CCBC BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Mr. Desmarais has been Senior Vice-President of Power Corporation since 2017. Mr. Desmarais is the driving force behind the Power Sustainable vision as a global, sustainability-led alternative asset manager.

He chairs the Canada China Business Council (CCBC) and also sits on the boards of directors of Canada Life, IG Wealth Management, Mackenzie and Lumenpulse.

He is actively engaged in the community as member of the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research.

Mr. Desmarais holds a Bachelor of Civil Law from the University of Ottawa, a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and Political Science from McGill University, and has been a Québec Bar member since 2009.

Graham served for over 25 years in Canada’s public service providing advice to Canadian governments, mainly on management of Canada’s relations with Asia. He has lived and worked for over 12 years in Asia, half of that in China. In Ottawa, Graham has worked in senior management positions in Global Affairs Canada, the Department of Finance and the Privy Council Office. In 2000-2001 he served as Canada’s lead negotiator for Foreign Investment Protection Agreements (FIPAs) and in 1996-1997 served as deputy chief negotiator for the Canadian team during China’s WTO accession talks. Over the past decades, Graham has been involved in numerous major bilateral visits between Canadian and Chinese leaders.

Graham has served on the Board of Directors of the Asia Pacific Foundation (2013-2016) and on the Board of Directors of the Centre for International Governance Innovation (2006-2009). He served as Canada’s Ambassador to the Kingdom of Spain (2009-2012) and ended his career in the public service in senior management positions in Global Affairs Canada’s Asia Branch.

A Mandarin speaker, Graham pursued his interest in China while studying economics at Goshen College in Indiana. He holds an M.A. in International Affairs from Carleton University’s Norman Paterson School of International Affairs. He also pursued language and economics studies in China, including at Beijing University and Xiamen University, under the Canada-China Scholars’ Exchange Program.

Martin Cauchon has had a distinguished career. First elected as a Member of Parliament in October 1993, he has held many positions in the Government of Canada. He has served as Secretary of State (Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec), Minister of National Revenue, and Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada. In 2013, he was an official candidate in the leadership race of the Liberal Party of Canada. From 2015 to 2019, he was also a shareholder and Executive Chairman of Groupe Capitales Médias, which gave him a better understanding of the challenges facing the print media in a digital world.

Mr. Cauchon’s unparalleled experience in government and the private sector has given him a deep understanding of a wide range of issues. As counsel at DS Lawyers Canada, he advises companies on the various issues facing the knowledge economy and the globalization of markets, taking into account geopolitical factors. Mr. Cauchon also facilitates the creation of partnerships at the provincial, national, and international levels.

Having established relationships with several counterparts in China, Martin Cauchon has acquired a good knowledge of that market, which allows him to intervene in projects that are related to the Canada-China relationship.

After obtaining a law degree from the University of Ottawa, Mr. Cauchon became a member of the Quebec Bar in 1985 and completed a master degree in International Business Law in 1991, at the University of Exeter, in England. He was the 2004 recipient of the Equality Forum’s International Role Model Award. In 2015, he received the honorary distinction of “Advocatus emeritus” and “Le Mérite” from the Quebec Bar. He is also Vice Chair, Board of Directors of the Canada China Business Council and Chair of its Quebec Chapter Advisory Council. He also serves on the board of directors of several companies.

Dr. Fung is the co-founder, Board Chair and CEO of the ACDEG Group of companies, a global technology integrator. Over the past 34 years, he has founded, co-founded or restructured over 25 business ventures/corporations in agri-food, manufacturing, wholesale distribution and clean technologies in North America, Europe and Asia. Dr. Fung was a venture advisor of Cycle Capital Management Inc., one of the largest clean technology venture capital funds in Canada.

Dr. Fung is the co-inventor of 35 issued or allowed patents with 32 patent applications pending on a variety of chemical technologies including a highly disruptive discovery on the disproportionate responses of the physicochemical properties of liquids to minute external stimuli.

Besides the ACDEG Group of companies, his board experience includes Chair of the Chemical Institute of Canada, Co-chair of the Members of the Canada Foundation for Innovation, National Board Chair of Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters Association, Chair of China Committee of International Science & Technology Partnership Canada, Vice-chair of the national boards of Canada China Business Council, the Canadian Standards Association Group and the Management Board of National Zero Waste Council of Canada. He was the Chancellor and a member of the Board of Governors and the Senate of Capilano University of British Columbia, the President of the Canadian Society for Chemical Engineering, a member of the Steering Committee of the Metro Vancouver Regional Prosperity Initiative, a Senior Fellow of the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada and a member of the Advisory Board of the McGill School of Religious Studies.

