Beijing Chapter

Jacob Cooke is the Co-Founder and CEO of WPIC Marketing + Technologies, a leading e-commerce and technology consultancy that drives growth for global brands in China, Japan, South Korea, and Southeast Asia.

As CEO, Mr. Cooke is the driving force behind WPIC’s world-class data tools, e-commerce services, and artificial intelligence technology. Under his leadership the firm has built out an expansive solution set covering data analytics, e-commerce activations and store management, brand strategy, creative campaigns, merchandising, warehousing, 3Pl integrations, and more.

Mr. Cooke has been based in Beijing since 2003.

Justin Downes serves as President of Axis Leisure Management and has held a number of senior resort and tourism leadership roles over 25 years and on three continents including some of the industry’s leading four-season resorts.

Prior to founding Axis, Mr. Downes served as Senior VP Operations for Melco China Resorts (formerly Intrawest China) and was responsible for the planning, development, and operation of five major resorts in China’s North East including Yabuli and Beidahu. He later served as COO for Genting Secret Garden Resort (host resort for the 2022 Winter Olympics), overseeing business and master planning up to the time of opening. Axis is currently involved in multiple high-profile mountain resorts and indoor winter sport developments as well as working with multiple iconic international sport, leisure and tourism brands. Mr. Downes also currently serves on the Board of Directors of Freestyle Canada – Canada’s national freestyle ski program.

Prior to coming to China in 2006, Mr. Downes held the role of CEO for Hotham Skiing Company, one of Australia’s leading ski resorts and tourism assets. From 2000-2005, he served as the opening General Manager and Developer of Kicking Horse Mountain Resort in Canada’s Rocky Mountains. As the leader of this project, he oversaw all aspects of the development and operations that lead to it becoming one of North America’s leading resort properties. Throughout the 90’s, Mr. Downes held a number of Executive roles with Intrawest ULC, in Whistler and Panorama, British Columbia.

Axis is a leading leisure and hospitality consultancy headquartered in Beijing, specializing in four-season development projects on behalf of domestic developers, and representing leading foreign firms in the hospitality/leisure industry looking to offer service, or launch their brand into the growing Asian marketplace in the areas of ski, golf, integrated resorts and entertainment venues.

Rui FENG is a successful entrepreneur, explorer, and mine builder with over 25 years of global mining industry experience. His passion for discovery has led him to explore and acquire mineral opportunities worldwide. He was integral in discovering Jinshan Gold’s CSH Gold Mine in China in 2002, which was acquired by China Gold International. Dr. Feng founded Silvercorp in 2003 by acquiring early-stage properties in China. Through discovery and development, Silvercorp has become one of the most profitable Canadian mining companies, with multiple mines in China. As a director and CEO of New Pacific Metals, Dr. Feng led the company to Bolivia in 2017 and acquired the Silver Sand project which has recently led to a significant discovery.

In addition to delivering value to employees and shareholders through discovery and development, Dr. Feng also believes a sustainable operation requires innovation and more effective management. He pioneered a digital information management tool for Silvercorp’s mines, which has contributed to improved organizational performance and operational profitability.

Dr. Feng obtained his B.Sc. and M.Sc. degrees in Geology in China, his Ph.D. in Geological Sciences from the University of Saskatchewan in Canada in 1992, and received a Post-Doctorial fellowship from the National Sciences and Engineering Council of Canada in 1992. Dr. Feng supports many community and social causes through contributions made personally and through the actions of the companies he leads.

Ms. Vivi Hou is the President and CEO of Power Pacific, Power Corp.’s Greater China headquarters. She holds various key roles on several boards, including Chairwoman of the Supervisory Board of China Asset Management, member of the Board of Directors at the Canada China Business Council, and member of the Board of Directors of the Education Development Foundation at Duke Kunshan University. Ms. Hou has devoted significant time and effort to nurturing Canada-China business relations.

Ms. Hou’s career in financial services have spanned two decades across the Pacific. She was Head of Private Investment and Business Development at CSOP Asset Management and later served as Chief Business Development Officer & Head of China Strategy at Harvest Global Investments. Before moving to Hong Kong, Ms. Hou began her career as an equity investment analyst at Investors Group Investment Management in Canada. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in finance from the University of Alberta.

Power Corporation of Canada (Power Corp.), a Fortune 500 company, is a leading global financial conglomerate. Since 1978, Power Corp.’s investments in the greater China region have involved holding investments in China Asset Management, one of China’s largest asset managers, and direct investments in multiple listed A/H-shares and private projects.

Kevin Tsui was recently appointed as Chief Representative, China for Invest Alberta Corporation (IAC), established as Government of Alberta’s investment promotion agency. IAC identifies and pursues high-value, high-impact investments while assisting global investors to capitalize on Alberta investment opportunities.

Prior to this role, Kevin concluded an 11 year term as the Managing Director and Representative Director for Government of British Columbia through its BC Trade and Investment representative offices in Beijing and Shanghai. During these years of significant growth in Canada-China bilateral relations, Kevin facilitated two-way commercial, institutional, trade and investment relations between British Columbia and stakeholders from North and East China.

In the years leading to the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Kevin was Managing Director, China, for the Canada China Business Council (CCBC) where he managed a network of up to 8 representative offices across China, promoted Sino-Canadian trade relations and advised Canadian corporate members on their China market entry and business development strategies.

Before moving his family to Beijing in 2003, Kevin was based in Vancouver where he worked in the enterprise software and online marketing/advertising industries as a business development and enterprise sales professional.

Born in Paris, France, and raised and educated in Montreal, Canada where he obtained his Bachelor of Commerce from McGill University, Kevin is fluent in Mandarin, Cantonese, French and English.

Albert Yu has been Managing Director and Head of Asia at Bank of Montreal since 2016, where he was serving as Chief Executive Officer of Asia and Managing Director of Asia at Bank of Montreal. Mr. Yu is responsible for the growth and development of BMO Financial Group’s businesses and functions throughout Asia and serves as President of BMO’s locally incorporated subsidiary, Bank of Montreal (China) Co. Ltd. Mr. Yu joined BMO in January 2009 and is based in Beijing.

Mr. Yu is an accomplished banker with more than two decades of global experience in capital markets and wealth management. He has extensive Canadian management experience and expertise across Asian and North American markets.

Prior to joining BMO Mr. Yu was based in New York, leading a number of HSBC’s capital markets businesses including financial products, sales and structured wealth management. Before joining HSBC in 2000, he was Head of financial products marketing in North America for CIBC World Markets, and global head of transaction development.

Mr. Yu started his career in 1986 with Bankers Trust and HSBC in Toronto and Hong Kong, where he held various trading, banking and management positions. He serves as Director at BMO ETF – BMO Asia High Dividend ETF, and Bank of Montreal (China) Co. Ltd.

Mr. Yu has a Master of Science degree in finance from the University of British Columbia and a Bachelor of Commerce degree from University of Windsor.