11th TransPacific Entrepreneurial Conference

Welcome

Event Details

Joining Virtually:

Conference Link:https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81815960161

Webinar ID: 818 1596 0161

11th Transpacific Entrepreneurial Conference

The Pursuit of the Next Decade: TransPacific Collaboration:

Hong Kong SuperConnecting Asia and Canada

A Hybrid In-Person & Virtual Conference in Hong Kong, Across Asia and Canada

The Annual Transpacific Entrepreneurial Conference is one of the Canadian Chamber's exclusive initiatives and signature events. Hong Kong's reputation as a renowned international business and financial centre has always provided a launching ground for overseas business. Thus, we launched the Conference in 2014 to promote Hong Kong as a platform for growth-seeking Canadian companies, entrepreneurs, start-ups and industries of different types and sizes. The overall aim is to increase trade and investment between Asia and Canada.

The Conference is hosted by the Canadian Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong (CanChamHK) and jointly presented with the Hong Kong Canada Business Association (HKCBA). With 2025 coming up, the Conference has reached a key milestone in its 11th year, starting the second decade of Canada's collaboration with regional economies.

The 11th TransPacific Conference will center on new growth strategies in various industries including Sustainability, Renewable Energy, Transition, Infrastructure & Finance, Health Care, Wealth management & Clean Tech. It will feature success stories of innovative solutions, best practices, and support for businesses, focusing on advanced technology, new investment, wealth planning, and healthy living.

The Conference aims at serving as a hub to spearhead initiatives for Canadian businesses coming into the Region and businesses seeking to invest in Canada. Hong Kong, an acclaimed Super Connector in networking, makes sure the Conference will play a pivotal role in partnership supporting the growth strategy in the Region. Key objectives include highlighting Hong Kong's strategic advantages, providing marketing insights for GBA and Asia, fostering networking among entrepreneurs, investors, and industry leaders, strengthening commercial relationships, promoting economic resilience through collaboration, and advancing a sustainable and green future.

Special thanks to Madeleine Behan, Governor & Co-Chair of CanChamHK Entrepreneur & Small Business Committee, for her dedication and leadership of this annual Conference.

Joining Virtually

Conference Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81815960161

Webinar ID: 818 1596 016

Agenda

January 15, 2025

Programme

09:00 - 09:15

Welcome Remarks in Hong Kong and Canada

Charles Edwin Reeves, Consul General of Canada to Hong Kong and Macao

Emily Mo, Director, Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (Toronto)

Charles Edwin Reeves

Emily Mo

09:15 - 09:25

Opening Ceremony

09:25 - 10:10

Panel 1: Responsible, Sustainable & Strategic Leadership

Collaboration and Expansion in Asia: Leaders SuperConnecting Growth in Industries in Asia and Canada

They are building next generation support for an innovative and a more sustainable future
Profit versus Responsibility
e.g. What are the big global shifts? What are the big steps to navigate the big shifts? How to build global collaborations for a better future for the next generation /How to make an Impact on innovations, sustainability, leadership strategy, the better future of the business world) Every leader has uncountable tasks in their day jobs, will there be space to have collaborative projects that help a greener / sustainable future?

Moderator: Bryan Benjamin, Executive Director, The Ivey Academy

Panel Speakers:
Michael Yue, Managing Director & General Manager, Google Hong Kong
Fanny Chan, Chief Human Resources Officer, Chow Tai Fook Life Insurance Company Limited
Terence Chow, Group Chief Operating Officer, Raffles Family Office

Bryan Benjamin

Michael Yue

Fanny Chan

Terence Chow

10:10 - 10:30

Networking Coffee Break

10:35 - 11:20

Panel 2: TransPacific Collaboration

Hong Kong SuperConnecting Asia and Canada, Expanding Businesses into the Region

Discussing Hong Kong as a “Super-Connector” between Canada and the Asia-Pacific region
-Hong Kong’s Role in Regional Economic Growth
-Hong Kong’s Relevance to Asia and Canada: a SuperConnector, a Value-Adder, a Business Networking Hub?
-What is being done to maintain and promote Hong Kong as an International Financial Centre?

Moderator: Charles Edwin Reeves, Consul General of Canada in Hong Kong and Macao

Panel Speakers:
John Witt, Group Managing Director, Jardine Matheson; Governor, The Canadian Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong
Margaret Fong, Executive Director, Hong Kong Trade Development Council
Johnny Chan, Chairman, Titan Works Ltd.

