On March 18, 2025, CCBC held a sold-out discussion on the City of Toronto’s 10-Year Action Plan for Toronto’s Economy (2025-2035) and its implications for Canadian and Chinese business communities. With Toronto ranking as North America’s second-largest financial centre and a key hub for industries such as technology, manufacturing, life sciences, and interactive media, the Action Plan aims to strengthen the city’s global competitiveness and economic growth over the next decade. Nearly 70 attendees joined the event, representing a diverse group of business professionals, companies and organizations.

 

Clare Barnett, Director of Business Growth Services at the City of Toronto, along with her team—Susana Vaz, Leslie Fink, and Thomas McGinty—provided an overview of the Action Plan’s key priorities and business incentive programs designed to assist overseas investors, including Chinese inbound investors and local Chinese-Canadian investors, when establishing and expanding their businesses in Toronto. Ms. Barnett also shared details on the City of Toronto-US Tariff Response, outlining how the City can support businesses affected by US tariffs and mitigate their impact.

 

Thomas Timmins, Leader, Energy Sector Practice, Gowling WLG (Canada) LLP and CCBC Board Director, shared insights on business resilience in a rapidly changing world. Hugo Lorenson, Regional Vice President, Commercial Financial Services ­GTR and Clarinda Andres, Commercial Solutions Specialist, Royal Bank of Canada, provided valuable guidance on global expansion, grant funding, and financial resources available to businesses. The event concluded with closing remarks from Bijan Ahmadi, CCBC Executive Director and COO, followed by a networking lunch, allowing participants to connect and explore collaboration opportunities.

 

 

Tickets: CCBC Members: $20 + HST; Non-Members: $100 + HST

 

Address: Gowling WLG, 1 First Canadian Place, 100 King Street West, Suite 1600, Toronto, Ontario

 

About the Speakers:

 

Thomas J. Timmins
Leader, Energy Sector Practice
Gowling WLG (Canada) LLP

 

Thomas J. Timmins (谭民思) is a senior projects lawyer based in Canada focused primarily on renewable energy projects and the global energy transition. He leads the Energy Sector Practice at Gowling WLG Canada. Named a ‘Leading Lawyer’ by The Legal 500 Canada and Who’s Who Legal, Mr. Timmins serves as a Board member of the Canadian Ditchley Foundation, as an advisor at the Centre for Urban Energy at Metropolitan Toronto University, as a member of the Legal Committee of Transparency International and on several public and private boards. He also teaches Infrastructure and Project Finance Law and serves as an adjudicator under the Canadian Free Trade Agreement. Mr. Timmins served as the Leader of Gowling WLG Canada’s highly successful China Practice between 2016-2024.

 

 

Clare Barnett
Director, Business Growth Services
City of Toronto

 

Clare Barnett brings a unique perspective having both private and public sector experience in international business development and marketing, economic development, attracting Foreign Direct Investment, developing Business Retention & Expansion programs, and building an award-winning Innovation District.

 

She has deep business development and marketing expertise cultivated through more than 15 years with the provincial government focused on Ontario’s economic competitiveness, in addition to prior private sector experience in the technology space.

 

Ms. Barnett served as Ontario’s representative in the United Kingdom with a mandate to further Ontario’s trade, investment and broader economic interests. She also established Ontario’s first Investment Office, leading international business development and marketing.

 

More recently, Ms. Barnett created an award winning and accredited Economic Development Office with the City of Brampton, part of the Greater Toronto Area. Global brands invested under her leadership, and Brampton’s place on the global stage was recognized through various awards, including being ranked one of Canada’s best locations to invest.

 

Ms. Barnett now serves as the Director of Business Growth with the City of Toronto, leading economic development in Canada’s largest city and economy. The focus of her work is Business Retention & Expansion, main street and small business support, entrepreneurship and investment attraction.

 

Ms. Barnett is a thought leader in economic development and is a sought-after speaker internationally. She serves as an Advisor and Board Member to many organizations such as the International Economic Development Council, Organization of Women in International Trade and local start up incubators and accelerators. She has been called an inspirational leader and is personally focused on supporting women to grow their careers in economic development.

 

 

Hugo Lorenson, LLP MBA
Regional Vice President
Commercial Financial Services GTR
Royal Bank of Canada

 

Hugo Lorenson is currently Regional Vice President, Diversified Banking, Commercial Financial Services with over 15 years of experience at RBC.

 

Mr. Lorenson’s breadth of experience provides him with a deep understanding of Commercial Banking. He began his journey as a Senior Relationship Manager in the GTA, progressing through various senior leadership positions, including Credit Adjudication and Commercial Advisory Groups. Additionally, he managed the Operations Centres that spanned across the Americas, along with providing oversight of the Caribbean Cards Operations Group. Mr. Lorenson has led high performing teams in the Retail, Franchising and Business Professional Services industries, as VP, Commercial in the GTA. Prior to his current position, Mr. Lorenson was one of the original RBC leaders to join the Group Risk Management National Internship Program.

 

Mr. Lorenson was a practicing lawyer in Toronto before starting his career at RBC.

 

Mr. Lorenson holds a Law Degree from Osgoode Hall Law School, an MBA from the Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto and an undergraduate degree from Acadia University. He is an active volunteer member of RBC’s Beacon program, the Rotman School of Management, as well as a York Region youth basketball coach.

 

 

Clarinda (Claire) Andres, MBA
Commercial Solutions Specialist
Royal Bank of Canada

 

Claire Andres is a Commercial Solutions Specialist with over 10 years of professional experience with the Royal Bank. She has earned multiple awards for her work in personal and business banking, credit and investments and specialized solutions for commercial clients.

 

Ms. Andres owned a business in the wholesale trade of industrial soaps before coming to Canada, thus she recognizes the many challenges business owners face and the needed support to be successful. A business enthusiast, and passionate in business development, she continues to help business owners get access to valuable resources and innovative solutions to help them achieve their goals.

 

 

Bijan Ahmadi
Executive Director and COO
Canada China Business Council

 

Bijan Ahmadi serves as the Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer of the Canada China Business Council (CCBC), overseeing the operations and activities of the Council across its seven chapters in Canada and China.

 

Before joining CCBC, he co-founded and served as the Executive Director of the Institute for Peace & Diplomacy (IPD) from 2018 to 2024. IPD is a non-partisan think tank operating in Canada and the United States, dedicated to fostering constructive engagement and interest-based thinking in international affairs.

 

During his tenure at IPD, Mr. Ahmadi launched the organization’s Asia research program in 2020 and its flagship annual conference, the Indo-Pacific Strategy Forum (IPSF), in Ottawa in 2021. Today, IPSF is recognized as Canada’s premier conference on the country’s engagement in the Indo-Pacific region. He was also the co-editor of Canada-China Brief, a biweekly policy newsletter providing the latest developments and expert insights on political and economic relations between Ottawa and Beijing.

 

In his work on China, Mr. Ahmadi has advised large corporations and SMEs on navigating Canada-China trade, policy, and regulatory developments. He has also spearheaded the publication of numerous research reports on China and Canada-China relations and led Track 2 diplomacy initiatives in collaboration with Chinese and American research institutions.

 

Mr. Ahmadi holds a Master’s degree in Global Diplomacy from SOAS University of London and a Master of Applied Science from the University of Toronto. Before founding IPD, Mr. Ahmadi worked in strategy and management roles in the financial services and real estate sectors, where he honed his skills in organizational leadership and operational planning. He also served on the executive boards of several Canadian non-profits and NGOs, including the Toronto branch of the Canadian International Council.