Launching our inaugural episode of the Canada-China Forum Member Profile Interview Series, host Liat Fainman-Adelman sits down with Ryan Ngai of Markham, Ontario to speak about his experience growing up in Canada as a Chinese-Canadian.
They discuss his unique upbringing navigating the complexities of East and West, and how this has shaped his identity as a Chinese-Canadian. As the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated xenophobia and bigotry toward Asian Canadians, Ryan also candidly shares his experience with anti-Asian racism. With the bilateral relationship at an all-time low between Ottawa and Beijing, he further shares why he continues to see value in developing China competencies as a young professional.
Ryan Ngai is a Research Associate at the London Economics International LLC. He is a graduate of the University of Ottawa with a focus on Asia-Pacific trade flows and China’s Belt and Road Initiative. He was previously a policy analyst with Global Affairs Canada and the Ho Chi Minh College of Economics, where he supported the organization in building capacity.
Host Liat Fainman-Adelmanis a Senior Consultant at Financial Times Strategies, a startup consultancy that helps newspapers across the world become more commercially sustainable. Prior to her current role, she’s worked in management consulting, early and late stage venture capital, and tech in Canada, Malaysia, and the UK. Liat is a Toronto native who unfortunately knows nothing about hockey but is fascinated with media polarisation, computational propaganda, and global affairs.