He was awarded the Canadian Asian of the Year (Business and Public Service), 2009 by Asia Network Canada, the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal, 2012 by the Governor General of Canada, the honorary Doctor of Law degree by Capilano University (BC) in 2014, the honorary Doctor of Science degree by Concordia University (Quebec) in 2020 and the Award of Merit by the McGill Alumni Association in 2022.

Paul Blom is a Registered Professional Forester (Ret.) and Registered Professional Biologist. His studies include Mandarin at the Taiwan National Normal University and his 5-year tenure in Asia involves service at the Zhejiang Forest and Agriculture University in Zhejiang and with the British Columbia Trade Office in Taiwan.

Mr. Blom coordinated the development of the following province-wide First Nations plans and strategies, which form the basis of the mandate for the First Nations Energy and Mining Council, a policy organization advocating for the 203 First Nations communities in BC:

– First Nations China Strategy: Innovative Partnerships
– BC First Nations Energy Action Plan
– BC First Nations Mineral Exploration and Mining Action Plan

Mr. Blom has been involved in numerous indigenous, provincial and federal missions to China to develop trade opportunities and cultural understandings for First Nations; including the coordination of the National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations mission to China to raise a totem pole in Beichuan to commemorate the victims of the Wenchuan earthquake.

Other current projects include:
– Negotiator at the Carrier Sekani Tribal Council/Tl’azt’en Nation reconciliation table with British Columbia and Canada
– First Nations advisor on natural gas pipeline impact benefit agreement negotiations,
– Advisor for the Musqueam First Nation – Canada reconciliation framework,
– First Nations negotiator for numerous mineral exploration agreements in northern British Columbia.

Sam Boutziouvis was appointed Vice-President, Government Relations and Multilateral Development Institutions for AtkinsRéalis (formerly SNC-Lavalin Group Inc.) in December, 2012. He reports to Michael Novak, Executive Vice-President, Global Government, Aboriginal and Economic Affairs.

In his position based out of Ottawa, Sam is responsible for senior AtkinsRéalis relationship management with the Government of Canada. He will work with AtkinsRéalis senior management and with AtkinsRéalis product business units to help secure essential political, diplomatic, public service and crown agency (EDC, CCC) support for the company’s domestic and export market expansion. He represents the corporation by maintaining ongoing relationships with multilateral development institutions and national and international industry associations.

Sam’s 20-plus years of experience with the Canadian Council of Chief Executives (a CEO-based public policy advocacy organization) will assist in these tasks. Over his career with the Council, Sam held positions of increasing breadth and responsibility and was Vice-President, Policy, with a focus on international and fiscal issues for several years. Prior to that, he was a senior analyst with the Gas Exports Division at the then-called Department of Energy, Mines and Resources with the Government of Canada.

Sam is a graduate from Carleton University (MA in Public Administration), University of Ottawa (undergraduate degrees in Economics and Biochemistry) and the University of Western Ontario (Executive Program).

In addition to realizing numerous commercial and institutional projects in Canada, Karen Cvornyek has practiced architecture throughout Asia, as well as the U.S., England, Japan, Italy, Germany and the United Arab Emirates. Her strengths include design and project management; setting the project design concept; and directing architectural, consultant and client teams from development to the realization of the project.

After practicing domestically and internationally for 15 years, Ms. Cvornyek joined B+H Architects as a Partner in 2002 and led the firm’s practice in Asia from 2003-2023, adding a new Montreal Studio to the practice in 2020. In 2008, she was appointed President, Asia, overseeing B+H’s operations in China, Hong Kong, Singapore and Vietnam with their professional staff of more than 280 architects, interior designers, landscape architects and urban planners. Furthermore, she was elected to the B+H Management Committee from 2005 to 2023.

Ms. Cvornyek has an extensive educational background, having earned a Bachelor of Environmental Studies and a Bachelor of Architecture from the University of Waterloo. Her professional qualifications encompass memberships in the Ontario Association of Architects (O.A.A.), Ordre des Architectes du Quebec (O.A.Q.), and she holds the distinction of being a Fellow of the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada.

