The third cohort of Canada China Forum members includes 20 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, private and non-governmental sectors. 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. This cohort demonstrated the extent to which Canadians both abroad and at home continue to monitor Canada’s evolving bilateral relationship with China.
With more than 70+ members in Canada and abroad, the Forum is entering a new phase with the expansion of its membership, programming and initiatives, such as the Accelerator Program. Moreover, as Canadian public health authorities ease and lift COVID-19 measures, the Forum will facilitate sessions virtually and in-person (following public health measures). 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 contribute constructively to Canada’s national interest and engagement with China.
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.
We would like to thank members of the Canada China Forum Advisory Board, who bring 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 and follow us on Twitter.
The incoming members of the Canada China Forum include:
Graham Adria
Graham Adria is a Canadian lawyer working in Beijing. He focuses on China-outbound investment and M&A in the natural resources, infrastructure, and energy sectors. Many of his projects are investments into or relating to Africa, Southeast Asia, and South America. Graham has a keen interest in the intersection of natural resource development, Canada-China national security concerns, and the clean energy transition.
Graham is originally from Edmonton. He has a BA in Political Science from the University of Alberta, a JD from Osgoode Hall, and an LLM from Tsinghua University.
Felipe Alfaro
Felipe Alfaro is a Regional Advisor to the Minister of National Revenue. Prior to that, he worked as a Legislative Assistant to the Hon. Hedy Fry, Member of Parliament for Vancouver Centre.
He has previously interned at UNICEF Latin America and Caribbean regional office, the Ministry of the Presidency in Panama, and the U.S. Department of State.
Felipe holds a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations from the University of British Columbia.
Laurent De Serres Bérard
Laurent De Serres Bérard is a Senior Analyst at Global Affairs Canada, working mainly on international relations in the Asia-Pacific and currently focusing on Canada’s science, technology and innovation relationship in the region. Previously, he worked as a development officer on the Vietnam Program with a focus on blended finance projects, and an analyst for the Canadian International Assistance programs in the region. He studied and worked in China, learning Mandarin at Fudan University and working for the Consulate of Canada in Chongqing.
Laurent holds a Master in Sociology from Laval University, focusing on well-being indicators and economic development.
Daniel Erker is a young professional working in the logistics and supply chain industry. Currently based in Belgium, his studies and work have led him to Spain, China, Austria, and Germany. Though his academic background lies in international business and information management, Daniel has nurtured a strong interest in economics, political science, history, languages, and cultural studies throughout his life.
He holds a Master of Information Management, Information Technology from LU Leuven and a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Alberta.
Jess Giang
A Vancouverite at heart, Jess Giang is a long-time China watcher, having both worked and studied there from 2014-2019. While she primarily called Beijing home, she also spent significant amounts of time in Shanghai, Hunan, and Guangdong, where she ate copious amounts of Cantonese food. She is an alumni of Yenching Academy, Peking University, and completed her B.A. Honours in Political Science and International Relations at UBC in 2014. She currently lives in Ottawa, as a policy advisor for the Government of Canada.
Quinton Huang
Quinton Huang is currently a Junior Research Scholar at the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada, and will matriculate as an MA student in History at the University of British Columbia in September 2022. Born and partly raised in Kitimat, BC, he studied East Asian history at Brown University as an undergraduate and worked as an English language teaching fellow at Can Tho University in Vietnam prior to the pandemic. In his work at the Asia Pacific Foundation, he primarily focuses on Canada-Asia subnational relations, including sister city agreements, educational exchanges, and civil society connections. His published work includes a report on Asian regional cooperation during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, and forthcoming articles on municipal diplomacy. Academically, he is primarily interested in the social history of 20th century Hong Kong, transethnic and transnational connections in modern Chinese history, and East-Southeast Asia historical linkages.
Eva Li
Eva Li is currently working as a Trade Credit Analyst at AIG Canada and volunteers as an Impact Coordinator for Photographers without Borders. As a Chinese Canadian, she has always had a vested interest in the relationship between the two countries. Due to her drive to make an impact, she has previously attended an Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation conference, Yenching Academy Global Symposium, and participated in a student trade mission to China. Eva is looking forward to joining the Forum to continue learning from diverse perspectives and contribute to the dialogue surrounding the Canada-China relationship.