Charles Edwin Reeves

John Witt

Margaret Fong

Johnny Chan

11:25 - 12:20

Panel 3: Empowering Innovations into our Future

Canadian Business Success Stories in Hong Kong and in the Region
Highlighting Health Care, Innovation and Technology

Hong Kong is more than just a strategic location; it is a vibrant ecosystem ripe with opportunities. We are inviting everyone to come and witness our cutting-edge facilities firsthand, where breakthroughs in science and medicine are unfolding.

There are several key points to highlight what makes Hong Kong such an attractive place fore business. For example,
-What are the advantages of Hong Kong-Canada collaboration
-What is the InnoHK scheme -InvestHK and OASES support
-Advantages for Canadian tech companies looking to establish or expand their operations in Hong Kong
-Innovations that our health insurance professional is witnessing that could transform your industry

Moderator: Chris Chen, Head, InvestHK Canada
Panel Speakers:
Prof. Ben Thompson, Professor, University of Waterloo and CEO & Scientific Director, The Centre for Eye and Vision Research Hong Kong
Maggie Lo, Senior Vice President (Life and Health Technology), Office for Attracting Strategic Enterprises (OASES), Hong Kong
Amelie Dionne-Charest, Co-Founder & Managing Director, Alea Insurance; Governor, The Canadian Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong

Chris Chen

Ben Thompson

Maggie Lo

Amelie Dionne-Charest

12:30 - 14:00

VIP Lunch - By Invitation Only

Presentation by Jeff Nankivell, President & CEO, Asia Pacific Foundation APF, Canada

Jeff Nankivell

14:05 - 14:50

Panel 4: Exploring the Future of Growth in Wealth Management - Investing In Canada

Unpredictable markets and changing economic conditions make it hard to know how to invest for the future. Veteran investors will explore investment opportunities, strategies and its related overall ecosystem. Equally important is to understand growth and investment opportunities in Canada and Asia.

Moderator: Tina Wei, Managing Partner, PristineView Capital Advisers
Panel Speakers:
Ian Carew, Managing Director & Venture Partner, Northleaf Capital Partners
Jim Hildebrandt, Partner, Bain Capital
David Després, Vice President - Investment Services & Partner, Letko Brosseau & Associates
Max Guo, Co-founder & President, foreGrowth Inc.

Tina Wei

Ian Carew

Jim Hildebrandt

David Després

Max Guo

15:00 - 15:50

Panel 5: Investing in Tomorrow's Health: Connecting the TransPacific in the Next Decade of Lifesciences and Healthcare

Investing in Tomorrow's Health: Connecting the TransPacific in the Next Decade of Lifesciences and Healthcare

In this panel, we will examine the intersection of investment, innovation, and ecosystem building within Canada’s healthcare sector. Our experts will share their insights on emerging trends, challenges, and opportunities around healthcare innovations. Attendees will gain a deeper understanding of how strategic investments can drive growth and sustainability in healthcare over the next decade, fostering a vibrant ecosystem.

Moderator: Joseph Fung, Managing Partner & Responsible Officer, Investment Team, Saltagen Ventures

Panel Speakers:
Nir Katchinskiy, CEO, PulseMedica
Jack Fairbank, CEO, Hylid Diagnostics
Emmanuel Hui, CEO, Tiger Jade Pebble Accelerator

Joseph Fung

Nir Katchinskiy

Jack Fairbank

Emmanuel Hui

15:55 - 16:00

Conference Summary

Conference Summary by Rosemary Goater Co-founder, COO & Responsible Officer, SystematicEdge; Vice Chair (External) The Canadian Chamber of Commerce of Hong Kong

Rosemary Goater

16:00 - 16:30

Networking Coffee Break

16:30 - 17:15

Conference Highlight - Discussions on Business Growth Strategy in the Region and how to Connect Asia and Canada

Focus: Business Growth Strategy in Challenging and Changing World Markets (diversifying, Trump 2.0, new opportunities in Asia Pacific) using examples from the speakers’ experience they see valuable for future success and how to leverage opportunities for growth in this Region

Moderator: Charles Edwin Reeves, Consul General of Canada to Hong Kong and Macao
Speakers:
Alex Tam, Chief Executive Hong Kong, Managing Director Asia Pacific Region, CIBC Capital Markets
Michel Constantin, Director, Québec Government Office, Shanghai
Jimmy Chiang, Deputy Director-General of Office for Attracting Strategic Enterprises, Financial Secretary's Office (OASES)

