Events

Want to learn more about Climate Change in Singapore? Join the Critical Malaya Studies Initiative (York University) and the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada as we bring together scholars and policy experts from Singapore to explore exciting opportunities for collaboration on climate change and sustainability advocacy in the region.

This discussion will dive into the pressing implications of climate change in Singapore such as the challenges of green transitions and heightened vulnerabilities for communities. 

Participants will engage in critical conversation with the panellists to understand what it means to build a sustainable future for Singapore and regionally, particularly focusing on transnational advocacy and alternative ways for knowledge mobilization. 

The discussion will also explore how domestic and international actors can support and learn from climate initiatives from Southeast Asia.  

APF Canada's Program Manager, Southeast Asia, Dr. Hema Nadarajah will be participating as a panellist at this event. 

This event will provide Kakehashi alumni with an overview of programs provided by the Government of Japan to facilitate return to Japan for work in the academic field and primarily for study at the undergraduate and graduate levels. Four Japan-Canada Kakehashi Project alumni will speak about their experiences with these programs and provide first-hand information about life in Japanese schools. The presentations will be followed by Q&A.

Presentations:

• The Embassy of Japan in Canada - The JET Programme and MEXT Scholarship Program
• The Japan Foundation, Toronto - Japan Foundation Grants and Fellowships
• Hafsa Hasna Kaouache - JET Programme alumna
• Daniel Yuan Yang Qi - MEXT Scholarship alumnus
• Zachary Bélanger - University exchange alumnus
• Jessica Wing Chen - University exchange participant

The Montreal International Security Summit was created in 2023 to address some of the most pressing geopolitical issues of our time. The aim of the annual summit is to convene Canadian and international experts to shed light on ongoing crises and to engage in constructive dialogue about the implications for global security and human rights. 

The conference brings together leading practitioners, policymakers, and thought leaders from around the world, all of whom share a common dedication to understanding and resolving contemporary and emerging challenges to human rights and security.

APF Canada's Vice-President Research & Strategy Vina Nadjibulla is speaking at this two-day event. 

Click here for more information.

The annual Arctic Circle Assembly brings together governments, organizations, corporations, universities, think-tanks, environmental associations, Indigenous communities, citizens, and others for a comprehensive and democratic Arctic dialogue. The Assembly is the largest gathering on Arctic affairs. It is a place for international engagement, co-operation, and celebration.

Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada is organizing a panel at this forum: The View of the Canadian Arctic Through an Indo-Pacific Lens (October 18; 5:10 p.m.-6:05 p.m. IST). APF Canada Program Manager Dr. Hema Nadarajah is speaking on this panel. Dr. Nadarajah is also speaking on the panel Arctic Connected: Strategic Connections Between the Arctic and the Indo-Pacific (organized by the Ted Stevens Centre for Security Studies; October 19 10:05 a.m.-11:00 a.m. IST).

The Government of Canada released its long-awaited Indo-Pacific Strategy in November 2022. The direct geopolitical linkages between Asia and the Arctic are highlighted as the Indo-Pacific region sees the Arctic as a region of opportunity. As part of the strategy, the need for responsible and sustainable engagement in the Canadian Arctic was highlighted. 

The Canadian Arctic is in need for innovative energy, shipping, and telecommunications infrastructure. With the accelerating climate, biodiversity, and energy crises, collaborative efforts to ensure sustainable development of the North are increasingly critical. 

Canada’s Indo-Pacific strategy, which affirms its commitment to maintaining peace and stability in the Arctic region and the health and safety of Indigenous Northern communities, presents an opportunity to address these issues while also deepening its engagement in Asia. It is also crucial that an integrated whole-of-government approach is taken to address these pressing issues. 

While the Arctic is geographically remote, many different Canadian interests are at stake, which are discussed separately in various strategies. Integrating the Arctic strands of these strategies is necessary for Canada to achieve its aims and provides opportunities for new avenues of engagement with Indo-Pacific partners. These panels will raise the importance of examining the Arctic through various strategies– the Indo-Pacific Strategy, the Canadian Critical Minerals Strategy, the updated Defence Policy, and the Arctic and Northern Policy Framework – each of which make references to the Arctic.

Notable Speakers: 
 

• Hema Nadarajah, Manager, Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada; Arctic360, Canada: Integrating Canada’s strategies on the Indo-Pacific, Defence, and Critical Minerals in the Arctic
• Ken Coates, Director of Indigenous Affairs, Macdonald-Laurier Institute; Professor, Yukon University, Canada: Yukon Security Council and Its Role In Driving Canadian Arctic Interests
• Jessica M. Shadian, President & CEO, Arctic360, Canada: Innovation, Investment, FDI, Infrastructure, Critical Minerals In The Canadian Arctic
• Shioichi Itoh, Senior Fellow, Institute of Energy Economics, Japan: Japan's Role in the Arctic

This event will provide Kakehashi alumni with an overview of programs and resources available to Canadians interested in working in Japan and with Japanese firms. Speakers will include experts from the public and private sectors speaking on opportunities available, supports in place, and how best to position yourself to enter the Japan job market. There will also be a presentation from a Kakehashi alumna on her experiences working in Japan. The presentations will be followed by Q&A.

