August  2024 – The Canada China Forum is delighted to announce its fifth cohort of members, composed of 12 exceptional leaders.

The fifth cohort of the Canada China Forum comprises individuals from diverse backgrounds, including business, government, academia, and civil society, both within Canada and internationally. These members possess a proven history of leadership, innovation, and impactful contributions. They are dedicated to enhancing their understanding of China and nurturing the Canada-China relationship in alignment with Canada’s national interests. As tensions between the two nations persist, it is crucial to equip the next generation of Canadian leaders with the skills needed to engage effectively with China.

Darren Touch, Founder and CEO of the Canada China Forum, remarks, “Despite the fraught bilateral relationship, the Canada China Forum’s 5th cohort represents the unwavering commitment of the next generation of Canadian leaders dedicated to cultivating their China competencies and developing a more nuanced understanding of China and our bilateral relationship. We are excited to welcome these 12 young leaders, who are poised to contribute to the bilateral relationship in the public, private and non-governmental sectors.”  

The 5th cohort  is comprised of many exceptional young leaders, including:

  • A Beijing-based director of geopolitical advisory firm 
  • A policy research analyst covering China-China trade and investment 
  • An international affairs specialists covering Canada-US relations 
  • An academic researching Chinese environmental governance and natural resource management

With more than 120+ 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 based in Ottawa, Toronto and Montreal. Despite continued bilateral and geopolitical 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.

Given the intricate dynamics of our bilateral relations, Canada must reinforce efforts to develop expertise in its engagement with China to advance our national interests. As the federal government increases investments to enhance the public service’s understanding of China’s strategies, operations, and global influence, the entire nation should follow suit and can start by investing in its young people. The Forum plays a crucial role in preparing the next generation of Canadian leaders for these challenges.

The fifth 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, professional development opportunities, and networking events.

“Building greater competency and mutual understanding in the relationship means bringing in the perspectives of people from all walks of life. I believe this year’s newest members represent that ambition — all have strived to build their knowledge across different sectors and industries that will have to contend with bilateral ties that increasingly require deft and informed management.” said Johnsen Romero, Director of Membership.

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 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.

Members of the Canada China Forum’s fifth cohort include:

Daniel Beltranena: Daniel Beltranena is a recent graduate from the University of British Columbia Master of Public Policy and Global Affairs (MPPGA) program. He has actively studied issues relevant to Canadian foreign policy as part of the Global Governance and Security stream. Through MPPGA, Daniel also had the opportunity to work and learn directly from academic experts, stakeholders, public servants, and his peers in the program. He also took an active role as Student Event Coordinator for UBC’s Navigating Global China event, a two-day roundtable discussion on China’s foreign ambitions that featured 60+ government, academic, and civil sector guests. Having always been interested in high-level decision-making, international relations, and defence topics, Daniel has also had the privilege to work as Political Intern for the Joint Delegation of Canada to NATO in Brussels, Belgium. At NATO Headquarters, he attended council and committee meetings (including that of the North Atlantic Council, the highest making decision body), conducted policy analysis on topics relevant to Canada’s role within NATO, and provided support for Canadian events and senior-level visits (including those of Canada’s Foreign and Defence Ministers). With a keen interest in learning how China’s actively changing global aspirations will shape international order, Daniel is excited to engage with other members and guests of Canada China Forum who are asking similar complex questions.