Ms. Cvornyek has been involved in various notable endeavours and has received numerous accolades. In 1991, she was recognized with the Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Embassy Redevelopment Project in Tokyo by the Department of Foreign Affairs, Canada, and in 2014, she received the Governor General’s Medal for advancing ties between Canada and China. She honoured as the Executive of the Year in Architecture by Singapore Business Review in 2017, and in 2018, she served as the Chair of the Canada-ASEAN Business Council’s Women’s Leadership Forum in Singapore. Most recently she served as the International Women’s Forum, Toronto Chapter, in 2022.

Ms. Cvornyek’s leadership expertise extends to architectural education. She has taught at esteemed institutions such as the University of Waterloo, School of Architecture in Waterloo and Rome; the Pratt Institute’s School of Architecture, and has been a Guest Critic at the University of Toronto, University of Waterloo, and Carleton University’s School of Architecture.

The Honourable David C. Dingwall was installed as the seventh President and Vice-Chancellor of Cape Breton University on April 6, 2018.

Under his direction, Cape Breton University has achieved many significant milestones including the establishment of new strategic, research and academic plans, a new CBU brand, unprecedented enrolment growth, a revitalized campus including a major renovation to the Canada Games Complex (the future home of Female and Para Hockey in Canada), a Centre for Discovery and Innovation, a medical campus, a new School of Nursing, and several new programs including a Bachelor of Social Work.

President Dingwall is a member of the King’s Privy Council and is an active member of Universities Canada, Universities Canada International Committee, the Association of Atlantic Universities, the Council of Nova Scotia University Presidents (Chair), M Square Media International Advisory Board and the Canada China Business Council, to name a few.

Mr. Dingwall is also a former Cabinet Minister and is highly regarded for his substantial, in-depth experience in both the private and public sectors, at both the national and international level. He also has extensive corporate governance experience and is the author of “Negotiating So Everyone Wins” – Secrets you can use from Canada’s top business, sports, labour and political negotiators.

Mr. Dingwall holds degrees in commerce and law from Dalhousie University, has studied Corporate Governance at Harvard Law School and is also a graduate of the Institute of Corporate Directors (ICD.D), Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto. In 1997, he received an Honorary Doctorate of Laws from Cape Breton University.

He has been an extraordinary mentor to many Cape Bretoners and Canadians from coast to coast, helping them establish their own careers and make a mark across our country and beyond. He is the proud father of three children and grandfather to four grandchildren.

Victor Gomez serves as Assistant Vice President & Head (International) of Global Government Affairs and Public Policy at Sun Life. In this role, he supports Sun Life’s global operations spanning Canada, the United States, Asia and beyond. He provides strategic analysis and advice on international affairs, country risk and geopolitical risk to the CEO, the Executive Team, and the Board of Directors.

Prior to this role, Mr. Gomez also held responsibility for Government Affairs encompassing a range of public policy issues impacting Sun Life’s operations, including financial sector regulation, taxation, privacy, fintech, AI, sustainability, and infrastructure investment.

Before joining Sun Life in 2017, Mr. Gomez worked for seven years in government relations for Scotiabank, where he had similar responsibilities and covered a broad range of financial policy areas, including housing finance, payments, deposit insurance, retirement savings and macro-prudential regulation.

He also worked for nine years as a journalist in Eastern Europe, reporting and editing for a number of media outlets, including Bridge News, two power and energy supplements of the Financial Times, Radio Free Europe and the Open Media Research Institute.

Mr. Gomez holds a Bachelor of Journalism degree from Carleton University as well as a Master of Arts and PhD in Political Science from the University of Toronto.

Yan HAI has over 25 years of experience in the government, public affairs, and financial industry. Since joining Manulife in 2021, Ms. Hai has been leading Manulife Asia’s regulatory and public affairs strategy and execution across 13 markets, as well as providing counsel to the Global Board and Executive Leadership Team on geopolitical and regulatory issues critical to the Asia business.

Previously, Ms. Hai led Public Affairs APAC at the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board, where she initiated, negotiated, and implemented a three-year cooperation MOU with the NDRC, China’s top economic planner, addressing demographic challenges. The MOU, signed in the presence of Prime Minister Trudeau and Premier Li, contributed significant policy insights to China’s first/highest-level national policy on population aging.

