Mr. Austin has been active in both private and public life. He received his law degrees from the University of British Columbia and Harvard Law School and practiced law in Vancouver for over 20 years, specializing in trade and commercial law, particularly in relation to natural resources and the markets of China, South Korea and Japan.

In public life, Mr. Austin served as Deputy Minister of Energy, Mines, and Resources, Canada, and Principal Secretary (Chief of Staff) to Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau. After becoming a member of the Canadian Senate, Mr. Austin served in the Cabinet of Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau as Minister for Social Development and for Expo ’86. He also served in the Cabinet of Prime Minister Paul Martin as Government Leader in the Senate.

From 1993 to 2000, Mr. Austin held the post of President of CCBC and from 2000 to 2003 as Deputy Chair. He led the Team Canada activities of the Council with Chinese leaders and Prime Minister Jean Chretien and assisted in building a strong relationship between Canada and China during that period.

After leaving the Senate in March 2007, Mr. Austin became Senior Advisor – International to Stern Partners Inc., a private equity group based in Vancouver. He is Honourary Professor and Senior Fellow at the Institute of Asian Research at the University of British Columbia and Co-Chair of the UBC China Council. He is a member of the Simon Fraser Beedie School, Jack Austin Centre for Asia Pacific Business Studies Advisory Council.

Mr. Austin is a member of the Order of British Columbia, the Order of Canada, and the Simon Fraser University Distinguished Community Service Award. He has received Honourary Degrees from the University of Macau, the University of British Columbia, Royal Roads University, and Simon Fraser University.