Charles Edwin Reeves

Alex Tam

Michel Constantin

Jimmy Chiang

17:25 - 17:40

Closing Remarks & Vote of Thanks

Alex Tam, Chief Executive Hong Kong, Managing Director Asia Pacific Region, CIBC Capital Markets

Madeleine Behan, Director, The Communication Group; Founder, The TransPacific Entrepreneurial Conference; Governor, The Canadian Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong

Sonja Chong, Partner of Income Taxation, Sonja Chong Professional Corporation; Chartered Professional Accountants; National Chair, The Hong Kong-Canada Business Association (HKCBA)

Alex Tam

Madeleine Behan

Sonja Chong

18:00 - 20:30

Cocktail Reception

Session

09:00 - 12:30

Morning Session

14:00 - 17:45

Afternoon Session

18:00 - 20:30

Cocktail Reception

Speakers

Charles Edwin Reeves

Consul General of Canada in Hong Kong and Macao

Algernon Yau, JP

Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development at The Government of Hong Kong SAR

Joseph H. L. Chan, JP

Under Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury at The Government of Hong Kong SAR

John Witt

Group Managing Director, Jardine Matheson; Governor, The Canadian Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong

Alex Tam

Chief Executive Hong Kong, Managing Director Asia Pacific Region, CIBC Capital Markets

Emily Mo

Director, Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (Toronto)

Bryan Benjamin

Executive Director, The Ivey Academy

Michael Yue

Managing Director & General Manager, Google Hong Kong

Fanny Chan

Chief Human Resources Officer, Chow Tai Fook Life Insurance Company Limited

Terence Chow

Group Chief Operating Officer, Raffles Family Office

Chris Chen

Head, InvestHK Canada

Margaret Fong

Executive Director, Hong Kong Trade Development Council

Jeff Nankivell

President & CEO, Asia Pacific Foundation APF, Canada

Michel Constantin

Director, Québec Government Office, Shanghai

Joseph Fung

Managing Partner & Responsible Officer, Investment Team, Saltagen Ventures

Amelie Dionne-Charest

Co-Founder & Managing Director, Alea Insurance; Governor, The Canadian Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong

Ben Thompson

Professor, University of Waterloo; CEO & Scientific Director, Centre for Eye and Vision Research Hong Kong

Madeleine Behan

Director, The Communication Group; Founder, The TransPacific Entrepreneurial Conference; Governor, The Canadian Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong

Sonja Chong

Partner of Income Taxation, Sonja Chong Professional Corporation; Chartered Professional Accountants; National Chair, The Hong Kong-Canada Business Association (HKCBA)

Maggie Lo

Senior Vice President (Life and Health Technology), Office for Attracting Strategic Enterprises (OASES), Hong Kong

Jim Hildebrandt

Partner, Bain Capital

Max Guo

Co-founder & President, foreGrowth Inc.

Ian Carew

Managing Director & Venture Partner, Northleaf Capital Partners

Tina Wei

Managing Partner, PristineView Capital Advisers

David Després

Vice President - Investment Services & Partner, Letko Brosseau & Associates

Rosemary Goater

Co-founder, COO & Responsible Officer

Jimmy Chiang

Deputy Director-General of Office for Attracting Strategic Enterprises, Financial Secretary's Office (OASES)

Jack Fairbank

CEO, Hylid Diagnostics

Emmanuel Hui

CEO, Tiger Jade Pebble Accelerator

Nir Katchinskiy

CEO, PulseMedica

Johnny Chan

Chairman, Titan Works Ltd

Mr. Charles Edwin Reeves was appointed Canada’s Consul General to Hong Kong and Macao on July 3, 2024.

Consul General Reeves is a proud Nova Scotian from the Annapolis Valley who graduated in 1989 from Carleton University in Ottawa, Ontario, before joining the Government of Canada in 1991. Posted to Beijing 1998 to 2005 and Shanghai 2005 to 2009, he also served in Canberra, Australia as deputy high commissioner 2013 to 2018 (and concurrently as deputy head of mission to the Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, and Vanuatu.) In 2020, he was acting high commissioner in Malaysia during APEC.

Throughout his more than three-decade career with Global Affairs Canada, Consul General Reeves has held a variety of positions, including in the Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs and in the Privy Council Office, as well as the post of associate chief of protocol of Canada. Most recently, as a special advisor in the Office of the Assistant Deputy Minister (Indo-Pacific), he worked closely with Canadian missions in Canberra, Australia; Suva, Fiji; and Wellington, New Zealand on Canada’s engagement strategies with Pacific Island Countries.

