Event Archive

The Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada is hosting a roundtable discussion on Canada-Japan strategic relations with Japan’s Former Minister of Justice, Hideki Makihara. 

This timely discussion with Mr. Makihara, a distinguished voice on Japan’s foreign and economic policy, we explore how U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariffs and trade measures have reshaped the global economic order. We’ll examine the implications for Japan, including economic security and supply chain resilience, and discuss how Japan is adapting to shifts in U.S. foreign policy and relations with allies, such as Canada. 

The discussion, moderated by APF Canada Vice-President Research & Strategy Vina Nadjibulla, will also touch on Japan’s perspective on the G7 and the growing importance of a robust Japan-Canada strategic partnership in today’s uncertain geopolitical landscape. 

About Hideki Makihara

Hideki Makihara is a Japanese politician and legal expert, and a founder of Dream Platform, who served as the Minister of Justice in Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba first administration in 2024.

Makihara earned his LLB from the University of Tokyo Faculty of Law and later pursued an LLM at Georgetown University Law Center. He is also a licensed attorney in New York. His career began in 2003 at the Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry (METI), working in the Multilateral Trade System Department of the Trade Policy Bureau.

In 2005, Makihara entered politics, winning a seat in the House of Representatives as the representative for Saitama Prefecture’s 5th district. Over the years, he has held numerous key positions within the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and the Japanese government. His appointments include Parliamentary Vice-Minister of Environment (2013), Deputy Secretary-General of the LDP (2014), and Director of the LDP Youth Division (2015). He has also been Vice-Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare (2017), Chair of the House of Representatives Committee on Cabinet (2018), and Vice-Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry (2019).

Beyond politics, in 2024, he founded and became CEO of Dream Platform. His leadership continues to influence Japan’s legal, economic, and environmental policies, reflecting his diverse expertise in governance, law, and business.

The Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada is hosting a talk with Pia Ranada, head of community for Rappler, a Philippines news organization, and winner of the 2024 Marshall McLuhan Award. Previously, Pia was an investigative journalist and senior reporter who covered the Duterte administration (2016-2022). As Community Lead, she is now responsible for linking journalists with communities for impact and action.  

The Embassy of Canada in the Philippines awarded her the Marshall McLuhan Fellowship in November for her “exceptional commitment to journalism, using the craft to build citizens with critical information that can impact societal change” and her commitment to inform, “to enable meaningful public engagement on issues in service of the public, and illustrate how investigations, facts, and transparency can ensure meaningful democratic accountability.”

Pia will discuss how the journalist’s role is expanding beyond reporting to include creating impactful solutions to social challenges and how journalism can be more than truth-telling but also as advocacy for collaborative action. Learn more about Pia here.

Please click HERE to register for this event.

Celebrating its 93rd edition in 2025, the Ottawa Conference stands as Canada’s premier defence and security assembly. The conference centres its discussions around a wide spectrum of security and defence matters, orchestrating a sequence of impactful keynotes, presentations, and dialogues led by distinguished experts in the fields of security and defence from Canada and across the globe. 

The audience consists of senior decision-makers in government, thought leaders in academia and civil society, and industry leaders. The event brings together Parliamentarians and reaches deep into the Department of National Defence, with a strong showing of general and flag officers. Many other key segments of government also attend from the Prime Minister’s Office, the Privy Council, Global Affairs Canada, PSPC, Treasury Board, Canadian Coast Guard, Public Safety, and over 20 other government departments and agencies.

APF Canada's Vice-President Research & Strategy Vina Nadjibulla is a featured speaker on Day 2 (1:25-2:30 p.m. ET) on Panel 8: Challenges and Readiness in the Indo-Pacific.

A winner and nominee of several international documentary awards, this film sheds a light on the Taiwanese who have fought to safeguard their autonomy and democratic way of life, despite enduring decades of external threats and military harassment. 

The screening will be followed by a networking reception, featuring remarks from Vina Nadjibulla, Vice-President Research & Strategy, Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada.

The Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada will co-organize a roundtable discussion with the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung Foundation (KAS) focused on U.S. President Donald Trump's disruptions to the global trading and economic orders.

Presenters

• Dr. Bernd Althusmann, Director, Konrad Adenauer Foundation Canada Office
   
• Ms. Vina Nadjibulla, Vice-President Research & Strategy, Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada

Speakers

• H.E. Tjorven Bellmann, Ambassador of Germany to Canada
   
• H.E. Kanji Yamanouchi, Ambassador of Japan to Canada
   
• Professor Patrick Leblond, University of Ottawa

By invitation-only.

Connexion internationale de Montréal (CIMtl) invites you to its third wine talk on Wednesday, February 26, 2024, starting at 6 p.m. ET, where we'll discuss the growing issues of foreign interference in Canada, a topic of major concern in the current geopolitical context.

With rising international tensions, Canada has seen a rise in efforts to influence foreign actors, whether through disinformation, cyberattacks, or other forms of intervention.

Program:

• Overview of recent forms of interference
• Impact on democracy, citizens' rights and national security
• Actors' responsibilities and preventive measures
• Recommendations for reinforcing protection and preventing incidents
   

Panellists:

Alexandre Veilleux, advisor, research and communications at the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada and PhD candidate affiliated with The Montreal Centre for International Studies (CÉRIUM).

Fanny Tan, Researcher-in-Residence at the Observatory of Multidimensional Conflicts of the Raoul-Dandurand Chair.

Yann Roche, Director of the Strategy and Diplomacy axis of CÉRIUM's Chair of Asian and Indo-Pacific Studies and Professor in the Geography Department at UQAM | Université du Québec à Montréal.

The Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada and the High Commission of Canada, Singapore, are co-organizing a closed-door panel on cybersecurity.  

