In a session on March 27, 2024, in Toronto, officials from the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) shared the latest developments, government initiatives, and funding support within this thriving region. Canadian entrepreneurs and companies learn how they could leverage Hong Kong’s unique position to capitalize on the market and financing opportunities in the GBA for real business growth in the GBA, China, and Asia.

 

The Canada China Business Council (CCBC) was honoured to have Dr. Jimmy Chiang, Associate Director-General of Investment Promotion, Invest Hong Kong, and Ms. Cathy Li, Assistant Commissioner for the Development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA), The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, as guest speakers, and Ms. Sandra Zhao, Partner at McMillan LLP, to share their Canadian clients’ experiences in the GBA. A networking cocktail reception followed the presentations.

 

 

Tickets: Free for CCBC Members and invited guests only; limit of 2 registrations per member company.

 

Address: McMillan LLP, Brookfield Place, 181 Bay Street, Suite 4400, Toronto, Ontario, M5J 2T3

 

Agenda:
4:30 pm EDT: Registration and Networking
5:00 pm EDT: Welcome Remarks, Presentations, Fireside Chat and Q&A
6:00 pm EDT: Cocktail Reception
7:00 pm EDT: Event Ends

 

Dress Code: Business formal

 

About the Speakers:

 

Dr. Jimmy Chiang
Associate Director-General of Investment Promotion, Invest Hong Kong
The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region

 

Dr. Jimmy Chiang is Associate Director-General of Invest Hong Kong (InvestHK), the government department responsible for attracting foreign direct investment into Hong Kong.

 

Dr. Chiang joined InvestHK in 2003 and was promoted to Head of Tourism and Hospitality in 2010. He assumed the position of Associate Director-General in 2015. Currently, he oversees the business operations of the department’s 30+ overseas and Mainland offices, as well as the International Business Development, Mainland and GBA Business Development, Consulate and Chamber Engagement, and several Sector Specialist teams at the head office. Prior to joining InvestHK, Dr. Chiang held various managerial positions with an international shipping company for five years.

 

Dr. Chiang has a doctorate in hotel and tourism management from The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, a Master’s degree in business administration from The University of British Columbia and a Bachelor’s degree in social sciences from The University of Hong Kong.

 

 

Ms. Cathy Li
Assistant Commissioner for the Development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA)
The GBA Development Office, The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region

 

 

Sandra Zhao
Partner, Capital Markets & Securities | Mergers & Acquisitions
McMillan LLP

 

Sandra Zhao is a Partner at McMillan LLP and a member of the Capital Markets and M&A Group. She leads the firm’s China Practice and is fluent in Mandarin. Her practice is focused on mergers and acquisitions, contested transactions, going public transactions, corporate finance and business restructuring and she has significant cross-border experience with inbound transactions from China and the U.S. Ms. Zhao has represented public and private company clients in a wide range of industries in connection with the purchase and sale of businesses and capital raising, and is experienced in advising shareholders as well as boards of directors in connection with proxy fights. She also regularly advises public companies on corporate governance, security-based compensation, shareholders rights plans, securities regulatory compliance and general corporate and securities law matters. Ms. Zhao has an interest and expertise in shareholder activism and the duties of boards of directors and has written numerous publications on these topics, as well as taught as a guest lecturer at Queen’s University Faculty of Law and Lincoln Alexander School of Law.

 

Ms. Zhao holds a Juris Doctor from Osgoode Hall Law School and a Bachelor of Commerce (Finance) from the University of Toronto. She was the winner of the Lexpert 2022 Rising Stars Awards: Leading Lawyer Under 40 and has been recognized by Lexpert in 2023 as one of Canada’s Leading Finance and M&A Lawyers and as a Leading Lawyer to Watch in the area of Corporate Finance & Securities.

 

 

James Rausch
Managing Director and Head, Global Transaction Banking
RBC Capital Markets

 

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, Mr. Rausch has end-to-end responsibility for the sales, service and product delivery of Canadian dollar services to our financial institution partners globally. Mr. Rausch also leads our Graduate Rotational Program in Canada, and is heavily involved in mentoring new and high potential employees.

 

Mr. Rausch 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.

 

Mr. Rausch 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. Mr. Rausch 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, Mr. Rausch recently delivered the lunch keynote at the Out on Bay Street conference.

 

Mr. Rausch 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.

 

 

Sarah Kutulakos
Executive Director and COO
Canada China Business Council

 

Sarah Kutulakos joined the CCBC in 2007 and has since revitalized CCBC’s role as Canada’s premier bilateral trade and investment organization. Ms. Kutulakos has re-centered the Council’s activities around providing business services, catalyzing business growth and activity, and advocating for stronger Sino-Canadian bilateral trade and investment. This has resulted in extensive public outreach activities, internal infrastructure improvements, the launch of new programs such as the Business Incubation Centre, and thriving member relations.

 

Prior to joining CCBC, Ms. Kutulakos worked for 11 years in marketing, product development, and management with a major multinational corporation, where she had multiple assignments involving China. Ms. Kutulakos managed worldwide product businesses that marketed to China and used China-based sources of supply. She was also involved in several projects requiring cooperation with the Chinese government. Ms. Kutulakos has led both established and start-up businesses within the context of a global corporation and has broad emerging market business experience, and has been involved in the Greater China region since the late 1980s when she lived and worked in Taiwan. There, she was the first non-Chinese employee of a local high-tech start-up firm, where she gained a deep understanding of Chinese business practices.

 

A fluent Mandarin speaker, Ms. Kutulakos’s interest in China began at the University of Wisconsin, where she studied Chinese, marketing, and international business. She holds an MBA in finance and operations from the Simon School of Business at the University of Rochester. She frequently speaks on China issues, including marketing, trade, investment, and Canada-China relations.

 

 

Jeff Zhang
Regional Director, Central Canada
Canada China Business Council

 

Jeff Zhang 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, Mr. Zhang 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.

 

Mr. Zhang 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.