Event Archive

Organized against the backdrop of Canada’s newly-elected federal government and positive signals from India, this closed-door dialogue is designed to renew momentum in bilateral engagement by fostering thoughtful exchange across the diplomatic, policy, and business domains.

This gathering will bring together a curated group of senior stakeholders to examine shared strategic priorities and advance practical avenues of co-operation in the India-Canada economic corridor. 

APF Canada's Vice President, Research and Strategy, Vina Nadjibulla, will join the panel along with distinguished experts including Ambassador Ajay Bisaria (former High Commissioner of India to Canada) and Ambassador Nadir Patel (former High Commissioner of Canada to India), as well as special guests Marie-Louise Hannan, Director General - South Asia, Global Affairs Canada, and Chinmoy Naik, Acting High Commissioner of India to Canada.

Co-organized by the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada and Global Affairs Canada, this dialogue will bring together academics, business leaders, civil society, and policy experts to examine the ASEAN-Canada Free Trade (ACAFTA) negotiation process and broaden understanding of the Agreement’s potential benefits and shared vision for deeper Canada-ASEAN economic co-operation.

The 1st Canada–Republic of Korea Track 1.5 Dialogue on Advanced Technology: Artificial Intelligence will be held on July 9, 2025 in Seoul, South Korea, organized by the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada, the Science and Technology Policy Institute of Korea, and the Embassy of Canada to the Republic of Korea. 

The goal of this Track 1.5 Dialogue is to deepen co-operation and understanding among key stakeholders from Canada and South Korea on AI governance, adoption, and commercialization. 

Download the Program Here

By sharing each country’s experiences in AI research, regulatory frameworks, and market applications, the Dialogue will foster relationships among government officials, business leaders, and academic experts. 

Read the Background Note Here

Through these discussions, participants will develop actionable recommendations for bilateral initiatives, offering valuable input to APEC and G7 agendas and strengthening the innovation and technology pillar of the Canada–South Korea Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

Info: info@asiapacific.ca

The Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada is co-organizing a research symposium on July 7 and 8, in partnership with the CÉRIUM Chair in Asian and Indo-Pacific Studies and the Third World Studies Center of the University of the Philippines, as part of our Joint Research Grant.

APF Canada speakers at this event include:

• Alexandre Veilleux, Advisor, Research & Communications (Montreal)
• Don McLain Gill, Indo-Pacific Research Fellow
• Dr. Erik Martinez Kuhonta, John H. McArthur Research Fellow

APF Canada is proud to support Export Development Canada’s “Exploring Business Opportunities in Vietnam,” empowering Canadian companies eyeing expansion into one of Southeast Asia’s most dynamic markets. 

This free, virtual, one-hour partner event is happening on June 25.

Organized by the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade and Invest Vancouver, this invitation-only roundtable will explore the diversification of foreign direct investment (FDI) source markets and the critical role this plays in enhancing the economic resilience of our region.

Vina Nadjibulla, Vice-President Research & Strategy at the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada will be participating in the discussion.

Kenan Foundation Asia, an APF Canada partner in the APEC-Canada Growing Business Partnership, is hosting a networking event for MSME entrepreneurs on June 24th, from 13:00-17:00 Bangkok time. 

The event will provide an opportunity for networking among entrepreneurs and external stakeholders and will celebrate the transition to the next country level activities: a mentorship program for women entrepreneurs.

Organized by the German Canadian Business Association, this event offers a unique opportunity to gain valuable insights into current and future geopolitical developments.

The event will kick off with a short speech from Alexandra Richards, PHD Candidate Political Science at Simon Fraser University (SFU): New Realities, Old Ties: Canada and Europe in an Era of Global Tensions, followed by a panel discussion moderated by Franziska Schwarzmann, International Marketing & Communications Coach.

Panel Participants:

• Vina Nadjibulla, Vice-President Research & Strategy,  Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada
• Luthfi Dofier, Public Policy and Global Affairs Specialist, Vancouver
• Dr. Bernd Althusman , Head Canada of Konrad-Adenauer-Foundation (KAS)
• Alexandra Richards, PHD candidate at SFU, Political Science 

The Arctic Development Expo welcomes industry innovators, researchers, Indigenous leaders, circumpolar governments, scientists, community representatives, and passionate individuals to join us in person for this three-day event June 17-19, 2025. 