By Invitation Only

The Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada and the High Commission of Canada, Singapore, are co-organizing a closed-door panel on artificial intelligencem (AI).  

By invitation only. 

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! 

Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada is partnering with the Parliamentary Centre to facilitate a closed-door exchange of experience between Asian, African, European, and Australian members of parliament which will take place under the umbrella of the Global Network of Women Legislators in Defence, Security and Peace Portfolios.  

By Invitation Only.

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 and the Outer Space Institute are co-organizing a closed-door two-day workshop on lunar co-ordination, a novel subject in space research and policy that urgently requires input from both Canada and its Indo-Pacific allies and partners.

By Invitation Only 

This day-long dialogue will convene distinguished experts and thought leaders from India and Canada to address both immediate and long-term challenges in their bilateral relationship. It aims to provide actionable recommendations for resolution and propose confidence-building measures. Additionally, the dialogue will examine the impact of rising geopolitical uncertainties, explore strategic priorities and convergences in the Indo-Pacific region, and identify new areas of co-operation in emerging technologies, aiming to broaden the scope of ties between the two countries.

The event is co-organized by Ananta Centre and the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada.

By Invitation Only 

Led by Minister of Export Promotion, International Trade and Economic Development Mary Ng, Canadian companies and organizations in various fields will be in Australia highlighting Canadian leadership in agricultural technologies, clean energy, mining equipment and services, and information and communications technologies. Team Canada will work to promote long-term trade and cooperation between Australian and Canadian industries in these priority fields.

The India-Canada relationship, rooted in shared democratic values and a common Commonwealth heritage, stands at a critical crossroads. Despite bilateral trade reaching C$12.67 billion in 2023 and Indian students forming the largest international cohort in Canadian universities, recent diplomatic tensions have highlighted vulnerabilities in the relationship. This roundtable convenes distinguished experts from both countries to explore strategies for strengthening bilateral ties while addressing areas of concern. The discussion will focus on leveraging shared interests in economic growth, technological innovation, energy security, and regional stability.

The roundtable is co-organized by the Council for Strategic and Defense Research and the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada.

By Invitation-Only

The Australia-Canada Economic Leadership Forum returns for the 9th meeting to bring together 150 leaders from both Australia and Canada. The Forum discusses global challenges and opportunities facing the two countries, while also identifying opportunities for collaboration in areas of trade and investment, global security, foreign policy, economic growth, innovation and technology, energy, and education. Sub-themes this year will include insights on geo-political risks, critical minerals and metals, AI and cybersecurity and infrastructure. The relevance of Indigenous economic inclusion will also be featured.

APF Canada is excited to support the 15th Australia-Canada Economic Leadership Forum as a partner, with President and CEO Jeff Nankivell participating as a speaker. 

This bilateral Summit will bring together senior industry leaders, policymakers, and business delegates from India and Canada to explore opportunities for collaboration in different sectors. With distinguished speakers, engaging panel discussions, and tailored B2B sessions, the Summit will provide invaluable insights into India’s dynamic business landscape and help forge impactful partnerships.

APF Canada is a co-sponsor of this event.

APF Canada’s Vice President, Research & Strategy, Ms. Vina Nadjibulla will be speaking at this event.

The Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada will host General Carsten Breuer, Germany’s Chief of Defence, for a timely discussion with APF Canada Fellows, researchers, and attendees. 

This event, titled “From the Atlantic to the Indo-Pacific: Advancing Germany-Canada Collaboration in a Changing Geopolitical Landscape,” will examine how our two countries can strengthen security and defence co-operation in light of the rapidly shifting global order. 

Recent developments—including Russia's invasion of Ukraine in Europe and growing geopolitical tensions in the Indo-Pacific—underscore the need for closer collaboration between Germany and Canada. With the election of President Trump for a second term in the United States, the urgency of rethinking alliance structures and strategic priorities across both regions has never been more pronounced. 

As our countries seek to navigate questions of economic security, energy challenges, and defence modernization, this conversation with General Breuer offers invaluable insights into Germany’s perspective on transatlantic and Indo-Pacific security engagement. 

The Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada and the Montreal Institute for Global Security are pleased to welcome you to our event focusing on the pressing issue of transnational repression in Canada, specifically the digital threats originating from the Indo-Pacific region. 

Join us for insightful discussions and networking opportunities. Learn about the challenges posed by digital repression and ways to combat them.

Speakers:

Terry Glavin, journalist

Ujjal Dosanjh, former Premier of British Columbia

Joanna Chiu, journalist

Brad West, Mayor of Port Coquitlam

Moderator:

Vina Nadjibulla, Vice-President Research & Strategy, Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada

Join our APF Canada discussion featuring Vice-Admiral (VAdm) Angus Topshee, 38th Commander of the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN). This in-person event will explore Canada's critical maritime challenges and strategic imperatives in the 21st century.

Against the backdrop of increasing global geopolitical tensions and mounting international pressure to bolster defence capabilities, VAdm Topshee will provide insights into how Canada is responding to calls for increased military spending and a more meaningful maritime presence. 

Drawing from Canada’s recent Defence Policy Update and Ottawa’s Indo-Pacific Strategy, the Vice-Admiral will examine the strategic challenges facing Canada, particularly in the Arctic and Indo-Pacific regions. With NATO allies and global partners emphasizing the need for robust maritime defence, this event offers a timely and critical look at Canada's naval capabilities, the pressures to expand its military role on the world stage, and an evolving geopolitical landscape that demands a more proactive approach to national and collective security.

Please click here to register your interest in this event.

For more information, please contact events@asiapacific.ca. 

The specific location of the event will be provided to registered participants closer to the date.