Prior to this, Ms. Hai held senior roles at Brunswick and Albright Stonebridge, advising C-suites of multinational corporations and international financial institutions on public affairs, financial communications, and crisis management. Ms. Hai also worked for China International Capital Corporation, where she was responsible for marketing and regulatory affairs supporting IPOs, M&A transactions, and business development.

Ms. Hai started her career in civil and diplomatic services as Attaché in the Chinese Embassies in the Netherlands and Indonesia and as Deputy Director for East European and Central Asian Affairs in the Ministry of Culture.

Ms. Hai holds an MPhil in Contemporary European Studies from the University of Cambridge and an LLB in Diplomacy from China Foreign Affairs University.

Constantine Karayannopoulos, a Professional Engineer, is President and CEO of Neo Performance Materials Inc. (“NEO”), a Canadian public company listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX:NEO). He was appointed to this position in July 2020, after serving as NEO’s Chairman since September 2016. As one of the longest serving executives in the rare earth industry, he has worked with multiple governments in Europe, North America and Asia to converge public policy and industrial economics, over the past three decades.

Constantine began the Rare Earth phase of his career in 1994, under the leadership of Peter V. Gundy, who founded Advanced Material Resources Limited (“AMR”) in Toronto the prior year. AMR was the first foreign company allowed into China’s Rare Earth industry with two majority owned operating joint ventures. Constantine moved from Business Development Manager to North American Sales Manager, Global Sales Manager/Chairman of the JVs, VP/General Manager of AMR’s Rare Earth Business Unit and eventually to Chief Operating Officer responsible for both AMR’s divisions, Rare Earths and Magnetic Materials. In 2005, following AMR’s acquisition of Magnequench, Constantine became CEO of the combined company, being renamed to Neo Material Technologies Inc. (“Neo”). Neo established itself as a unique global rare earth specialty value-added materials company and, with strong cash flow and a pristine balance sheet, grew to 11 plants and 1,500 employees globally. In June 2012, Neo was acquired by Molycorp (NYSE-MCP) for Cdn$1.3 billion. Constantine joined the Board of Molycorp in July 2012 as Vice-Chairman. He became interim CEO of Molycorp in December 2012 and Chairman in December 2013. In September 2016, select strategic assets of Molycorp emerged as the distinct business entity Neo Performance Materials, of which Constantine was first appointed Chairman and now serves as CEO. He is also a Director of NEO and serves on the Health, Environment, Safety and Sustainability (HESS) Committee.

Constantine was also co-founder and non-executive Chairman of the Board of Neo Lithium Corp., from 2016 until January 2022.

Constantine is a member of the Advisory Board at the University of Toronto’s Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, a Director of the Canada China Business Council and a director on the Board of Lithium Royalties Corp., a fund investing in battery materials royalties and streams.

He holds Bachelor and Master of Applied Science degrees in Chemical Engineering from the University of Toronto.

Constantine directs most of his charitable work towards education, one of his passions. He is married with three sons and resides in Toronto, Canada.

Joyce brings a unique perspective to her practice, skillfully uniting Canadian companies seeking Chinese investors with Chinese companies looking to expand into North America. She also regularly advises corporate executives in the financial sector about taking advantage of opportunities and navigating risk.

Born and raised in Hong Kong and with over 20 years experience working in the North American marketplace, Joyce has both the cultural and business skills necessary to view potential deals from each party’s perspective. Her communication skills – she speaks English, Mandarin and Cantonese fluently – smoothly guide Asian companies into Canada, including joint ventures in mining and other natural resources sectors; and, the technology, life science and real estates industries.

Providing strategic advice to corporate clients
Leadership teams from across Canada and Asia, including public companies listed on TSX, NYSE, HK Stock Exchange, Shanghai Stock Exchange, Shenzhen Stock Exchange asset management companies and investment firms, frequently solicit Joyce’s advice on how to grow their business and make strategic moves in the marketplace, whether within Canada or abroad. She has earned the trust of some of the biggest players in the industry by successfully strategizing with them on:

• structuring and carrying out domestic and cross border mergers, acquisitions and reorganizations;
• advising on securities regulatory issues for registrants, investment dealers and investment advisors;
• advising on take-over bids (for both targets and offerors);
• advising on public offerings and private placements for issuers in various industries, including mining and resources, technology, real estate development, services and education;
• advising on various investment transactions of foreign companies into Canada, including joint ventures in mining and other natural resources sectors, automobile sector, forestry sector and technology sector;
• advising on investment transactions of Canadian companies into the Greater China region;
• structuring and advising on executive and employee compensation and incentive plans for Canadian and international companies; and
• advising on going private transactions, corporate governance, continuous disclosure issues and proxy contests.

