December 1, 2023 – The Canada China Forum is delighted to announce four new members to its Leadership Team. The leadership team is composed of volunteer professionals united by a sense of responsibility to our mandate and a commitment to ensuring Canada is well-positioned to engage with China.
Our newly appointed director and chapter leads are poised to transform the Canada China Forum with their wealth of experience and diverse expertise, aligning with our commitment to broaden the horizons of the Forum’s programming by ushering in a new era of engagement through a dynamic blend of virtual and in-person events and initiatives.
This transformative phase follows the Forum’s strategic decision earlier this year to broaden its footprint by extending into key cities. The inclusion of Ottawa and Toronto in our expanding network underscores our commitment to inclusivity and reflects the Forum’s growing membership base in these two cities. These cities serve as pivotal hubs for fostering robust connections and facilitating impactful discussions and convenings.
New members to the Forum’s Leadership Team include:
- Nico Han, Director of Programming
- Colin Sawatzky, Chapter Lead for Ottawa
- Aeriel Benjamin-Kent, Co-Chapter Lead for Toronto
- Andrew Yin, Co-Chapter Lead for Toronto
Nico Han is passionate about Canada’s role and strategy in the engagement with the Indo-Pacific region. Nico has worked with the Center for Strategic and International Studies, the Wilson Center for International Scholars, the U.S. – Asia Institute, and the U.S. House of Representatives. She directed the ‘China 101’ briefing series in the U.S. Congress on critical issues in the region. Nico holds a Master of Philosophy in International Relations from the University of Oxford, and she is a Yenching Scholar at Peking University. Nico served as the president of her college community and she is a co-founder of the Oxford Diplomatic Society. She is proud to be a first-generation Canadian, and her family lives in Toronto.
Aeriel Benjamin-Kent is a dynamic international education professional and an inaugural Canada China Forum member. With a background in ed-tech and Chinese education, Aeriel has played a pivotal role in establishing and growing a China-based ed-tech platform. She has also contributed to several Canadian ed-tech startups, forging impactful global partnerships and significantly contributing to international student success.
Aeriel’s unwavering belief in the transformative power of international education is reflected in all her endeavors, from engaging audiences in Shanghai to steering stakeholder strategy across North America. Currently, Aeriel leads international admissions at a top Canadian secondary school, connecting students around the world with enriching educational opportunities and fostering a global community committed to academic excellence.
Colin Sawatzky is an Ottawa-based lawyer with extensive professional and academic experience in both Taiwan and Mainland China. He obtained both civil and common law degrees from the University of Ottawa, completed an MA in International Relations at National Taiwan University, taught entirely in Mandarin Chinese, and a BSc in Economics from the University of Victoria. His diverse experience covers both the private and public as well as non-profit sectors. He is fluent in English, French and Mandarin.
Andrew Yin graduated from the University of Toronto in 2022 and currently works in public policy and project management at Transport Canada. He has previously worked at Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada and the Ontario Ministry of Transportation. Having grown up in Fuzhou and Toronto, he is a “generation 1.5” split between two cultures, which motivated him to join the Canada China Forum in its foundational year of 2021. Aside from work, he enjoys visiting museums, photography, and any chance to spot or hop on a plane.