VANCOUVER, BC – October 24, 2023 – The Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada (APF Canada) is pleased to announce that Vina Nadjibulla will be joining APF Canada as Vice-President, Research & Strategy, effective November 7, 2023.
An Adjunct Professor at the School of Public Policy and Global Affairs at the University of British Columbia, Ms. Nadjibulla’s career includes two decades of experience in high-level diplomacy, strategic planning, policy analysis, and program management, with a focus on political risk analysis, conflict prevention, women’s rights, peacebuilding, and global governance.
As a Senior Research Fellow at the Soufan Center and a Fellow at the Canadian Global Affairs Institute, Ms. Nadjibulla’s recent research has focused on hostage diplomacy, Canada-China relations, and Canada’s engagement in the Indo-Pacific region. As an international security and peacebuilding specialist, she spent a significant portion of her career at the United Nations headquarters and in peacekeeping and peacebuilding missions in West and Central Africa. She also has extensive experience working with national governments, non-profits, and philanthropic organizations in Canada, the U.S., Central Asia, and China.
“Vina will bring a global perspective, specialist knowledge on Asia, and a rich skillset in program management and strategic planning to this senior role at the Foundation,” said APF Canada President and CEO Jeff Nankivell. “In addition to overseeing our accomplished team of research analysts working across our Canada-Asia Sustainability Tracker platform, among other key projects, she will be instrumental in helping to define our strategic vision as we expand our footprint and role in Southeast Asia. I look forward to working with Vina in developing a catalytic program of applied research that is immediately relevant to our growing network of stakeholders in business, government, academia, and civil society.”
Ms. Nadjibulla has been a long-time advocate for human rights and social justice. In 2018, she led an international advocacy campaign that helped to secure the release of Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor, who were arbitrarily detained in China for more than 1,000 days.
“I am truly honoured and excited to be joining the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada,” said Ms. Nadjibulla. “The Foundation is a Canadian public good with an important mission of deepening engagement and ties between Canada and Asia. I look forward to championing the work of the Foundation’s talented research team at such a pivotal moment in Canada’s growing engagement in the Indo-Pacific region.”
Ms. Nadjibulla holds a master’s degree in international affairs from Columbia University and is fluent in English, Russian, and Farsi, and speaks intermediate Mandarin Chinese. A citizen of Canada, she was born in the Soviet Union, raised in Afghanistan, and educated in the U.S. She has worked and lived in Kenya, Tajikistan, and China. In her new role with APF Canada, she will be based at the Foundation’s headquarters in Vancouver, Canada.
Media:
Michael Roberts, Communications Director,
Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada
michael.roberts@asiapacific.ca