Following is a select list of mining transactions that Joyce led involving Chinese state-owned enterprises:

• lead counsel to Zijin group in relation to the buy back of the gold stream from Triple Flag;
• lead counsel to SD Gold (Shandong Gold) in its acquisition of TMAC Resources;
• lead counsel to Zijin group in its acquisition of Continental Gold;
• lead counsel to CNIC HK (the investment arm of SASAC) in a preferred shares investment in a State-owned enterprise;
• lead counsel to Maple Red Financial Management Canada in its sale of the Bentall Centre complex in Vancouver to a US-based joint venture of Blackstone Property Partners and Hudson Pacific Properties;
• lead counsel to Baowu group (amalgamated Baosteel and WISCO entity) in strategic divesture of various assets;
• lead counsel to Sinomine (Hong Kong) Rare Metals Resources Co. Limited in its US$135 million acquisition of Cabot Corporation’s Specialty Fluids business;
• lead counsel to Aluminum Corporation of China in its C$840 million acquisition of Peru Copper Inc.
• lead counsel to CGN Mining Company Ltd. in its C$82 million strategic investment in Fission Uranium Corp.
• lead counsel to Wuhan Iron & Steel (Group) Corporation in its C$980 million sale by Wuhan Iron & Steel (Group) Corporation of shares of Consolidated Thompson to Cliffs Natural Resources;
• lead counsel to Can-China Resource Global Fund for strategic investment in acquiring a certain interest in Canadian International Oil Company;
• lead counsel to Wuhan Iron & Steel (Group) Corporation in its C$120 million strategic investment by WISCO in Adriana Resources Inc. and the Lac Otelnuk Project;
• lead counsel to investments by Can-China Resource Fund (mining fund which EXIM as a key investor);
• lead counsel to Hebei Iron & Steel Group in its US$194 million investment by Hebei Iron & Steel Group in Alderon Iron Ore Corp.
• lead counsel to WISCO International Resources in the consolidation transaction of Adriana Resource Inc. and Sprott Resources Holdings Inc.
• lead counsel to Wuhan Iron & Steel (Group) Corporation in its US$240 million completion of all capital investment by WISCO in Consolidated Thompson and the Bloom Lake joint venture;
• lead counsel to Yunnan Chihong Group in it C$150 million total investment by Yunnan Chihong Group in the Selwyn project;
• lead counsel to Wuhan Iron & Steel (Group) Corporation in its US$100 million investment by WISCO as a joint venture partner in the Sunny Lake project with initial project;
• lead counsel to Wuhan Iron & Steel (Group) Corporation in its US$97 million completion of investment by WISCO as a joint venture partner in Atikamagen project with initial project;
• lead counsel to China CAMC Engineering Co., Ltd. for various investment transactions with Procon Group;
• lead counsel to CAMCE Holding Inc. and Procon Group for taking private transaction of Golden Band Resources Inc.
• lead counsel to Hebei Iron & Steel Group in its US$120 million investment in KAMI Iron Ore project;
• lead counsel to Jinchuan Group Limited in respect of M&A transaction (undisclosed); and
• provide select advising services to China Gold International Resource Corp.

Following is a select list of transactions that Joyce led involving technology companies:

• advising Zhongshan Broad-Ocean Co. Ltd. on its strategic investments in Ballard Power Systems Inc.;
• advising TP-Link Technologies Col. Ltd. on various business matters;
• advising Ad.Venture Partners in its US$87.63 million acquisition of 180 Connect Inc.; and
• advising BYD on various commercial matters.

Joyce earned her BA (Hons) (Jurisprudence) in 1989 and her MA in 1996 from Oxford University, England. Admitted as a solicitor in England and Wales in 1992 and Hong Kong in 1993, she was called to the British Columbia bar in 1995 and practised in London, England and Hong Kong before joining us in our Vancouver office in 1994. Joyce’s professional affiliations include serving as the Legislative Liaison of the Canadian Bar Association, Securities Law section; the Law Society of England and Wales; the Law Society of Hong Kong; the Law Society of British Columbia; the Canadian Bar Association; the Canada-China Business Council and the Hong Kong-Canada Business Association.

