Beijing Chapter

Robert Kwauk is Partner Emeritus with Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP, where he recently retired from active practice after nearly a quarter century with this top ranked Canadian law firm, the majority of which was spent as the leader of their China practice.

Bob relocated to Beijing in 1998 where he established the Blakes’ office in China and managed the operation for over 20 years. Bob was one of the primary contributors to the firm’s China Practice Group, where he and his colleagues worked on dozens of major transactions (mining, oil & gas, real estate, technology, transportation, financing, etc.) undertaken by Chinese companies in and through Canada, with value totaling well into the tens of billions of dollars. Bob has been recognized by Chambers Global, World’s Leading Business Lawyers for M&A and Canadian Experts in China; and by Who’s Who Legal for his work in the Energy & Natural Resources Practice. Previous to Blakes’, he worked with Bennett Jones in Calgary after concluding his first career, serving in the Royal Canadian Mounted Police for over a decade – 60% of which was working on national security related matters.

Bob continues to reside in Beijing and consults a number of listed Chinese and Canadian business entities in the legal and energy space, and serves as Chairman of the Canada China Business Council’s Beijing Advisory Committee. He holds a joint LL.B/MBA from the University of Alberta, and completed his undergraduate studies at Simon Fraser University.

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.

Ms. Vivi Hou is the President and CEO of Power Pacific Corporation Ltd. Ms. Hou also services as the Chairwoman of the Supervisory Board of China AMC; and is a board member of the Canada China Business Council.

Power Corporation of Canada is a global leading financial holding group and is listed on Fortune 500. Power Group’s investment in China comprises direct holding in China AMC; investments in listed securities (Power Pacific Investment Management) and PE/VC funds.

Ms. Hou’s international career in financial services and experience in senior management roles has spanned nearly two decades across North America and Greater China. She started her career as a member of the investment team for Investors Group, and was appointed as member of Harvest Global Investment’s Global Management Committee, Chief Business Development Officer and Head of China Strategy. Prior to that, she headed CSOP Asset Management’s Business Development and Private Equity businesses.

Ralph Lutes was appointed Executive Director and General Manager, Teck China, in October 2014, having previously held the position of Vice President, Asian Affairs. Prior to joining Teck, Mr. Lutes practiced corporate and commercial law in Stikeman Elliott LLP’s Toronto, Hong Kong, and Vancouver offices. He has also served as Managing Director and Counsel with CIBC World Markets in Singapore with responsibility for the Far East and Australia, including offices in Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Tokyo, Singapore, Sydney and Perth.

Mr. Lutes holds a Bachelor of Laws from the University of New Brunswick and a Bachelor of Commerce (Hons.) from Queen’s University. He has also been a sessional lecturer in corporate governance at the Sauder School of Business at the University of British Columbia.

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.