Canada China Forum Welcomes Second Cohort

September 16, 2021 – The Canada China Forum is proud to announce its second cohort of members.

The second cohort of Canada China Forum members includes 21 high-calibre individuals from across the country with diverse experiences and backgrounds, open minds and limitless potential. Representing the next generation of Canadian leaders, these members include undergraduate and graduate students and young professionals from the public and private sectors working in government, financial and investment institutions, think tanks, consulting firms, etc. The Forum seeks to be a representative slice of emerging Canadian leaders who are dedicated to deepening their understanding of China and the Canada-China bilateral relationship in service of Canada’s national interest.

With more than 50+ members in Canada and abroad, the Forum is entering a new phase with the expansion in its membership, programming and initiatives. The Forum remains committed to its mission of creating a space for young Canadians to discuss, debate and learn about China and Canada-China relations; thus, cultivating a new generation of Canadian leaders who are globally-minded and China competent. The result is a national pan-Canadian network for emerging young leaders across the country who are driven to contributing constructively to Canada’s national interest and engagement with China.

The Forum provides members with numerous opportunities to engage in meaningful dialogue, build connections with like-minded individuals, and develop competencies for understanding China and the Canada-China relationship. The Forum is guided by a set of eight founding values, which includes 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.

We would like to thank members of the Canada China Forum Advisory Board, who bring a wealth of knowledge, a unique and diverse set of 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 and follow us on Twitter.

The incoming members of the Canada China Forum include:

• Arthur Xie is a Master of Arts candidate at Johns Hopkins SAIS. He received my Bachelor of Arts in economics from the University of British Columbia. Prior to SAIS, he has worked across think-tank, media, and consulting industries, including the Asia-Pacific Foundation of Canada and Glacier Media Group (BIV). He is the co-founder and host of Passionator Podcast (in Chinese) with four other members based in the U.S., China, and Singapore, and supports the production of SAIS Review of International Affairs podcast: the Looking Glass during my first year at SAIS.
• Caroline Brouillette est Directrice des politiques domestiques au Réseau action climat Canada, le plus vaste réseau d’organisations travaillant sur les questions de changements climatiques au pays. Avant de se joindre à CAN-Rac, Caroline était analyste des politiques climatiques à Équiterre, où elle soutenait les relations gouvernementales fédérales et provinciales de l’organisme. Auparavant, elle a travaillé comme consultante en impact social chez Credo, une entreprise certifiée B Corp, auprès de clients tels que la Ville de Montréal, Hydro-Québec, La Tablée des chefs et Ordinateurs pour l’excellence Canada. Elle détient une maîtrise en politiques publiques avec spécialisation en économie de la Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy de l’Université nationale de Singapour et un B. Soc. Sc. en études internationales avec une mineure en droit de l’Université d’Ottawa.
• Clément Broche est un étudiant à la maîtrise en histoire au sein de l’Université du Québec à Montréal. Il est également chargé de cours pour l’Université de Sherbrooke oùildonne des cours sur l’histoire de la Chine, matière dont il a fait sa spécialisation.
• Dongwoo Kim is a Juris Doctor candidate and Massey Junior Fellow at the University of Toronto. Dongwoo was a researcher and program manager at the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada, where he specialized in technology governance. He studied at the University of Alberta (B.A. Honours), the University of British Columbia (M.A.), and Peking University (M.A.), where he was a Yenching Scholar.
• Darren Choi is a Policy Research Assistant at the China Institute at the University of Alberta. He from graduated the University of Alberta with a Bachelor of Arts with Honors in 2021, with a major in political science and a minor in history. As an undergraduate student, Darren was passionate about student governance, serving as President of the Organization for Arts Students and Interdisciplinary Studies (OASIS) from 2019 to 2020. Darren is also passionate about local politics, volunteering on multiple municipal, provincial, and federal campaigns.
• Émile Laplante is a graduate student completing a Masters of Arts in History at Université Laval in Quebec City. After several years of teaching scuba diving worldwide, Émile returned to Quebec to complete his bachelor’s degree in history. His research revolves around examing archived documents detailing the role played by China in the Vietnam War.
• Flavian Berneaga holds a Bachelor of Arts in Social Sciences from the University of Toronto, a Master of European Politics and Policies from the  University of Leuven, and a Master of China Studies, Politics and International Relations from the Yenching Academy of Peking University in Beijing. As a Yenching Scholar, he concentrated his studies and interests on China’s trade policy and developed an interest in how this benefits and affects Canada-China trading relations.
• JinHua Yip holds a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations and Commerce from the University of British Columbia. Having grown up in both China and Canada, he is particularly interested in the economic, environmental, and geopolitical implications of China’s rise.
• Established in Shanghai since 2018, Katia Houle is a corporate affairs professional at Soprema, a French multinational manufacturer. She has experience in working with management handling China and international affairs with stakeholders including industry players, consulates, chambers of commerce and government. She is also a member of the Canada China Business Council and the Canadian Chamber of Commerce of Shanghai. Katia holds a bachelor’s degree in Finance and International Business from HEC Montréal and is currently pursuing her MBA at Sorbonne University with UIBE Beijing.
• Leo Xu is a senior undergraduate student at Western University, specializing in international relations and transitional justice. Passionate about Canada’s presence on the world stage in matters related to security and diplomacy, Leo brings forward professional experiences from Deloitte, Global Affairs Canada, Canada Border Services Agency, and Prince’s Trust Canada.
• Loyle Campbell is a graduate student completing a Master of Arts in International Energy at the Sciences Po Paris School of International Affairs with a focus on China’s role in the geopolitics of the global energy transition. He is a junior member of the Fondazione Eni Enrico Mattei’s Future Energy Team. As a Rosenthal International Relations Fellow on the Select Committee on Climate Criss in the U.S. House of Representatives, he advises the Committee on how American climate policy compares to European and Chinese positions. Having worked in the oil and gas industry in Western Canada, his industrial first-hand experience contributes to his assessments of decarbonization pathways and energy transition policies.
• Paulina Chan is pursuing a double master’s degree in International Social and Public Policy with the London School of Economics and Fudan University, for which she is the Program Representative. She holds a bachelor’s degree with a double-major in Political Science and East Asian Studies from the University of Toronto. During this time, she was a lead reporter for the university’s journal on Contemporary Asian Studies, was an executive member of the East Asian Studies Student Union, and undertook a year-long academic exchange to Beijing.
• Preston Lim is currently a judicial law clerk at the Court of Appeal for Ontario. He received his J.D. from Yale Law School in 2021. He is also a graduate of Princeton and Tsinghua Universities. His writing on Sino-Canadian relations has appeared in the Globe and Mail, National Post, and Toronto Star, among other outlets.
• Sarah Tang is an undergraduate student at the University of British Columbia, double-majoring in Music (Piano) and International Relations. Through her work experiences at the U.S. Consulate General, Global Affairs Canada, and the B.C. Ministry of Jobs, Economic Development and Competitiveness, Sarah is committed to learning how to facilitate more inclusive, informed, and productive dialogue on the Canada-China relationship, both inside and outside the office. On a more academic level, she is interested in comparing the China strategies of different countries and evaluating whether any lessons can be gleaned for Canada. In her spare time, Sarah is an avid learner of both languages and instruments.
• William Chapman-Black is an undergraduate in Honours History and Scholar’s Elective at Western University. He has worked on global taxation policy at KPMG, researched Russian and Chinese economic expansion programs, and ancient Chinese political development specializing on the Qin dynasty. He is keenly interested in the historical and contemporary social, economic, and political influence of China.
• Avocate de profession, Xiang Xiao est une jeune professionnelle motivée et impliquée. Son côté entregent et communicateur l’amène à s’impliquer dans différentes communautés, comme notamment la Jeune Chambre de Commerce de Montréal, le Jeune Barreau de Montréal ainsi que la Young Chinese Professional Association. Elle souhaite désormais s’impliquer activement au sein du Forum Canada Chine pour promouvoir les intérêts du Canada et renforcer sa relation avec le Pays du milieu.
• Yanni Li is a graduate student in the Master of Arts in East Asian Studies at Stanford University. She holds a Bachelors in Art History and East Asian Studies from Wellesley College. Passionate about cross-cultural exchanges between North America and China, she has organized conferences and events connecting students from both sides of the Pacific. In addition, she interned at Canada China Business Council’s Beijing office.