As Chair of the firm’s Asia Group and a regular speaker at conferences and seminars focused on business from China and the Asia Pacific region, Joyce has earned an international reputation as an authority in her field.

Stuart Mercier is a Managing Partner, Asia Pacific, responsible for expanding Brookfield’s Real Estate activities and partnerships across Asia Pacific and the Middle East and is the Country Head for Singapore. He has held several roles across the organization including as the inaugural Head of Asia where he lead the establishment of Brookfield’s Chinese, Korean and Japanese real estate businesses.

Prior to joining Brookfield in 2012, Mr. Mercier held various investment roles within a boutique Asia real estate investment and advisory firm. He also held several positions at Oxford Properties, the global real estate platform of the OMERS pension fund.

Mr. Mercier holds a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Hong Kong and London Business School, where he was the recipient of the Haitong Securities “New Generation of Leaders” scholarship, and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Bishop’s University. Mr. Mercier serves on the board of the Canada China Business Council and is a Global Governing Trustee and APAC Executive Committee member of the Urban Land Institute.

Ian Michael is a corporate partner at Bennett Jones LLP in Toronto. Mr. Michael’s practice is focused on corporate and securities law with an emphasis on mergers & acquisitions and infrastructure investments by private equity and strategic investors. He regularly works with international investors in connection with their Canadian investments and acquisitions including extensively with China-based investors. Mr. Michael works with boards of directors, senior executives and private equity investors in a range of industries including aviation, real estate, technology and automotive.

Mr. Michael previously served as a member of the Securities Advisory Committee (SAC) of the Ontario Securities Commission (OSC). SAC provides advice to the Commission on a variety of matters including legislative and policy initiatives and important capital markets trends and is former member of the Mergers & Acquisitions team at the OSC.

Mr. Michael has been recommended by The Legal 500 Canada and the Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory in the areas Corporate Finance, Mergers & Acquisitions, Private Equity and Transport – Aviation, in addition to being noted by Lexpert as a leading infrastructure lawyer in Canada for his extensive work with aviation infrastructure consortia at most international airports in Canada. Mr. Michael has taught mergers & acquisitions for the advanced securities law program at Queen’s University, Western University and the University of Windsor. He is also a member of the Board of Governors of St. Andrew’s College, in Aurora, Ontario.

The Honourable James Moore is a Senior Business Advisor at the multinational law firm Dentons, a Public Policy Advisor at the global firm Edelman and sits on a number of corporate boards with extensive experience in the private, public and not-for-profit sectors.  He is a regular public affairs contributor on CBC, CTV, Global National and BNN Bloomberg. 

Previously, he served as Canada’s Minister of Industry, Minister of Canadian Heritage & Official Languages and Secretary of State for the Asia Pacific Gateway and Minister for the 2010 Olympics over a 5-term, 15-year career as a Member of Parliament. He was the senior regional minister for the province of British Columbia and the is the youngest cabinet minister and Member of Parliament in B.C.’s history. 

Mr. Moore earned an outstanding reputation over his years spent in government, most notably as Minister of Industry from 2013 to 2015, where he oversaw a wide range of Canada’s public policy decisions and led a team responsible for Canada’s productivity, investment, digital and intellectual property policies.  He was responsible for the Investment Canada Act, the Canada Space Agency, the Canada Tourism Commission, the Business Development Bank of Canada, Statistics Canada, the National Research Council of Canada, the Canadian Radio-television & Telecommunications Commission (CRTC), the Canada Foundation for Innovation and more.

Recently he served as national vice-chair of the Canadian Cancer Society, a member of the NAFTA Council for the Government of Canada and was the 6th Chancellor of the University of Northern British Columbia. He holds a BA from the University of Northern BC and an MA from the University of Saskatchewan. 

Miles advises clients involved in energy sector transactions and project proponents on acquisitions and divestitures, corporate transactions, and project structure and development.

He has led significant transactions in the upstream, midstream and oilfield service sectors, and has advised on virtually all aspects of the Liquefied Natural Gas value chain.

He has particular expertise in transactions involving engineering companies.

He has dealt extensively with alcohol regulation in Alberta.

He has played a lead role in significant restructuring transactions both within Canada and internationally. Miles is the leader of BLG’s Asia Pacific initiative.

James Rausch is Global Head of Banks, Brokers & Exchanges at RBC Investor & Treasury Services and is also a member of the Investor & Treasury Services Operating Committee. He is based in Toronto.