Consul General Reeves’s husband is an emergency physician who has worked in hospitals in Beijing and Shanghai as well as in various cities across Australia. They have two Portuguese Water Dogs.

Mr Yau assumed the post of the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development on July 1, 2022. His portfolio covers policy areas from trade, commerce to telecommunications and broadcasting, and from promotion of intellectual property and consumer protection to boosting inward investment.
Before joining the Government, Mr Yau held key managerial positions in the aviation and logistics sector. He was Chief Executive Officer of Greater Bay Airlines, and prior to this, Chief Executive Officer of Cathay Dragon, Executive Director of Cathay Pacific Board, and Director Service Delivery of Cathay Pacific. Mr Yau managed different aspects of business operations throughout his career in the private sector, and also served on various advisory bodies of the Government.
Mr Yau holds a Bachelor of Business degree in Transport and Logistics from the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology University. He is also a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport in Hong Kong.

Mr Chan was appointed the Under Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury on 16 August 2017. Mr Chan has many years of senior executive experience in the banking industry. He was a Managing Director in the Global Markets Division of Credit Agricole Corporate & Investment Bank, and was a Managing Director in Financial Markets of Standard Chartered Bank. Prior to joining the Government, Mr Chan held multiple roles in a number of public and professional bodies, including Vice President of the Hong Kong Society of Financial Analysts, Director of Hong Kong Securities & Investment Institute, Advisor of the Chinese Gold & Silver Exchange Society, as well as a General Committee member of the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce. Mr Chan was also a member of the Central & Western District Council. Mr Chan holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics (Hon) and Psychology from the University of Michigan, USA. He is also a Chartered Financial Analyst.

John is the Group Managing Director of Jardine Matheson Holdings, a diversified Asia-based investment firm. He is also Managing Director of Dairy Farm International, Hongkong Land Holdings and Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group; and Commissioner & Chairman of the Executive Committee of Astra International.

He has been with Jardine Matheson Group since 1993, holding a number of senior positions in Hong Kong, the UK, Indonesia, and France. Previously Chairman of the CanCham in Hong Kong, he has been involved with other non-profit organizations, including acting as a Trustee of the Asian Cultural Council Inc, Chairman of the Voting Members Committee of the Hong Kong Riding for the Disabled Association, and also a Member of the HKUST Business School Advisory Council, Asia Business Leaders Advisory Council, and the Asia International Leadership Council of the University of Toronto.

Mr. Witt qualified as a chartered accountant in Ontario following his undergraduate studies at the University of Toronto (Trinity College). He subsequently earned an MBA from INSEAD, graduating with Distinction.

Alex joined CIBC Capital Markets in June 2018 as Managing Director, Asia Pacific. He became Chief Executive Officer of Hong Kong, in June 2024, assuming responsibility for business activities and operations in Hong Kong. In addition, he retains accountability for Corporate Banking and Global Transaction Banking in Asia.

Prior to CIBC, Alex held leadership roles including as Managing Director, Head of Financial Institutions Asia; Head of Corporate and Institutional Banking; and Head of Transaction Banking; with global financial institutions, including HSBC, Standard Chartered Bank, Westpac, and Lloyds Bank in Hong Kong, Singapore, and Canada. He has 32 years of international banking experience and serves on the Consultative Council of The Hong Kong Association of Banks, on the International Business Committee of the HKSAR. Other community organizations include Chairman of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong, and as a Male Ally of The Women’s Foundation, where he supports the challenging of gender stereotypes, and advancing women leaders in business and financial services, and as Vice Chair of the Membership and Corporate Affairs Committee for the Hong Kong China Tennis Association.

Alex received a Bachelor of Commerce degree from UBC Sauder School of Business, The University of British Columbia, is an alumnus of Ivey Business School, Western University, and is a Certified Credit Risk Management Professional ((CCRP), Commercial Lending (CL) and Credit Portfolio Management (CPM)).

Bryan Benjamin is the Executive Director of Executive Education at Ivey Business School, Western University, with campuses in Toronto, London (Ontario), and Hong Kong.

In this capacity, Bryan is responsible for setting the strategic direction and overseeing the global performance of Executive Education at Ivey. He leads a high-performing, diverse team across business development, customer experience, and operations, with key focus areas including geographic expansion, program innovation, lifelong learning, and ensuring the measurable impact of Ivey's Executive Education programs on both leadership and organizational effectiveness.