Charlotte Bull: As a recent graduate from the Masters in Public Policy & Global Affairs program at UBC, Charlotte has a strong and long-standing passion for Canada-Asia relations, as demonstrated in her educational achievements and applied research experience. As an undergraduate student, she attained a solid foundation of knowledge in East Asian history and politics by enrolling in university courses in Hong Kong and South Korea. Her Fellowship at UBC’s Institute for Asian Research built on this experience – here, she published articles in the East Asia Forum, The Diplomat, Think Global Health and Policy Options. During my Masters degree, she tried to gain as much practical experience as possible. Therefore, she  worked as a Graduate Research Assistant for a former Ambassador to China, Japan and India, Joseph Caron as well as Professor Timothy Cheek on Canada China issues. At the same time, she also worked as a Policy Consultant for GAC, contributing to the Indo-Pacific Strategy in evaluating the potential avenues for Canadian involvement in enhancing the security of the Mekong Delta. Currently, she is  working as a Consultant for the Asia Pacific Foundation in Vancouver on a project for ABAC (APEC’s Business Advisory Council) on the nexus between digitalization and formalization of economies. She is also pursuing Taiwanese Mandarin in her free time.

Conner Fransoo: Is currently a 4th year Engineering Physics undergraduate student at The University of British Columbia with a deep interest in Canada-China relations in the manufacturing, clean energy, and technology sectors. He has interned in technology commercialization roles in the Asia-Pacific region and hopes to learn more about incorporating China-competencies in his  future career.

Song Fu: Song Fu recently graduated from the University of British Columbia (UBC)  with a Master’s degree in Public Policy and Global Affairs. At UBC, he worked closely with the Center for Chinese Research and was a fellow at the Institute for Asian Research. Before coming to Canada, he worked for three years at the Canadian Embassy in Beijing. 

Chris Hall: Chris Hall is a Beijing-based professional with more than a decade of experience living and working in China. He is currently a Director at the Albright Stonebridge Group, advising companies in a variety of sectors on the Chinese policy and business environment. Before this, he was a foreign expert translator at the Central Compilation and Translation Bureau where he was responsible for producing the official English translations of Chinese government documents. Chris earned a master’s in international relations from Peking University, and a bachelor’s in history from Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario. He speaks Mandarin Chinese fluently. 

Haolin Ellen Li: Haolin (Ellen) holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and International Relations from the University of British Columbia. In 2024 fall, she will continue her studies as a master’s candidate at the University of Toronto School of the Environment. Her academic interest is in the evolving roles of Chinese non-state actors in overseas environmental governance and natural resource management, with a particular focus on critical minerals and their global supply chains. She spent a semester abroad studying at Sciences Po Paris during her undergraduate studies. 

Daniel Lincoln: Daniel Lincoln is a policy research analyst at The China Institute (TCI) – University of Alberta, which is Canada’s only think-tank that is devoted to the study of contemporary China, with a particular emphasis on the country’s modern political and economic landscapes. Daniel holds a BA With Distinction in Political Science, Economics, and History from the University of Alberta, along with a Certificate in Globalization and Governance, also from the UofA. Daniel’s research focuses on Canada-China trade, the Chinese economy, and Canada-China investment ties. Daniel plans on attending law school in the near future, and plans to pursue a career in international business or diplomacy.

Maxime Proud: Max Proud is an international affairs specialist with experience working in Canada and the United States, and with a diverse set of experiences covering both the private and non-profit sectors. He is currently the Vice-President of the Young Chinese Professionals Association (YPCA), a Montreal-based not-for-profit organization dedicated to uniting, empowering and to propelling young Asian professionals and entrepreneurs. He holds a Master’s degree in international affairs from Laval University, and previously studied Mandarin at Beijing Foreign Studies University.

Zian Zhang: Zian (Kelly) Zhang is a Full-time Ph.D. Candidate in the curriculum and pedagogy program at OISE, the University of Toronto. She completed her OISE master’s in Curriculum Studies and Teacher Development program in 2016. Kelly’s research interests focus on education policy and leadership. She is a Research Assistant for the SSHRC Creating Equitable Structures in Early Secondary School Mathematics project. She also worked as a Graduate Assistant for the SSHRC Reciprocal Learning in Teacher Education and School Education project between Canada and China. She is co-president of the Canadian Committee of Graduate Students in Education (CCGSE), the graduate student caucus within Canada’s national network of educational researchers, and the Canadian Society for the Study of Education (CSSE).