Davit Muradyan
Born and raised in Armenia, Davit Muradyan completed a Master’s in Commerce and Marketing at Jean Moulin Lyon University in Lyon, France and worked in various companies in marketing roles both in Armenia and France. In 2017, he joined a local company with manufacturing facilities in both Canada and China in Vancouver, where he first was exposed to the Canada China relationship. Over the past couple of years working in Montreal, Davit has been spearheading the China go-to-market initiatives, working alongside Sequoia Capital China and a number of local agencies and organizations, unlocking cross-border e-commerce channels.
James Rudberg
Jamie Rudberg holds a Master of Arts in Political Science with COOP Designation from Carleton University and a Bachelor in East Asian Studies and Political Science from York University. He was formerly a Junior Policy Analyst with Public Safety Canada and Transport Canada, and interned with the Hudson Institute- Centre for Military and Political Analysis and EXest Inc. Travel Startup.
Sharon Sun
Sharon Zhengyang Sun is the Trade Policy Economist at the Canada West Foundation in Calgary, Alberta, and a Distinguished Fellow at the Asia Pacific Foundation. She specializes in research on international trade policy for China and the Asia Pacific. Ms. Sun is a Ph.D. candidate at the Norman Paterson School of International Affairs, Carleton University.
Ms. Sun has a long-standing research interest in China-Canada commercial relations and China’s free trade agreement (FTA) behaviours and effectiveness. Her broader interest focuses on the impact of Asia Pacific region’s FTAs on trade and trade infrastructure. Some of Ms. Sun’s work includes China’s industrial policy, Made-in-China 2025’s impacts on Canadian trade, Western Canadian provincial export opportunities with Japan under the CPTPP, and addressing Chinese non-tariff barriers on Canadian agricultural exports, among other trade agreement and trade related issues.
Prior to joining Canada West Foundation, she was an associate researcher with the Centre for Trade Policy and Law and an instructor at the Sprott School of Business, Carleton University.
Matthew Tai
Matthew Tai is a Juris Doctor candidate at the University of Ottawa, Faculty of Law, where he is the Volume 54 Editor-in-Chief of the Ottawa Law Review. He holds a B.A. (Honours) in Political Science from Western University and a Chinese Language Certificate from Tsinghua University in Beijing, China.
Matthew is a 2022 Summer Law Student at Stikeman Elliott LLP and previously held government relations and public affairs roles at McMillan Vantage Policy Group, the Canada China Business Council and CPP Investments. He is also actively involved in Canadian politics, having worked in the Office of the Leader of the Official Opposition in Ontario and on various municipal, provincial and federal nominations, election campaigns and leadership race.
Pentcho Tchomakov
Pentcho Tchomakov is currently working as a Product Manager at Borealis AI – an ML research lab within RBC, spearheading state-of-the-art projects in the realm of Artificial Intelligence and finance. He is also currently the President of the Youth Council of Montreal, a think-tank influencing the public policy making within the municipal administration.
Pentcho holds a Bachelors of Engineering from McGill University with a minor in Russian studies. As an undergraduate, he worked in various financial institutions both locally and abroad including Europe (Bulgaria) and Asia (Malaysia). Pentcho also recently completed his Masters in Engineering in the field of AI. He also holds global experience through his previous role at Merck – a large pharmaceutical company, where he coordinated data and analytics initiatives across the globe (Prague, Singapore, New York).
D’Arcy White is a lawyer from Toronto, Canada with a background in economics and political science. His legal practice focuses on helping corporations navigate regulatory and administrative barriers under the Canadian Competition Act, Investment Canada Act, and Canada’s trade agreements. While studying in the Juris Doctor program at the University of Toronto, D’Arcy spent six months in China, working at a law firm in Shanghai and studying as an exchange student at Tsinghua University. These experiences facilitating foreign investment in the Chinese economy and studying Chinese law reshaped and redoubled his interest in China and its foreign relations.
He is currently taking a year-long leave from legal practice to pursue an MSc in Contemporary Chinese Studies at the University of Oxford. Prior to law school, D’Arcy obtained a BA from McGill University where he completed a double-major in economics and political science. He also spent three summers working at RBC Capital Markets. Over his years in university, he has been involved with various NGOs and student groups, including Amnesty International, the International Committee for the Red Cross, the Canadian Centre for the Responsibility to Protect, the China Law Group at the University of Toronto Faculty of Law, and Downtown Legal Services, a student-supported pro bono legal clinic.