Prior to his current role, Bryan served as Vice President at The Conference Board of Canada and Managing Director of the Canadian Talent Leadership & Development practice at Lee Hecht Harrison, a global professional services firm.

Bryan holds a Master of Arts from the University of Guelph and a Bachelor of Arts from Bishop’s University.

Michael Yue is a seasoned technology executive with over two decades of experience driving digital innovation and leading high-performing teams. AsManaging Director and General Manager of Google Hong Kong, he spearheads the company's strategic direction and market operations.

His leadership journey at Google includes key roles such as global strategy enablement lead for sales. He also spearheaded the launch of Google Pay in APAC as Industry Lead for Banking and Financial Services in Southeast Asia. Beyond this, Michael has a proven track record of driving digital transformation for partners across diverse sectors.

Prior to Google, Michael contributed to significant growth at Hewlett Packard Canada. He holds an EMBA from Kellogg-HKUST and an HBA from the Ivey Business School. Michael serves on the boards of the American and Canadian Chambers of Commerce in Hong Kong and advises the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology.

Fanny Chan is the Chief Human Resources Officer of Chow Tai Fook Life Insurance Company Limited (“CTF Life”) since July 2024. Prior to joining CTF Life, Fanny has been working in the banking industry for 28 years, with a solid track record of driving and delivering changes with sustainable results. Fanny had built and set up the Human Resources and Corporate Administration function of China Everbright Bank Hong Kong Branch (CEBHK) from scratch. Prior to her tenure at CEBHK, Fanny had worked for HSBC, accumulating a wealth of experience and holding various roles in Retail Sales and Distribution, Electronic Payment and Human Resources with regional mandates. Fanny had also worked in a Chinese investment bank and played an important role to transform and revamp the People Agenda and Employee Experience journey via robust and sustainable changes. Fanny is a visionary, growth- and results-oriented high-energy executive with demonstrated cross-functional experience in human resources across all customer groups in Banking (i.e. Retail Banking, Corporate Banking, Investment Banking, Private Banking).

Fanny holds a Bachelor of Arts in Business Studies degree from the City University of Hong Kong and also a MBA from the Chinese University of Hong Kong. She is also the Head of Workgroup for a paper entitled “Capacity Building for Future Banking” issued jointly by the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA), the Hong Kong Association of Banks and the Hong Kong Institute of Bankers. Fanny is represented in the Talent Committee of the Hong Kong Association of Banks (HKAB), Future Banking Committee of the Hong Kong Institute of Bankers (HKIB), Awards Committee and Annual Conference Committee of the HK Institute of Human Resources Management (HKIHRM), and the organizing committee of HKMA Award for Excellence in Training and Development.

Terence Chow is the Group Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Raffles Family Office.

As Group COO, Terence has accountability for the firm’s business management, risk management, business transformation, corporate real estate and procurement functions. In addition, he also leads the firm’s technology and operations capabilities to ensure Raffles is constantly innovating to deliver a best-in-class client experience.

Terence brings over 20 years of experience in the financial services industry. Before joining Raffles Family Office, he held several senior positions at the Royal Bank of Canada (RBC), most recently as CEO, Wealth Management – Asia. Under Terence’s leadership, his teams have delivered significant growth in revenues, Assets under Management (AUM) and operational efficiencies. Before relocating to Asia, Terence led close to operational 700 professionals across Canada, Hong Kong, Singapore and Malaysia, supporting over 1,800 relationship managers and almost $400 billion in AUM. As a leader, Terence has built very strong, high-performing teams and has attracted and cultivated talented individuals around the world.

Earlier in Terence’s career, his experience spanned across Canada and the U.S., with roles that have ranged from Operations, Finance to Technology. During that time, Terence has developed a successful track record of driving business transformation, achieving operational efficiencies and enhancing client experiences.

Terence holds a Master of Business Administration from the Ivey School of Business, Western University in Canada.

Ms Margaret Fong is the Executive Director of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) since 1 October 2014. With a global network of 50 offices, Ms Fong heads this international team whose mission is to create and facilitate opportunities in global trade for Hong Kong-based companies. She joined the HKTDC in 2010 as Deputy Executive Director, responsible for the international promotion of Hong Kong’s product and service industries and the Council’s office network worldwide.

Ms Fong has worked in a variety of public service posts, beginning her career as an Administrative Officer with the Hong Kong Government. From 1997 to 1999, she served as Deputy Director-General in the Washington Economic and Trade Office of the Hong Kong SAR Government.

