Chris is the President & Chief Executive Officer of the Canola Council of Canada. He is responsible for leading the efforts of the Council’s professional staff and reports to the Council’s Board of Directors.

Chris joined the Council in August 2021 as Vice President, Stakeholder and Industry Relations. Prior to joining the Council, Chris spent nearly 10 years with a global life sciences company serving as Head of Business Sustainability for North America and prior to that Head of Corporate Affairs for Canada.

Chris also spent several years on the consulting side of the agri-food industry working in government and industry relations, corporate communications and public affairs to advance issues and opportunities at the global, regional, national and sub-national levels for a diverse set of clients.

Earlier in his career, Chris worked for the Canadian federal government on animal health, plant health, and food safety related issues in support of Canadian bilateral and multilateral trade relationships.

As Director of the Beijing Chapter, David Perez-Des Rosiers is responsible for building the CCBC membership base throughout the region by connecting Canadian and Chinese businesses, promoting Canada-China bilateral trade, organizing events and supporting member service delivery. David has a diverse background with experience in marketing, consulting, research, and as a Parole Officer for the Correctional Service of Canada. David lived in China for five years, studying and working as a consultant for a Food & Beverage group. He was also the Special Representative to Mainland China for the Canada-China Forum, during which he was responsible for member recruitment, building exposure for the organization and creating initiatives in China.

He holds a Ph.D. in Global Studies from Shanghai University, during which he conducted research on Canada-China partnerships in high-tech. He also holds an Msc in Criminology and a BSc in Psychology.

Christopher White is a Canadian trade and public affairs executive serving as President & CEO of the Canadian Meat Advocacy Office (CMAO) in Beijing and President, Canada Pork.

He advances Canadian agri-food interests through market access, regulatory engagement, and government relations in China and across Asia.

He previously served for eight years as President & CEO of the Canadian Meat Council.

Earlier in his career, he spent 13 years on Parliament Hill, including as Chief of Staff to five federal cabinet ministers and as Senior Advisor to Paul Martin during his tenure as Minister of Finance.

He has also held senior positions in the automotive, finance, and insurance sectors.

He holds a Master of Arts in Political Science from the University of Windsor and is the father of five children.

Cynthia leads Edelman’s Public & Government Affairs team in Greater China, covering Mainland China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. She is an active member of the Canadian Global Executive.

With two decades of experience in government relations, public policy, business advisory, and international cooperation in China, Cynthia has worked with government organizations, industry associations, multinational companies, and think tanks in sectors such as agriculture and biotechnology, food and beverage, FMCG, retail, and e-commerce. Her expertise focuses on strategy development, policy consultancy, corporate reputation management, operational support, and crisis management.

She also has extensive experience in market access, GMO approval, trade agreements and disputes, foreign direct investment and M&A, food safety and nutrition, global supply chain management, sustainability, and domestic market operations and compliance.

Her deep expertise in Chinese politics, government structures, and decision-making processes has provided strategic guidance to numerous clients navigating the complex regulatory and business landscape of Greater China.

Prior to joining Edelman, Cynthia enjoyed a distinguished, nearly 20-year career at Yuan Associates, the industry pioneer in Chinese government relations, where she became the firm’s youngest-ever partner.

Cynthia’s extensive experience extends beyond China, encompassing markets in North America, South America, Asia Pacific, and Europe, where she has guided clients, including Chinese enterprises, through complex regulatory environments amid evolving geopolitical landscapes.

As Regional Director of Western Canada, Lotta Ygartua is responsible for building the CCBC membership base throughout the region by connecting Canadian and Chinese businesses, promoting Canada-China bilateral trade, organizing events and supporting the delivery of member services. Ms. Ygartua has over 10 years of marketing experience in the technology, marketing research, communications and art sectors. Prior to joining CCBC, she was Marketing Manager at the China-Britain Business Council based in the UK, promoting trade and business with China and organizing high-calibre events involving the Chinese Premier and the Prime Minister of Great Britain.

Ms. Ygartua spent several years living in China, where she studied and worked for a local company that developed products for the Chinese market. Ms. Ygartua studied Mandarin at the University of Nanjing and Nanjing Normal University. She holds a BA in Chinese and BSc in Social and Economic Geography from Uppsala University, Sweden.