British Columbia Chapter
British Columbia Chapter
British Columbia Chapter
Vancouver, B.C.
bc@ccbc.com

British Columbia Chapter
Vancouver, B.C.
bc@ccbc.com
British Columbia Chapter
Vancouver, B.C.
bc@ccbc.com
Lotta Ygartua
Regional Director, Western Canada (BC, SK, AB, YT, NT, NU)
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.
British Columbia Advisory Council

Paul Blom
Executive Director
British Columbia First Nations Energy and Mining Council
Biography
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.

Steve Di Fruscia
President and CEO
Tianco Group
Biography
Steve Di Fruscia is an accomplished real estate professional with over 15 years of experience and a portfolio of more than 2,200 developed units across major Canadian markets. He has led the successful development of numerous residential and mixed-use projects in both Montreal and Vancouver, demonstrating a deep understanding of each city’s unique market dynamics.
Mr. Fruscia is widely recognized for his strength in communications and partner relations, maintaining long-standing relationships with lenders, builders, and key stakeholders in both regions. In 2018, he was honored with the Young Entrepreneurs Award by the Canada China Business Council for his leadership and entrepreneurial achievements.
He also studied Chinese language and literature at the University of British Columbia, equipping him with cross-cultural communication skills that enhance his effectiveness in diverse business environments.
With a track record of delivering high-quality developments and fostering collaborative partnerships, Mr. Fruscia continues to drive innovation and growth in the Canadian real estate sector.

David T. Fung, B.Eng., M. Eng., Ph.D., PEng (BC), FEC, C. Dir., LL.D. (Hon.), D.Sc. (Hon.)
CEO
ACDEG International Inc.
Biography
Dr. Fung is the co-founder, Board Chair and CEO of the ACDEG Group of companies, a global technology integrator. 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 is the co-inventor of 50 patents with more than 25 patent applications pending on a variety of process technologies. The remediation of large (0.2-3.5 square kilometers per 10-kg unit using only solar power) waterbodies suffering from eutrophication are being deployed on six continents.
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 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) by Asia Network Canada, the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal by the Governor General of Canada, the honorary Doctor of Law degree by Capilano University (BC), the honorary Doctor of Science degree by Concordia University (Quebec), the Award of Merit by the McGill Alumni Association and the Fellowship of Engineers Canada.

Joyce Lee
Partner and Chair of Asia Group
McCarthy Tétrault LLP
Biography
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.

Angelina Li
Vice-President, North Shore, Commercial Financial Services
RBC Royal Bank of Canada
Biography
Angelina Li is the Vice President of Commercial Financial Services at RBC, where she leads a team supporting businesses across a wide range of industries in Greater Vancouver. In her current role, Angelina empowers her team to drive client growth by delivering tailored financial solutions – including M&A, commercial real estate financing, cash management, foreign exchange, and trade finance.
Prior to her current position, Angelina served as Vice President in RBC’s Corporate Client Group, where she specialized in arranging syndicated loan solutions for Canadian private companies and small-cap publicly traded companies. Earlier, she led a nationally top-ranked team as Vice President, Financing Specialists, earning the RBC Leadership Award for her outstanding contributions.
Outside of work, Angelina volunteers as a Mentor with the UBC Executive Mentorship Program, where she supports immigrant students in finding their career path and navigating professional opportunities in Canada. She is fluent in English and Mandarin and passionate about giving back to the community. Angelina holds a Master of Business Administration with studies at the Sauder School of Business, University of British Columbia, and completed exchange programs at Yale School of Management and the Saïd Business School at the University of Oxford. She also holds a Bachelor of Commerce with a specialization in Finance and Entrepreneurship from UBC.