She was Deputy Secretary for Transport from 1999 to 2004, Director-General of the Washington Economic and Trade Office from 2004 to 2006, and Commissioner for Economic and Trade Affairs, USA, from 2006 to 2008, representing the Hong Kong SAR Government in the United States. Before joining the HKTDC, Ms Fong was the Commissioner for Tourism from November 2008 to December 2009. She is a graduate of the University of Hong Kong.

Ms Fong is a member of the Aviation Development and Three-runway System Advisory Committee, the Film Development Council, the Hong Kong Maritime and Port Board, the Hong Kong Logistics Development Council and the Hong Kong Tourism Board.

Jeff Nankivell joined APF Canada as President and CEO in September 2021.

Prior to this, he had a 33-year career in Canada's Foreign Service. He held various positions at
the Canadian International Development Agency between 1988 and 2008, working on programs
related to China, Russia, strategic policy, and international financial institutions. A fluent
Mandarin speaker, he was posted three times to Canada's embassy in Beijing – in the
development assistance section 1991-95 and 2000-04, and as Minister & Deputy Head of
Mission (deputy ambassador) 2008-2011.

From 2011 to 2016, Jeff served in Ottawa/Gatineau as Director General responsible for
Canada’s official development assistance programs across Asia, first with the Canadian
International Development Agency and then with Global Affairs Canada. In 2016 he was
appointed Consul General of Canada in Hong Kong, serving there until 2021.

Jeff holds a master’s degree in political sociology from the London School of Economics, BA in
international relations from the University of Toronto and Université Laval, and certificate (one-
year program) in Chinese language and culture from the Chinese University of Hong Kong.

Michel Constantin œuvre pour les relations internationales du Québec depuis 1998. Il est directeur du Bureau du Québec à Shanghai depuis juillet 2021. Entre 2011 et la fin de 2020, Michel Constantin était conseiller expert, responsable des affaires politiques au sein de la Direction de la Francophonie du ministère des Relations internationales et de la Francophonie du Québec (MRIF). À ce titre, il a coordonné l’action du Québec au sein des forums politiques et des Instances de la Francophonie, notamment lors de plusieurs Sommets de la Francophonie réunissant les chefs d’État et de gouvernement. De juin 2007 à juillet 2010, Michel Constantin a été conseiller aux affaires gouvernementales à la Délégation générale du Québec à New York où il est intervenu sur des priorités comme l’approvisionnement énergétique, la sécurité publique et l’environnement. Entre 1999 et 2007, M. Constantin a été étroitement associé aux initiatives d’affaires publiques du Québec vers l’étranger. Il a notamment été l’adjoint exécutif du directeur général des affaires publiques du MRIF durant de nombreuses années. Son cheminement professionnel a été ponctué d’autres responsabilités, dont coordonnateur du Bureau du Québec à Abidjan, en 2019, et à la Délégation aux Affaires francophones et multilatérales, à Paris, en 2018.

Michel Constantin has been working for Québec’s international relations since 1998. He was named Director of the Québec Government Office in Shanghai in July 2021. Between 2011 and 2020, Mr. Constantin was Senior Advisor for political affairs for the Francophonie Division of the Ministry of International Relations and Francophonie (MRIF) of Québec, coordinating Québec‘s participation to La Francophonie’s political forums, including the Heads of States and Governments Summits. From 2007 to 2010, he was Advisor for Governmental Affairs at the Québec Government Office in New York City. In this position, he was responsible for the institutional relationships of Québec with the eight American Mid-Atlantic States, including New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland and Virginia, on issues such as energy, public safety and the environment. From 1999 to 2007, Michel Constantin was Executive Assistant to the Director General for Public Affairs at the MRIF. His professional career was punctuated by many other responsibilities including Coordinator of the Québec Government Office in Abidjan (Ivory Coast) in 2019 and of Québec’s Francophonie and Multilateral Affairs Delegation, in Paris, in 2018.

Joseph Fung is the Managing Partner of Saltagen Ventures, a venture capital fund house based in Hong Kong. With extensive experience as an investor, entrepreneur, and operator since 2002, he specializes in the fields of life sciences, material sciences, agricultural technology, and clean technology. Mr. Fung actively collaborates with public-private institutions in Canada and Asia to support startups in their global development.