As Global Head of Banks, Brokers & Exchanges, James has end-to-end responsibility for the sales, service and product delivery of Canadian dollar services to our financial institution partners globally. James also leads our Graduate Rotational Program in Canada, and is heavily involved in mentoring new and high potential employees.

James joined RBC in 2014 and is a seasoned leader with over 25 years of experience in financial markets, including 12 years at Powerex and previously at Infoware Software, the Toronto Stock Exchange and Toronto Dominion Bank. His broad business experience includes transaction banking, client coverage, risk management, commodities trading and corporate finance.

James became a CFA charterholder in 1999 and holds an MBA from the Joseph L. Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto and a Bachelor of Science from the same institution. He recently completed a certificate in the Foundations of Applied Mindfulness Meditation, is a certified facilitator of the Mindfulness Without Borders program and is a Professional Coach pursuing his Associate Certified Coach (ACC) accreditation. James is a diversity advocate, leading the diversity leadership council for the division in Canada as well as the executive sponsor for the next-gen stream. As a visible LGBTQ+ leader, James recently delivered the lunch keynote at the Out on Bay Street conference.

James is the past divisional co-chair of the RBC United Way Giving Campaign and participates as a board member on the Canada China Business Council (CCBC) and DAREarts. He was a past board member of Bankers Association for Finance and Trade (BAFT) and co-chaired the North American Council.

David Rheault is Vice President of Government and Community Relations at Air Canada. A lawyer by training, he joined Air Canada in 2007 as counsel, litigation.

Mr. Rheault represented Air Canada before courts and administrative tribunals and advised the company on various litigation files in Canada and foreign countries.

Today, in his current role, Mr. Rheault is responsible for the company’s relationships with all levels of governments in Canada as well as Air Canada’s community partnership program. He has been involved in many complex regulatory and policy matters.

Prior to joining Air Canada, he served as policy advisor at the Office of the Premier of Québec and for the Minister of Economic and Regional Development and Research.

After earning a degree from Université Laval Faculty of Law, he was called to the Barreau du Québec in 2000. He practiced commercial litigation and transport law at Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg and at Fasken Martineau.

Mr. Rheault sits on the executive committee of the National Airlines Council of Canada and on several boards, including the Canada China Business Council, and the Quebec Federation of Chambers of Commerce.

Tom Timmins (谭民思) is a senior projects lawyer based in Canada focused primarily on renewable energy projects and the global energy transition. He leads the Energy Sector Practice at Gowling WLG Canada. Named a ‘Leading Lawyer’ by The Legal 500 Canada and Who’s Who Legal, Mr. Timmins serves as a Board member of the Canadian Ditchley Foundation, as an advisor at the Centre for Urban Energy at Metropolitan Toronto University, as a member of the Legal Committee of Transparency International and on several public and private boards. He also teaches Infrastructure and Project Finance Law and serves as an adjudicator under the Canadian Free Trade Agreement. Mr. Timmins served as the Leader of Gowling WLG Canada’s highly successful China Practice between 2016-2024.

As the Founder and Chairman of CND Canada Food Group Ltd., Mr. Chengyi WEI runs three businesses lines: grocery chain stores, warehouses and distribution centers, and real estate developments.

Mr. Wei is known as a successful entrepreneur who immigrated from China to Canada in 2001. In the same year, he established Canada FengTai Group. Mr. Wei is the chairman and founder of FengTai Group, which owns Foody-Mart Supermarket Chain and Foody World Supermarket Chain, with existing operating space of over 300,000 SF in six stores and two warehouses, with annual revenue over $300 million.

The two distribution centres are in Toronto and Vancouver with over 300,000 square feet of warehouse operation area.

In addition, Mr. Wei is actively involved in real estate developments. Projects include residential developments with over 130 acres of land under development in the GTA and 4,000 residential units in the construction pipeline. Commercial real estate development projects include developing Shop & Play Lifestyle plazas combining grocery stores, restaurants, and other entertainment & recreation outlets.

Furthermore, Mr. Wei is a leader of Chinese Community in Canada. He is the honorable President of the Confederation of Toronto Chinese Canadian Organizations and President of Min Business Association of Canada. He was awarded the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2012. He was also nominated for and awarded The Senate of Canada 150 Medal Program on Nov. 29, 2017.

