VANCOUVER, BC – July 9, 2019 – The Board of Directors of the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada welcomes the new Chair of the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada, the Honourable Pierre Pettigrew. The Board also welcomes Ms. Lisa de Wilde, Mr. Christopher Labelle, and Ms. Constance Sugiyama as Directors on the Board. All appointments were announced today by the Government of Canada and are effective immediately.
Pierre Pettigrew has many years of leadership experience in both the public and private sectors. Currently, Mr. Pettigrew is executive advisor, International, at Deloitte Canada. Until recently, he was the Government of Canada's special envoy for the Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) and regularly arbitrates international trade disputes between countries at the World Trade Organization in Geneva.
His public sector accomplishments have been substantial at both the federal and provincial levels, where he was a strong advocate for international trade and multilateralism. He was elected as a member of Parliament in March 1996 and held many ministerial portfolios during the following 10 years, including minister of Foreign Affairs, minister for International Trade and minister for International Cooperation. Additionally, Mr. Pettigrew is the author of The New Politics of Confidence, a book on globalization and the art of governing.
"I had the pleasure of working with Pierre Pettigrew when he was Minister of International Trade. He brings many years of leadership to his new role as Chair of our Board," said Stewart Beck, APF Canada President and CEO. "His outstanding experience in the public and private sectors, combined with his background in politics, finance, industry, and foreign relations will be invaluable to the Foundation's mission to enhance Canada's engagement with Asia and for his leadership of our dedicated Board of Directors. Global Affairs Canada should be commended for the open and transparent process in the selection of our highly qualified Chair, as well as our new Directors."
Lisa de Wilde is a well-known Canadian media executive and business leader. She has served as chief executive officer of TVO since 2005, envisaging and leading its transformation into Ontario's digital learning organization. Prior to leading TVO, Ms. de Wilde was president and CEO of Astral Television, a partner at a law firm, and legal counsel for the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission. She has also been recognized for her work in the public policy arena and serves as a director on a number of boards in the public and private sectors. Ms. de Wilde was named a member of the Order of Canada in 2015. She is based in Toronto.
Constance Sugiyama is the president of ConMark Strategy lnc., which provides high-level strategy advice and solutions to the public and private sectors. She has a long and distinguished career in corporate law and is recognized as a trailblazer on matters of corporate finance and mergers and acquisitions law. Ms. Sugiyama has served as a director on many boards and advisory committees. Currently, she is on the boards of the Ontario Financing Authority, the Mount Pleasant Group, the Canadian Foundation for Healthcare Improvement and the Gairdner Foundation. Formerly, she was the chair of the Board of Trustees of The Hospital for Sick Children and has served as a board member of the Toronto International Film Festival, Nikko Securities Co. Canada Ltd., the Japan Society, the Ontario Trillium Foundation, Ontario Exports Inc., the Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre and Women in Capital Markets. She has been a member of the Order of Canada since 2014 and is based in Toronto.
Christopher Labelle is an entrepreneur and mentor in the tech start-up community. He is the co-founder and chief operating officer of Mosaic Manufacturing, a Canadian-based advanced manufacturing company that specializes in 3D printing. Mr. Labelle has extensive experience in developing business partnerships and supply chains outside North America, most notably in Asia. Mr. Labelle is also a founding board member of the Cansbridge Fellowship which aims to discover Canada's future entrepreneurs and leaders at the university level by funding their experiential learning through work terms in Asia.
"On behalf of the Foundation, I extend our congratulations to Ms. De Wilde, Ms. Sugiyama, and Mr. Labelle," said APF Canada President and CEO, Stewart Beck. "They will be joining a great team of Board members dedicated to enhancing Canada's strategic engagement with Asia, and I look forward to working with them to ensure APF Canada remains central to that strategy."
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For media information please contact:
Michael Roberts
Communications Manager
Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada
michael.roberts@asiapacific.ca
Office: 604-630-1527