A notable responsibility includes being appointed by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in ABAC to represent Canada in APEC with the support of the Minister of Trade and Global Affairs Canada. Joseph is the APEC Senior Official and Ministers’ Vice-Chair of the Policy Partnership on Food Security and Co-Chair of the Sustainability Working Group in the APEC Business Advisory Council. Joseph is also the Hong Kong ABLAC representative for the Asia Pacific Foundation, an advisory board member of Creative Destruction Labs Global, a board member of the Hong Kong Medical and Health Devices Industry Association and a management board director of Versitech under the University of Hong Kong.

Amelie Dionne-Charest is the Co-founder of Alea Insurance, a leading Hong Kong headquartered health insurance broker and Employee Health Benefits expert. She is also the Co-founder of Healthy Matters, Hong Kong’s number one health information platform.

Amelie is a Governor of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong and its immediate past Chair. Under her leadership from 2020 to 2022, the Canadian Chamber launched its Affiliate Program for Canadian university alumnus which continued to double the organization’s membership.

Amelie has received various prizes including: the 2022 Liv Media Women of Wellness Award; the 2021 JCI APAC Female Entrepreneur Award; the CanChamHK 2016 Entrepreneurial Achievers Under 35 Award; and 2016 the Catherine Nance Common President of the Year Award by McGill University.

Prior to entrepreneurship, Amelie worked in Canada practising medical law. She has a Master’s Degree in Medical Law and Medical Ethics from King’s College, London, and holds two bachelors of laws from McGill University.

Ben Thompson is a Professor and University Research Chair within the School of Optometry at the University of Waterloo. Ben is also the CEO and Scientific Director of the Centre for Eye and Vision Research (CEVR) in Hong Kong. CEVR is a collaborative initiative between The University of Waterloo and The Hong Kong Polytechnic University funded by the Hong Kong Government’s InnoHK initiative and based at the Hong Kong Science and Technology Park. The mission of CEVR is to improve eye and vision health through research creativity, collaboration, and commercialization. CEVR is based on a close partnership between institutions in Canada and Hong Kong and is producing new technologies that are poised to improve eye and vision health in Hong Kong and world-wide.

Madeleine Behan is a Governor of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong. She is the Founder of the annual CanChamHK-HKCBA TransPacific Entrepreneurial Conference, a primary aim of which is to encourage Canadian companies, industries and entrepreneurial businesses of all types and sizes to utilize Hong Kong as their business “SuperConnector” between the rest of the region in Asia including GBA and Canada. She is the Director of The Communication Group which is a consultancy specializing in Information Design: Information Structure™. The Communication Group advises companies on their financial and audit as well as risk assessment reports. The company has been involved in the Canadian Chamber since 2003. Currently, she is the Co-Chair of the Entrepreneur and Small Business Committee and also a founding member of the Women’s Network. Madeleine is a Discourse Analyst and is a member of the Institute of Internal Auditors (The IIA) and the Information Systems Audit and Control Association (ISACA).

Sonja Chong is the founding partner of Sonja Chong Professional Corporation, CPAs. She is a seasoned income tax practitioner fluent in English, Mandarin and Cantonese.

Sonja provides value-added tax services to corporations and high net-worth individuals including tax planning for immigrants and emigrants, effective use of resident and offshore trusts, estate planning, structuring of real estate investments, purchases and sales of businesses, dealing with tax authorities on complex matters, structuring of inbound investments, and structuring of outbound investments via the Hong Kong platform.

Ms. Chong was a member of the “Joint Committee on Taxation” of the Chartered Professional Accountants of Canada and the Canadian Bar Association. She served as a Governor of the Canadian Tax Foundation from 2004 to 2007. Sonja co-chaired the Ontario Tax Conference for 8 years, and was on the editorial board of the Carswell service “Taxation of Real Estate in Canada“.

Ms. Chong has presented at over 150 income tax seminars. From 2014 to 2016, she served on the Board of Directors of CBC/Radio-Canada.

Contact: schong@sonjachongca.com; https://ca.linkedin.com/pub/sonja-chong-fcpa-fca-tep/44/306/388

Dr. Maggie Lo has been the Vice President (Life and Health Technology) at the Office for Attracting Strategic Enterprises (OASES) since December 2022. OASES is the government department responsible for attracting both mainland and international innovation and technology companies to establish or expand their operations in Hong Kong.

Before joining the government, Dr. Lo held various roles in universities and health authorities in Hong Kong, the UK, and Canada. Her experience includes clinical research as well as trade and investment promotion, during which she supported numerous companies in establishing or expanding their presence in Hong Kong.

Dr. Lo holds a PhD in Psychiatry from the University of Liverpool.

