Bijan Ahmadi is the Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer of the Canada China Business Council (CCBC), where he leads the Council’s strategic direction, operations, and programming across all seven chapters in Canada and China. In this capacity, he also serves on CCBC’s Board of Directors and its Executive Committee.

As a recognized voice in Canada–China relations, Bijan works closely with senior executives, policymakers, and institutional partners to strengthen bilateral trade and investment ties, advance member services, and position Canadian companies for success in the Chinese market. His work focuses on translating policy and regulatory developments into practical insights for business leaders and supporting high-level commercial engagement between the two countries.

Prior to joining CCBC, Bijan co-founded and served as Executive Director of the Institute for Peace & Diplomacy (IPD) from 2018 to 2024, where he helped build the organization into a respected binational foreign policy think tank operating in Canada and the United States. During this period, he launched IPD’s Asia research program and its annual flagship conference, the Indo-Pacific Strategy Forum (IPSF) in Ottawa, now widely regarded as Canada’s leading platform for policy and economic dialogue on the Asia-Pacific region. He was also co-editor of Canada–China Brief, an online policy publication covering political and economic developments in the bilateral relationship.

Throughout his work on China, Bijan has advised multinational corporations and small and medium-sized enterprises on navigating Canada–China trade, regulatory, and policy environments. He has led Track 2 and Track 1.5 dialogue initiatives in partnership with Chinese, Canadian and American institutions and he regularly delivers lectures and professional training on Canada–China economic relations for public and private sector audiences.

Bijan also serves on the Advisory Board of the Canada China Forum, a platform dedicated to nurturing the next generation of China-competent Canadian professionals.

He holds a Master’s degree in Global Diplomacy from SOAS University of London and a Master of Applied Science from the University of Toronto. Earlier in his career, he worked in strategy and management roles in the financial services and real estate sectors and has served on the boards of several Canadian non-profits and NGOs, including the Toronto branch of the Canadian International Council.

Jessica Chester is the Co-Founder and CEO of Laneway Distillers, a Canadian premium spirits brand known for crafting elegant, small-batch gins and vodka that celebrate the character of Canadian botanicals. Founded in 2018, Laneway Distillers has grown under her leadership into an internationally recognized brand with a presence in China, where the company is recognized as a China SME partner.

With a background in design and brand development, Jessica brings a creative and thoughtful approach to the world of spirits, blending craftsmanship, storytelling, and modern luxury. She is passionate about building respected Canadian spirits while championing women-founded entrepreneurship within the industry.

Walid Hejazi is a Professor of Economic Analysis and Policy at the Rotman School of Management, Fellow of the Michael Lee-Chin Family Institute for Corporate Citizenship, and member of the Board of Directors of the David & Sharon Johnston Centre for Corporate Governance Innovation. His research focuses on the development of strategies which enhance the ability of companies to compete in domestic and global marketplaces. He has worked closely with many companies to develop and implement innovative strategies, with a particular focus on the role of leaders in preparing those companies to lead strategic change. He is currently working on a book that analyzes strategies that can mobilize global pools of capital into the development of sustainable infrastructure projects in the developing world. He has also worked extensively with Canadian and foreign governments on the development of policies around foreign investment and international trade and has testified extensively before parliamentary and senate committees. He teaches in Rotman’s MBA, EMBA and custom executive programs, and has delivered lectures in over 30 countries, and is a frequent commentator in the media.

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

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

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

Hugo 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 with RBC’s Beacon program and the Rotman School of Management, and also serves as a York Region youth basketball coach.

James Rausch is Global Head of Banks, Brokers & Exchanges at RBC Investor & Treasury Services and is also a member of the Investor & Treasury Services Operating Committee. He is based in Toronto.

As Global Head of Banks, Brokers & Exchanges, James has end-to-end responsibility for the sales, service and product delivery of Canadian dollar services to our financial institution partners globally. James also leads our Graduate Rotational Program in Canada, and is heavily involved in mentoring new and high potential employees.

James joined RBC in 2014 and is a seasoned leader with over 25 years of experience in financial markets, including 12 years at Powerex and previously at Infoware Software, the Toronto Stock Exchange and Toronto Dominion Bank. His broad business experience includes transaction banking, client coverage, risk management, commodities trading and corporate finance.

James became a CFA charterholder in 1999 and holds an MBA from the Joseph L. Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto and a Bachelor of Science from the same institution. He recently completed a certificate in the Foundations of Applied Mindfulness Meditation, is a certified facilitator of the Mindfulness Without Borders program and is a Professional Coach pursuing his Associate Certified Coach (ACC) accreditation. James is a diversity advocate, leading the diversity leadership council for the division in Canada as well as the executive sponsor for the next-gen stream. As a visible LGBTQ+ leader, James recently delivered the lunch keynote at the Out on Bay Street conference.

James is the past divisional co-chair of the RBC United Way Giving Campaign and participates as a board member on the Canada China Business Council (CCBC) and DAREarts. He was a past board member of Bankers Association for Finance and Trade (BAFT) and co-chaired the North American Council.

John Xu was appointed the Chief Representative of China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) / China Chamber of International Commerce (CCOIC), Representative Office in Canada, in 2019. In this role, he is responsible to facilitate the business exchanges and cooperation between China and Canada, through partnering with business associations, identifying business partners, participating trade events, trade missions, trade disputes settlement, etc.

Before joining CCPIT Representative Office in Canada, John was the Vice President of China International Exhibition Center Group Ltd., where he was responsible to manage exhibition venues and organize trade fairs.

John has over 20 years of experience in trade promotion between China and the rest of the world. His expertise includes arranging business matchmaking meetings and receiving international trade delegations, among other critical activities that advance bilateral trade.

Jeff has over 20 years of international experience in private, public and non-profit organizations in a variety of sectors including E-commerce, oil and gas, retail, commercial real estate, education and financial services. Prior to joining CCBC, Jeff worked in establishment and operation management at a Sino-Foreign joint venture company and in strategic partnership management at a Fortune 500 multinational company. He also led and assisted a number of Canadian companies and educational institutions into China where he was responsible for strategic partnerships and branding establishment.

Jeff has an MBA in marketing and international business from Concordia University in Montreal and is fluent in Mandarin and English. He has also been a guest speaker at professional business associations in China and Canada.