Jack Yu (于华洲) is an experienced business lawyer, with a focus on private mergers & acquisition and cross-border transactions. Mr. Yu has advised clients on over several billion dollars of M&A, private equity, corporate reorganization, and complex commercial transactions, spanning across multiple industries and sectors.

As Co-Leader of the firm’s China Practice Group, Mr. Yu regularly travels to China and is actively involved in the Asian legal community in Canada. He is often relied on by Chinese clients both from overseas and in Canada for sophisticated transactions and day-to-day legal issues. Mr. Yu also has experience in the foreign investments review process in Canada.

Prior to attending law school, Mr. Yu earned an undergraduate degree in biochemistry and philosophy from the University of Toronto. He is on the Board of the Federation of Asian Canadian Lawyers, Ontario Chapter. Born and raised in Jinan, Shandong, Mr. Yu is fluent in Mandarin.

Paul Desmarais was one of the first business executives in North America to recognize and support China’s efforts to transform its economy and improve the standard of living of its huge population. Encouraged by the then Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau, Mr. Desmarais orchestrated a major trade delegation to China bringing with him fellow CEOs from some of the largest companies in Canada. With vision and energy, he was a driving force behind the creation of the Canada China Business Council (CCBC) in 1978 and he served as its Chairman for the first 15 years. Informed by his sense of public duty, Mr. Desmarais led numerous subsequent trade missions to China and in turn hosted Chinese officials on their reciprocal visits to Canada. Mr. Desmarais’ Power Corporation was one of the first external companies to invest in China and today, some 40 years after his first visit to the country, Power Corporation continues to have significant investments in China where the Desmarais name continues to be warmly regarded by the business and investment communities.

Mr. Desmarais acquired control of Power Corporation of Canada in 1968 and remained the Corporation’s controlling shareholder until his death in 2013. He led Power Corporation as its Chairman and Chief Executive Officer from 1968 to 1996 and continued to serve as a Director and Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Board until 2013. At the time of his death, he was also Chairman of the Board and Executive Director of Pargesa Holding SA and a Director of Power Financial Corporation and Groupe Bruxelles Lambert. Mr. Desmarais was a Member of the Queen’s Privy Council for Canada, a Companion of the Order of Canada, an Officer of the National Order of Québec, a Grand’Croix de l’Ordre national de la Légion d’honneur (France) and a Commandeur de l’Ordre de Léopold II (Belgium).

Mr. Desmarais is Deputy Chairman of Power Corporation, a position he has held since 2008. He previously served as President and Co-Chief Executive Officer of Power Corporation from 1996 until his retirement in February 2020. He is also Deputy Chairman of Power Financial, previously having served as Executive Co-Chairman from 2015 until 2020, Co-Chairman from 2008 to 2015 and Deputy Chairman from 1996 to 2008. Prior to joining Power Corporation in 1983, he was Special Assistant to the Minister of Justice of Canada and an institutional investment counsellor at Richardson Greenshields Securities Ltd.

He is a director of many Power Corporation group companies, including Power Financial, Great-West Lifeco, Canada Life, Empower, Putnam Investments, IGM Financial, IG Wealth Management, Mackenzie and Power Sustainable Capital. He has been a director of Rockefeller Capital Management General Partner L.L.C. since 2023. He was a director and Vice-Chairman of Pargesa in Europe until November 2020, when Pargesa’s reorganization was completed. He was also a director of Bellus Health Inc. until 2009 and of CITIC Pacific Limited in Asia until 2014.

Over the years, cultural, health, and other not-for-profit organizations have benefited from his commitment, involvement, and dedication. He has played key roles in a number of fundraising campaigns, including those of the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, the Montreal Heart Institute, the Montreal General Hospital, Leucan, the Canadian Red Cross, the Canadian Cancer Society, Centraide of Greater Montreal and the Jean Paul Riopelle Foundation. He is a member of the Board of the Fondation Baxter & Alma Ricard, a member of the Chairman’s International Advisory Council of the Americas Society, Honorary Chairman of the Canada China Business Council, and a member of the Trilateral Commission and several China-based organizations.

He holds a Bachelor of Commerce from Concordia University and received honorary doctorates from Concordia University, Université de Montréal and McGill University. In 2003, he was made an Officer of the Order of Canada and, in 2009, an Officer of the Ordre national du Québec. In May 2022, Mr. Desmarais was inducted into the Order of the Canadian Business Hall of Fame.