Presentations:

• The Embassy of Japan in Canada - Working Holiday visas
• JETRO - Resources and supports available to Canadians seeking jobs in Japan
• Pasona - Finding work with Japanese firms: Preparation and expectations
• Asdu Pirabakaran - The realities of finding work and working in Japan

As the Indo-Pacific region emerges as the epicentre of global economic and security concerns amid intensifying great power competition, understanding India's role has never been more crucial. India is not only a counterbalance to China but also a rising power and an economic powerhouse. While Canada-India relations have encountered some diplomatic challenges, a deeper exploration of their bilateral relationship and partnerships in the Indo-Pacific is essential.

This event, featuring renowned strategic affairs expert Dr. C. Raja Mohan, will delve into the complexities of India's geopolitical ambitions, its bilateral relations with Canada, and its broader influence in the Indo-Pacific. The discussion is particularly timely as Canada, through its Indo-Pacific Strategy, seeks to deepen ties and expand engagement in the region, focusing on shared values such as sustainable development and a rules-based international order.

Dr. C. Raja Mohan is a former Director of the Institute of South Asian Studies at the National University of Singapore, where he currently serves as a Visiting Research Professor. He is also an Adviser to the Council for Strategic and Defense Research in New Delhi and was the founding director of Carnegie India. Additionally, Dr. Mohan established the Asia Society Policy Institute in New Delhi. 

His research focuses on Asian geopolitics, Indian foreign policy, and the global governance of emerging technologies. A prolific author, he has written several books on these topics and regularly contributes foreign policy columns to major Indian and international outlets.

This event will be concluded with the launch of Prof. T.V. Paul’s new book: The Unfinished Quest: India’s Search for Major Power Status from Nehru to Modi (Oxford University Press, 2024). Introduced by Christoper Neal, President, CIC Montreal.

Event Moderator: 

Professor T.V. Paul, Distinguished James McGill Professor of International Relations, Department of Political Science, McGill University; Distinguished Fellow, APF Canada.

Speakers: 

Vincent Rigby, Slater Family Professor of Practice, Max Bell School of Public Policy, McGill University. 

Vina Nadjibulla, Vice-President Research & Strategy, APF Canada.

For over 30 years, the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) CEO Summit has been the premier business event in the Asia Pacific. In 2024, it will be held in Lima, Peru from November 13th to 15th, bringing together over 1,000 C-level executives, thought leaders and government representatives under this year’s theme, "People, Business, Prosperity."

The Canadian business delegation for the CEO Summit will be led by the Canadian members of the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC), Ms. Jan De Silva and Mr. Joseph Fung, supported by the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada in our capacity as the Secretariat of ABAC Canada. 

The curated lineup of speakers will present groundbreaking ideas and innovative solutions to address the region's most pressing challenges in trade, energy transition and the role of critical minerals, the future of work, financial inclusion, and sustainability; aiming to spark innovative solutions that promote economic growth and prosperity across the region. The Summit will also highlight the latest trends and disruptive technologies, such as artificial intelligence and digital health, that are transforming businesses and society today. 

Participants will also hear keynote addresses from world leaders. 

The Asia Business Leaders Advisory Council (ABLAC) comprises a high-level group of Asian and Canadian business leaders convened annually by the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada to identify and articulate opportunities for improved Canada-Asia business engagement.

Council membership is represented across Canada and more than 10 Asia Pacific economies, and annual meetings are held in cities throughout Canada and Asia. Launched in 2016, ABLAC has emerged into a critical forum to catalyze dialogue and action.

The Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada (APF Canada) and Universities Canada are delighted to announce that the Canada-in-Asia Conference 2025 (CIAC2025) will be held February 19-21, 2025, at the Raffles City Convention Centre in Singapore.

The Conference provides a range of opportunities for engagement and exchange with likeminded partners:

Plenary sessions focused on global topics such as geopolitics and sustainable infrastructure.

Concurrent sessions organized around four Sectors and four Engagement Tracks.

Networking sessions to meet and connect with potential partners.

The annual CIAC Gala Dinner, the centrepiece attraction for Canadians with interests in Asia, and for those based in Asia who have business, institutional, or personal connections to Canada.

About CIAC

The Canada-in-Asia Conference is an annual, multi-directional engagement platform for Canada-based and Asia-based companies, institutions, universities, and governments. CIAC convenes business leaders, experts, investors, policy-makers, researchers, and innovators from across Asia and Canada to exchange perspectives, knowledge, and ideas, with the goal of facilitating collaborative partnerships.

We look forward to seeing you in Singapore in February 2025!