prior to joining TD Securities in Singapore, Jay held various positions within TD Bank Group in Sydney, Singapore, Toronto, and New York. Jay is also a Director of Toronto Dominion (South East Asia) Limited, Toronto Dominion Australia Limited, TD Securities (Japan) Co., Ltd, and Yieldbroker Pty Limited. Jay holds a Master of Business Administration from the Schulich School of Business, Toronto and Bachelor of Arts with York University, Toronto.
Speaker
Infrastructure (Canada and ASEAN – March 22)
Mr. Jesse Satria Oeni, Divisional Director for the Project Development Division of International Enterprise (IE) Singapore. Prior to his current position he spent 3 years as IE’s Centre Director in Jakarta. Mr. Satria’s career in IE Singapore has focused on emerging markets in Southeast Asia. He have also spent 3.5 years in the Southeast Asia Group, covering markets including Thailand, Laos & Myanmar.
Mr. Satria holds an MSc in Economics from the London School of Economics and Political Science, where he also completed his undergraduate studies in Economics.
Speaker
Driving Global Innovation (Canada and ASEAN – March 22)
Dr. Julia Fan Li has a lifelong passion for oncology R&D, innovative finance and biomedical innovation. She is motivated to translate scientific ideas into new medicines for patients. At Seven Bridges, she helps build self-improving AI software to analyze millions of genomes.The Seven Bridges platform enables whole genome analyses for precision medicine. Previously, she helped originate, launch and manage the pioneering $108mm Global Health Investment Fund that focuses on biomedical innovation for diseases which disproportionately affect the poor. Julia completed her PhD at the University of Cambridge as a Gates Scholar, holds a BCOM (honors) in finance and immunology from the University of British Columbia and has worked in the life sciences across four continents.
Mr. Kai Ostwald is an assistant professor in the School of Public Policy & Global Affairs and the Department of Political Science at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver. He was the director of UBC’s Centre for Southeast Asia Research from 2014-2016. Prior to attaining a PhD from the University of California (San Diego), he spent several years working in the private sector in Southeast Asia. His research focuses broadly on the political economy of the ASEAN region. In addition to this research, he is involved in development projects throughout the region with several partners, including Canada’s International Development Research Centre (IDRC) and the CABC. Prior work for the CABC includes the 2016 Canada-ASEAN Business Outlook report and contributions to the 2017 Canada-ASEAN Free Trade Agreement feasibility study.
Speaker
SMEs in a Global Environment (Canada and ASEAN – March 22)
Moderator
Infrastructure (Canada and ASEAN – March 22)
Mr. Klaus Houben joined Export Development Canada (EDC) in September 2010 and was recently appointed EDC’s Chief Representative South East Asia based in Singapore. When joining EDC in 2010 he started as EDC’s Senior Regional Manager – Europe. He headed the representation in Dusseldorf, Germany. Mr. Houben has nearly 30 years’ experience in the banking industry serving corporate customers from medium sized enterprises to multinationals. Prior to joining EDC’s International Business Development Group, Mr. Houben worked as a self-employed Consultant specialized in corporate finance developing financing strategies for corporate customers and supporting them in the arrangements of loans. Before that Mr. Houben was a Member of the Board of Directors of PB Firmenkunden AG, the corporate banking unit of Deutsche Postbank AG, the German Postbank.
Inspirational Speech 6
Transforming Business (Women’s Leadership – – March 22)
Ms. Lavinia Thanapathy is the President of PrimeTime Business & Professional Women’s Association, a volunteer‐led non‐profit organization. She also serves on the Executive Board of the Singapore Council for Women’s Organisations (SCWO), the national co‐ordinating body for women’s organisations in Singapore. Lavinia speaks persuasively about the business case for inclusion and is regularly invited to comment on current gender issues by the media. She is recognised for her contribution to the discussion around Women in Leadership. Professionally, Lavinia has an international, 17‐year record of creating brand visibility for businesses, government institutions and not‐for‐profit organisations. A lawyer by training, Lavinia is currently the Associate Director for Communications at the National University of Singapore’s Faculty of Law.
