CCBC Diverse Canada Virtual Mission 2021
Connecting Diverse Canadian Business Leaders with the China Market
September – November 2021
COVID-19 has suspended travel and slowed international business development, but China’s control of the pandemic and economic rebound poses a unique opportunity for Canadian businesses and exporters.
With the intention of fostering diversity in Canada-China business, this CCBC program is designed to connect diverse business leaders, including those identifying as women, BIPOC, and/or LGBTQ2+, with the resources and support they need to enter and succeed in the China market. In recruiting delegates for this Mission, CCBC prioritized the recruitment of delegates who identify as women, BIPOC, and/or LGBTQ2+.
From September to November 2021, the Diverse Canada Virtual Mission will lead a delegation of up to 20 Canadian business leaders to build connections and create business plans for China market success. Leading up to the Mission on November 23-24, delegates will undergo 10 hours of specialized training focused on brand positioning, digital marketing, Chinese business culture, funding business expansion, and protection of IP.
Mission delegates will participate in a virtual business exhibition and pitch presentation open to the Canada-China business community, trade commissioners, and China market business contacts, and will participate in an interactive virtual Mission program featuring roundtable discussions with distinguished speakers, industry breakouts, and B2B networking opportunities. CCBC will arrange two curated meetings per delegate with the aim of helping delegates work toward their China market goals.
All delegates will be granted complimentary virtual participation in two premier CCBC virtual events: China’s 14th Five-Year Plan: Opportunities for Canadian Companies to Pivot and Expand in the World’s Largest Consumer Market on September 28, and the 43rd CCBC AGM and Business Forum. Taking place October 27-28, CCBC’s AGM and Business Forum is an annual event that convenes bilateral business leaders for a two-day hybrid conference examining current opportunities and obstacles in Canada-China business.
PROGRAM AT-A-GLANCE**
September 21, 2021
3:00pm – 5:00pm EDT | Workshop 1*:
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September 28, 2021
11:00am – 2:00pm EDT | China’s 14th Five-Year Plan: Opportunities for Canadian Companies to Pivot and Expand in the World’s Largest Consumer Market Complimentary registration! ($50 value) |
October 5, 2021
3:00pm – 5:00pm EDT |
Workshop 2:
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October 12, 2021
3:00pm – 5:00pm EDT | Workshop 3:
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October 19, 2021
3:00pm – 5:00pm EDT | Workshop 4*:
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October 27-28, 2021
Two-day virtual conference, timed for Canadian attendees |
Complimentary registration! ($99 value)
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November 2, 2021
3:00pm – 5:00pm EDT | Workshop 5*:
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November 9, 2021
3:00pm – 5:00pm EST | Workshop 6:
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November 16, 2021
4:00pm – 5:00pm EST | Pre-Mission Delegate Networking |
November 23, 2021
Timing TBA | Virtual Mission Day 1* Program details to be announced in the coming weeks |
November 24, 2021
Timing TBA | Virtual Mission Day 2* Program details to be announced in the coming weeks |
*Indicates delegate participation is mandatory
**Draft schedule subject to further updates
PRESENTERS
Jennifer Cooke
Director of Inclusive Trade
Export Development Canada (EDC)
Biography
Jennifer Cooke joined EDC in 2010 to work directly with Canadian companies and help them succeed in international markets. As the Director for Inclusive Trade, she leads a team that is focused specifically on helping more women and diverse Canadian entrepreneurs realize their global potential with confidence by removing barriers, creating an equitable playing field, and increasing accessibility to products and services. Working directly, as well as through key partners, EDC offers specialized and reliable trade knowledge, facilitates exports of goods and services with financing and insurance, and provides connections to enable all companies to achieve international success.
Nicole Lin
Business Development Country Manager – Canada
Tmall Global
Biography
Nicole joined Alibaba, Tmall Global in 2018, and has since worked as a BD manager for the Americas region, and category manager for the Tmall Overseas Fulfilment team. Nicole has extensive work experience in both FMCG and luxury retail, and is now focusing on helping Canadian brands and partners tapping into China through Cross-Border Ecommerce.