The Arctic Development Expo takes place annually 200 km north of the Arctic Circle in Inuvik, Northwest Territories, Canada, as we strive to make knowledgeable decisions, enhance circumpolar life, and create innovative solutions for our northern realities. 

We look to develop the Arctic through sustainable means and will do so by holding immersive and dynamic sessions during our event that focus on the following four themes: Natural & Renewable Resources, Climate and Energy Innovations, Indigenous Leadership and Circumpolar Governance & Sovereignty and the Knowledge Economy. 

APF Canada's Hema Nadarajah, Program Manager, Southeast Asia, will participate on the panel, "Communications and Satellites for a Secure Arctic" scheduled to take place on June 18th, from 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

Canada’s G7 Presidency in 2025 comes amid pressing global challenges, marked by rising geoeconomic and geopolitical uncertainties. This moment offers Canada a platform to lead — and an opportunity to strengthen ties with rising powers like India, which is playing an increasingly vital role on the global stage. Although not a G7 member, India has been invited to every summit since 2019. 

As a window opens for a potential reset in Canada–India relations, join us to explore India’s G7 engagement in recent years and the prospects for renewed bilateral and global co-operation in the context of Canada’s G7 Presidency.

Vina Najibulla, Vice-President Research & Strategy at the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada, will moderate this webinar. 

Speakers:

• Michael Kugelman, Senior Fellow of the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada 
   
• C. Raja Mohan, Distinguished Fellow, Council for Strategic and Defense Research

APF Canada welcomes the 15 members of its inaugural Indo-Pacific Young Leaders cohort for a one-week visit to Canada to connect with stakeholders in the Canada-Indo-Pacific relationship from governments, think-tanks, civil society organizations, and business. 

This year’s cohort includes government officials, researchers, and private sector actors from Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Mongolia, the Philippines, and Taiwan.

In September 2023, former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Paul Thoppil as Canada’s first ever Indo-Pacific Trade Representative, based in Jakarta, Indonesia. This new position, an outcome of Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy (launched in November 2022) is focused on deepening Canada’s trade and investment links in the Indo-Pacific region. Since arriving in the region, Mr. Thoppil has travelled extensively, often alongside Canadian companies and provincial representatives, meeting government and corporate leaders to boost Canadian exports and attract foreign investment.

The incoming federal government’s pledge to review Canada’s foreign policy offers a timely opportunity to take stock of the Indo-Pacific Strategy as Canada looks to accelerate trade diversification and recalibrate and deepen relations with this important region.

Vina Nadjibulla, Vice-President Research & Strategy, Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada, will share some "Strategic Reflections" drawing from contributions from experts on the implementation of the Strategy and its impact, highlighting successes and priorities to ensure it remains effective in advancing Canadian interests in the region.

Click here for more information and registration. 

The first two annual editions of Space Canada Horizons have been a tremendous success, welcoming 100+ attendees from across Canada to hear from featured guests from the CSA, the Royal Canadian Air Force, Transport Canada, and the Department of Finance to discuss the momentum that’s building in the Canadian space sector.

We’re looking forward to building on this success in 2025. 

APF Canada's Vice-President Research & Strategy Vina Nadjibulla, will be joining the conference to speak on the geopolitical outlook and its implications for the Canadian space ecosystem.

This APF Canada event in partnership with Simon Fraser University will bring together businesspeople and leaders from both countries to discuss important topics in a collaborative setting. 

Join us at the Segal Graduate School of Business, Simon Fraser University, for engaging discussions, networking opportunities, and insightful presentations. 

Our Vice-President Research & Strategy Vina Nadjibulla is a guest speaker at this event. 

As part of Canada's Indo-Pacific Strategy, the Minister of International Trade will lead a Team Canada Trade Mission (TCTM) to Thailand and Cambodia. The trade mission will help Canadian exporters and innovators from across the country position themselves in both markets by showcasing their capabilities and competitiveness while facilitating long-term trade and investment opportunities.