Mr. Hildebrandt joined Bain Capital in 2005, and is a Partner based in Bain Capital’s Hong Kong office. He helped to establish and grow Bain Capital’s business across the region and has responsibility for relationships with Asian investors. Prior to joining Bain Capital, Mr. Hildebrandt was a Partner at Bain & Company, relocating to Asia from Europe in 1989 as a founder of the offices in China, Southeast Asia, Korea and Australia. He led the Asia team and Private Equity Practice, serving on the Global Operating and Compensation Committees.

Mr. Hildebrandt received an MBA from the Stanford Graduate School of Business where he was the Henry Ford II Scholar and received the Alexander A. Robichek Award for Outstanding Achievement in Finance. He also has a JD from the University of Toronto.

Mr. Guo serves as the co-founder of foreGrowth Inc., an asset management firm specializing in multifamily real estate and oil and gas investments throughout North America. foreGrowth Inc. maintains a strategic focus on properties and assets capable of generating substantial recurring income streams. Leveraging over a decade of seasoned expertise within the financial services industry, Mr. Guo commenced his professional career at RBC Dominion Securities. Mr. Guo earned his academic credentials from the University of Toronto's esteemed Rotman School of Business. In his capacity as co-founder, his strategic and analytical acumen have been instrumental in driving foreGrowth Inc.'s innovative investment strategies and fostering robust growth for the organization.

Ian participates in all aspects of Northleaf’s private equity investment activities, with a focus on the origination, evaluation and monitoring of the firm’s private equity and venture capital investments, particularly in North America and Asia/Rest of World. Ian serves on the advisory boards of several partnerships within Northleaf’s portfolio.

Prior to joining Northleaf’s predecessor, TD Capital, in 2008, Ian worked at CalPERS, helping manage a $40 billion private equity program, where he was responsible for the global venture capital and Asia private equity strategies and served on the Infrastructure Advisory Committee involved in the approval of an approximately $3 billion initial infrastructure allocation. Previously, Ian was a Partner with KIMC, a boutique private equity advisory firm, and spent six years in the venture capital group at Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan executing a fund and co-investment strategy. Ian’s prior experience includes various financial and accounting roles.

Ian received a Bachelor of Commerce and Graduate Diploma in Accountancy from Concordia University and holds the Chartered Financial Analyst designation.

Rosemary is co-founder of SystematicEdge where the mission is to deliver high performance Systematic Investment and Currency Management Solutions to maximize net income, minimize costs while providing safety and transparency to their clients. Before SystematicEdge, she spent 20 years of her career in executive search most recently as a Partner with one of the leading global leadership consulting and executive search firms. Working within their global Financial Services practice, she had as clients the senior leadership teams across Asset Management, Hedge funds, Banking, & Insurance. She believes that talent is the core of every business, and brings that ethos to her role at SystematicEdge.

She has lived 25 years in Asia, 6 years in Europe, and in addition to her native English she speaks Japanese and French fluently.

Rosemary holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Simon Fraser University, and has an Executive Coaching Certification from Royal Roads University.

Dr Jimmy Chiang is the Deputy Director-General of the Office for Attracting Strategic Enterprises (OASES). OASES was established by the government for attracting high potential and representative strategic enterprises from around the globe.

Prior to joining OASES in August 2024, Dr Chiang worked with Invest Hong Kong for over 20 years where he had served as Associate Director-General since 2015, managing the business operations of a number of industry teams as well as all geographical teams. Before his tenure with the government, Dr Chiang worked with an international shipping company in various managerial roles for five years.

Dr Chiang has a doctorate in hotel and tourism management from The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, a master's degree in business administration from The University of British Columbia and a bachelor's degree in social sciences from The University of Hong Kong.

Dr. Nir Katchinskiy (Ph.D.) is a visionary leader in medical device technology, holding a doctorate in Electrical (Biomedical) Engineering. His expertise spans the research and development of femtosecond laser-based treatments for ocular conditions. His unique ability to blend scientific research with business acumen led him to co-found PulseMedica, transitioning from scientist to CEO when the company was launched from the University of Alberta laboratories in 2020. Under his leadership, PulseMedica has grown to over 35 full-time employees and has made remarkable progress in developing ophthalmic solutions, including imaging and treatment technologies for vitreous floaters. Dr. Katchinskiy has assembled a world-renowned board of directors and advisory board to guide the company’s continued success. His vision and expertise continue to drive advancements in the field of ophthalmology.