Peter McMath
Chief Revenue Officer
WPIC Marketing + Technologies
Biography
Originating from an entrepreneurial background as Founder and Executive, Peter is obsessed with solving problems. Having built and executed solutions across every department of a company, Peter is now committed to leveraging his holistic experience in value creation and growth for organizations seeking market entry and market growth in the Asia Pacific regions.
From ideation to execution, Peter has developed products, built consumer brands, managed international sourcing and complex supply chain logistics and discovered partnership opportunities. Ultimately, Peter’s impact has created value for organizations and customers in over 40 countries.
Peter’s strong ability to identify and understand the core problems, then communicate a concise and appealing vision forward allows him to effectively identify key objectives and execute a plan to profitability and success.
Sarah Kutulakos
Executive Director & COO
Canada China Business Council (CCBC)
Biography
Sarah joined the CCBC in 2007 and has since revitalized CCBC’s role as Canada’s premier bilateral trade and investment organization. Sarah has re-centered the Council’s activities around providing business services, catalyzing business growth and activity, and advocating for stronger Sino-Canadian bilateral trade and investment. This has resulted in extensive public outreach activities, internal infrastructure improvements, the launch of new programs such as the Business Incubation Centre, and thriving member relations.
Prior to joining CCBC, Sarah worked for 11 years in marketing, product development, and management with a major multinational corporation, where she had multiple assignments involving China. Sarah managed worldwide product businesses that marketed to China and used China-based sources of supply. She was also involved in several projects requiring cooperation with the Chinese government. Sarah has led both established and start-up businesses within the context of a global corporation and has broad emerging market business experience, and has been involved in the Greater China region since the late 1980’s when she lived and worked in Taiwan. There, she was the first non-Chinese employee of a local high-tech start-up firm, where she gained a deep understanding of Chinese business practices.
A fluent Mandarin speaker, Sarah’s interest in China began at the University of Wisconsin, where she studied Chinese, marketing, and international business. She holds an MBA in finance and operations from the Simon School of Business at the University of Rochester. She frequently speaks on China issues, including marketing, trade, investment, and Canada-China relations.
George Tai
Partner
Dentons Canada LLP
Biography
George’s practice centers on Mergers and Acquisitions, Securities, Corporate Finance and Corporate/commercial transactions, primarily in the energy and technology sectors. George also has extensive experience advising technology companies having successfully negotiated complex licensing contracts, service agreements and software development agreements domestically and internationally with numerous multinational original equipment manufacturers, telecommunications companies and software companies. George has experience in structuring and negotiating international commercial transactions, advising a number of Canadian-based clients on transactions in Asia, and with Asian-based clients pursuing investments and business opportunities in Canada.
Prior to joining Dentons as a partner, George was the financial managing partner of a Calgary-based mid-sized law firm. George held several leadership roles including Chief Operating Officer of a NASDAQ software company where he was responsible for operations of seven offices worldwide (four of which were in Asia) and subsequently appointed as Chairman of the Board. He was also the Co-Founder and Vice-President of a TSX listed venture capital mutual fund, advising the board of directors on investments in biotech companies, healthcare companies and software companies.
Shanshan Tang
Alibaba Global Business Lead – Canada
Alibaba Group
Biography
Shanshan joined Alibaba in 2016, and is now based in Vancouver as lead of Alibaba Global Business in Canada, responsible for the strategic planning and implementation of the globalization of the Alibaba Group ecosystem in Canada. She received an MBA degree from Oxford University and Bachelor’s Degree from UBC. Shanshan’s presentation will highlight Alibaba’s oversea business strategy and how Alibaba is contributing to local SMEs.
For more information,
please contact your regional Chapter Director:
• Atlantic: Laura Markle
• Quebec: Philippe Jeanneau
• Ontario: Jeff Zhang
• Prairies: Philippe Jeanneau
• BC: Philippe Jeanneau
• Beijing: Noah Fraser
• Shanghai: Edward Dai
CCBC thanks CanExport Associations for partial funding support for this program.