APF Canada President & CEO Jeff Nankivell is joining the mission and will be briefing delegates in Bangkok on May 25. 

About the Mission:

Markets: Core programming in Bangkok (Thailand) from May 25 to May 28, with additional priority sector programming in Phnom Penh (Cambodia) on May 29 and May 30.

Priority sectors: While the trade mission is open to companies and organizations from all sectors, the program will highlight areas of Canadian competitive advantage, with a particular focus on the following priority sectors:

• Agri-food and food processing (Thailand and Cambodia)
• Cleantech and sustainable infrastructure (Thailand and Cambodia)
• Information and communication technologies (Thailand only)
• Life sciences (Thailand only)
   

The B2B program stream (which includes pre-arranged business to business meetings) will be available only to eligible small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that operate in the priority sectors.

To mark the 50th anniversary of the founding of the G7, the l'Istituto Affari Internazionali (IAI), with the support and funding from the Korea Foundation, and in collaboration with the Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI), is organizing the second ROK-G7 Cooperation Forum, on May 22 in Ottawa, Canada.

The forum will explore how Canada, Japan, and European G7 countries can work strategically with the ROK to prop up and bolster multilateral engagement and manage Indo-Pacific security challenges. The event will be attended by former officials and experts from academia, think-tanks, and representatives from the private sector in South Korea, together with their counterparts from the G7 countries and Australia. 

The first two open sessions will focus on ‘Prospects for ROK-G7 Cooperation on International Security’ and ‘Prospects for ROK-G7 Partnership in Science, Technology, and Global Development.’ These will be followed by two closed-door sessions, carried out under Chatham House Rule: a “Special session” and a final session on “Prospects for ROK-G7 Cooperation on Trade and Investment."

This symposium will explore Canada’s approach to supporting regional security in Southeast Asia, ways to strengthen Canada-ASEAN security co-operation in light of geopolitical challenges, and considerations for how Canada’s next government might position itself in relation to prospects in Southeast Asia for regional peace and security and upholding a rules-based international order. 

This is APF Canada's second annual symposium on Canada-ASEAN security co-operation following our first event at Carleton University in May 2024. Panellists include representatives of Global Affairs Canada, National Defence Canada, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, academic institutions, think-tanks, and embassies.

This event is organized by Canada-ASEAN Initiatives, York Centre for Asian Research, and sponsored by the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada and the Telfer School of Management, University of Ottawa.

APF Canada Participation

Panel 2: Regional security in Southeast Asia: How might Canada's next government position itself?

Vina Nadjibulla, Vice-President Research & Strategy - Panellist

Kai Ostwald, APF Canada Senior Fellow and Director, Institute of Asian Research, University of B.C. - Panellist

Panel 3: Ambassadors’ Panel: Impact of leadership changes on regional security and upholding a rules-based international order

Julia Bentley, APF Canada Distinguished Fellow - Moderator

Roundtable discussion with Mr. Rob Tinline, the newly appointed British High Commissioner to Canada. 

In light of the unprecedented challenges currently confronting Canada’s prosperity, security, and sovereignty, the Canadian Ambassadors Alumni Association (AmbCanada) is organizing its first ever foreign policy conference on Finding Canada's Place in a Disordered World.

This conference will bring together former Canadian Heads of Mission and academic experts to discuss these critical issues. This conference is co-sponsored by the Centre for International Policy Studies (CIPS) at the University of Ottawa with support from APF Canada.

APF Canada Vice-President Research & Strategy Vina Nadjibulla will speak on the panel "How Should We Engage the Rest of the World?"

 APF Canada Senior Fellows David McKinnon and Pascale Massot will speak on the panel " How Does This Change Our Diplomacy?"

APF Canada welcomes the 2024-25 cohort of its Canada-Asia Young Professionals Fellowship Program for a two-day conference in Vancouver. 

The conference includes discussions with local experts, networking with stakeholders, and a workshop on ‘future-proofing’ Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy. This year’s cohort includes Canadians based in B.C., Alberta, Ontario, Quebec, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, Switzerland, and the U.S.