Speaker
Supply Chain / Logistics (Canada and ASEAN – March 22)
Mr. Michael Nicholas is the Managing Director of British Columbia’s Trade and Investment Office based in Singapore and covering Malaysia as well. He has spent 12 years living and working in Southeast Asia as a management consultant to international companies and as an exporter. Most recently, Michael was Country Manager – Singapore as well as Lead of the firm’s trade and investment team based in Shanghai. Prior to this, Michael was at Trade & Invest British Columbia as Senior Director – Natural Resources and Director for India & Southeast Asia. Michael has an MBA from INSEAD, a post-graduate diploma on Management in Asia from Simon Fraser University and a degree in Southeast Asian Studies from UBC.
Speaker
Building a Smarter Nation (Canada and ASEAN – March 22)
SMEs in a Global Environment (Canada and ASEAN – March 22)
Mr. Luis Gonzalez is the Leader for Element AI in ASEAN responsible for the Operations and growth strategy in the region. Luis is an enterprise Industry Software Professional with 20 years of experience in Digital Transformation Advisory, involved with over 40 customers advising on developing and executing their software solutions roadmap within Asia Pacific, North/ South America, Europe and the Middle East. Prior to joining Element, Luis was the Chief Customer Success GE Digital and Chief Digital Officer for GE Power in Asia, responsible for sales, go to market strategy, client relationships and delivery. Luis has a graduate diploma from MIT with an undergrad from University of Victoria of a Commerce /Computer Science and a specialization in CUHK.
Speaker
The Big Picture (Canada and ASEAN – March 22)
Ms. Mairead Lavery joined Export Development Canada in 2014, taking on the role of Senior Vice President for Business Development, where she has a lead role in expanding the crown corporation’s impact for Canadian exporters doing business in almost two hundred countries, across all industrial sectors. She came to EDC from Bombardier, after sixteen years of assuming roles of increasing responsibility. These positions included Vice-President Finance, Vice-President Strategy, as well as V-P Business Development and Structured Finance for Bombardier’s Aerospace Group and, finally, as V-P Transformation and Shared Services. Mairead is a native of Northern Ireland, where she earned her degree in Management and Accounting from Queen’s University Belfast. She is also a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Ireland.
Speaker
Driving Global Innovation (Canada and ASEAN – March 22)
Dr. Mohammad Keyhani is an Assistant Professor in Strategy and Entrepreneurship at the Haskayne School of Business, University of Calgary and a David Rockefeller Fellow at the Trilateral Commission. He is the maker of the Entrepreneur Tools website, an internationally renowned list of resources for start-ups and entrepreneurs and a co-founder of ProspectRenewables.com, a FinTech start-up that aims to automate the financial analysis of renewable energy electricity production projects. He also serves as a policy advisor to the Iranian-Canadian Congress. Dr. Keyhani received his doctorate in strategic management from the Schulich School of Business, York University in Toronto, Canada, and has a M.Sc. in Entrepreneurship and B.Sc. in Applied Mathematics, both from the University of Tehran, Iran.
Spekaer
Aerospace (Canada and ASEAN – March 22)
Mr. Nadzri Hashim joined AirAsia in May 2005 as a Technical Services Manager. In March 2016, he was appointed as the Country Head of Engineering in Malaysia. Prior to joining AirAsia, Nadzri was a Technical Services Engineer at Emirates Airlines, part of a team responsible for all strategic configuration and repair of the airline’s wide body cabin interiors. His team was also responsible for the introduction of AirAsia Airbus A320 into service. Nadzri obtained a Bachelor of Science in Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering from the Ohio State University, in the US. He also holds a DCA Design Organization Certification and Verification Engineer Approval, the Head of Design Organization and was a Part M Continuing Airworthiness Nominated Holder.
Speaker
Politics of Trade and Investment (Canada and ASEAN – March 22)
As Managing Director and Regional Head, Asia Pacific. Mr. Peter Heidinger is responsible for the regional management of Scotiabank’s wholesale banking operations in Asia and Australia. Peter joined Scotiabank in June 2015. Before joining the Bank, he was Global Head of FIG at Standard Chartered. Prior to that he held senior coverage and product roles at Citigroup in Asia and Europe and was a Senior Credit Officer at Citi. Peter holds an MBA from Concordia University, a Master’s degree in Economics from The University of Western Ontario and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from Bishop’s University.