Canada China Forum Welcomes Fourth Cohort

June 20, 2023 – The Canada China Forum is delighted to announce its fourth cohort of members, composed of 21 exceptional young leaders.

The members of the Canada China Forum’s fourth cohort come from various fields, including business, government, academia, and civil society from across Canada and abroad. They have a proven track record of leadership, innovation, and impact, and are committed to deepening their understanding of China and the Canada-China bilateral relationship in service of Canada’s national interest. At a time of heightened tension in the bilateral relationship, fostering China-competencies amongst the next generation of Canadian leaders will be critical for Canada’s engagement with China.

“The Canada China Forum’s 4th cohort is an impressive group of young leaders who are passionate about developing a more nuanced understanding of China and our bilateral relationship. The Forum is playing a critical role in cultivating the next generation of Canadian leaders who are China-competent and globally-minded” said Darren Touch, Founder and CEO of the Canada China Forum.

With more than 90+ members in Canada and abroad, the Forum is entering a new phase with the expansion of its membership, programming and initiatives, and in-person chapters. Despite continued tensions, the Forum is committed to its mission of creating a space for young Canadians to discuss, debate and learn about China and Canada-China relations with the goal of fostering a national pan-Canadian network for emerging young leaders across the country who are driven to contribute constructively to Canada’s national interest and engagement with China.

The complex nature of our bilateral relationship reinforces the need for Canada to double-down on fostering China competencies in order to better serve our national interest. As Ottawa bolsters its investments in deepening the public service’s understanding of how China thinks, operates, and plans, and how it exerts influence in the region and around the world, so too must the rest of Canada. Here, the Forum is dedicated to ensuring the next generation of Canadian leaders are equipped and prepared.

The fourth cohort was selected through a competitive application process that attracted a diverse pool of candidates. The Forum’s members represent a range of backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences, and share a common commitment to building bridges between Canada and China. They will participate in a range of activities and initiatives organized by the Forum, including policy discussions, cultural exchanges, professional development opportunities, and networking events.

The Forum is guided by a set of eight founding values, which include a commitment to non-partisanship and inclusivity. The Forum approaches all events, projects, and discussions from a good-faith perspective grounded in respect, open-mindedness, and understanding.

Thank you to the the Canada China Forum Advisory Board for bringing a wealth of knowledge, unique and diverse backgrounds, and unparalleled expertise to the Forum. As well, the activities of the Forum would not be possible without our Foundational Partners: the Institute of Asian Research at the University of British Columbia, the China Institute at the University of Alberta, the Canada China Business Council, and the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada.

Learn more about the Forum at canadachinaforum.ca, engage with us on LinkedIn.

Some of the incoming members of the Canada China Forum include:

Isidora Basanovic 白朵拉 (Báiduǒlā) is a third-year student at the University of British Columbia pursuing studies in International Relations, Political Science and Chinese Language and Culture.

Minghe (Ming) Cao is a direct-to-consumer planner at Canada Goose in Toronto with previous experience at Deloitte. He holds a Bachelor of Commerce from the Alberta School of Business at the University of Alberta and a Master of Financial Accountability from York University.

Born and raised in Leicester – UK, James Dunn has extensive experience advising international businesses within the China market through his seven years at the British Chamber in Shanghai. His expertise lies in business development, strategic partnerships and international relations. Based in Ottawa, James works as an account manager (East Region) for the University of Waterloo and as a board director for the British-Canadian Chamber of Trade and Commerce.

Born and raised in Slovakia, Andrej Grman is a recipient of a prestigious Karen McKellin International Leader of Tomorrow Award from the University of British Columbia, where he is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Commerce degree with a specialization in Finance and Real Estate. At UBC, Andrej has also been taking Mandarin Chinese classes and served as a Director of Corporate Relations at UBC BizChina, where he established partnerships with multiple organizations and thought leaders as well as co-organized the most impactful student-run conference on Canada-China business relations in Canada – 2023 UBC BizChina Forum. He is currently working as a Real Estate Analyst at an early childhood education company Fueling Brains, hoping to increase access to high-quality education through strategic land acquisitions and new school development. Andrej is also an active member of multiple industry and civic society organizations including ICSC, Urban Land Institute, and Global Shapers Community, an initiative of the World Economic Forum.

Arjun Gupta is Director of Advisory Corporation of Canada.

Dazheng (Peter) Huang is a highly motivated Chinese Canadian with extensive cross-cultural experience. Having spent equal amounts of time in both China and Canada, he has developed a deep understanding of both cultures and their unique perspectives. He recently completed a Bachelor of Arts degree double majoring in International Studies and Economics at Johns Hopkins University and is an incoming Master’s student at SAIS, where he plans to specialize in the functional areas of international economics and finance and technology and innovation, with a focus on Asia or China. Peter’s passion for Canada-China relations and the larger triangular dynamic with the United States has led him to pursue several internships, including positions at the US-China Business Council’s Beijing Office, the Institute for Peace and Diplomacy, the Center for China and Globalization, and most recently, the Stimson Center as a research intern for their Reimagining US Grand Strategy program.

Emma Huang graduated magna cum laude from the University of Ottawa, Faculty of Law, where she received the W & E Mendes Award for the highest standing in Globalization in Law. She holds an M.A. in Political Economy and a Master Certificate in Business Analysis from Carleton University. She also completed a B.A. (Honours) in Political Science from Memorial University of Newfoundland, where she graduated with the Senator Joan Cook Convocation Award for the highest standing in Canadian politics. Emma summered at Torys LLP and will return for her articles in 2023-2024. She also has experience in providing legal and policy support for the federal government on issues including stakeholder relations, digital compliance, and regulatory technology.

Thenuka Karunaratne is the founder and CEO of daydream, a San Francisco-based startup building content automation tools. He is also an Entrepreneur-in-Residence at Hustle Fund, a venture pre-seed capital fund based in San Francisco and Singapore. He graduated from UBC’s Sauder School of Business with a Bachelor of commerce.

Lauren Shykora is a Master of International Affairs candidate in the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy at the National University of Singapore. Lauren has previous experience as a Consular Case Management Officer as well as a Trade Policy Analyst at Global Affairs Canada. Lauren holds a Bachelor’s degree in International Relations from the University of British Columbia. Her current research is focused Canadian trade and investment policy in the Indo-pacific.

Solène Simard est présentement étudiante au baccalauréat en science politique et études asiatiques à l’Université d’Ottawa. En plus de ses études, Solène travaille comme Agente des délibérations et de la vérification à la Chambre des communes où elle a l’opportunité d’assister à l’ensemble des débats parlementaires.

Solène Simard is an undergraduate student at the University of Ottawa, specializing in political science and Asian studies. In addition to her studies, Solène works as a Proceedings and Verification Officer at the House of Commons where she has the opportunity to attend all parliamentary debates.

Michael Zheng is a Commercial Officer at the BC China Office in Beijing which is located at Embassy of Canada to China. Michael was born in Beijing, China, but he considers himself a global citizen after spending over 10 years studying and working in Vancouver, British Columbia. Before joining the BC China Office, Michael worked as a registered investment advisor in wealth management and real estate. He also has experience in international education and immigration services. Michael is a graduate of the University of British Columbia, where he earned his degree in Psychology. He also holds an MBA degree jointly offered by Peking University and University College London, where he was awarded the UK Turing Grant for his global internship at the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank.