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Agenda
Plenary Sessions
CIAC2025’s four substantive plenary sessions bring together all conference attendees and focus on major cross-cutting themes and ideas in the Canada-Asia relationship as well as global challenges such as geopolitics, the renewed space race, sustainable investment, and infrastructure.
Concurrent Sessions, Sectors & Engagement Tracks
CIAC2025 offers four concurrent session blocks, which can be navigated by either sectors or engagement tracks. Four sectors have been identified after extensive consultation with CIAC stakeholders and represent areas in which there is much opportunity for collaboration between and among Canada-based and Asia-based firms, researchers, and institutions. Engagement tracks offer an alternative pathway to engage for those who are more interested in themes that cut across these sectors.
Related (non-CIAC) events are listed in YELLOW.
Agenda subject to change.
9:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Developing a Generation of Jobs in the Nuclear Energy Sector
Recognized as the most scalable clean energy solution to meet growing electrification and climate transition needs, countries are turning to nuclear power – an energy source where Canada has breadth and depth of globally competitive capabilityDecades of CANDU nuclear activity have created a high-value local supply chain and a deep post-secondary bench of more than 12 Canadian post-secondary institutions who develop advanced trades, robotics, science and engineering capabilities and support applied and advanced research.
Join the Canada-ASEAN Business Council’s newly established Nuclear Energy Working Group on February 19 for a Nuclear Energy Capacity Building Symposium. Canadian nuclear business and post-secondary leaders will share insights into developing your nuclear workforce.
Register here: CABC Nuclear Energy Capacity Building Symposium at Canada-In-Asia Conference 2025 | CABC
5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
Welcome Reception
More info to come
Western Alumni Reception
6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Join Karen Bertrand, Vice-President (University Advancement), along with fellow Western alumni and friends for an unforgettable evening in the heart of Singapore. Whether you reside in or are visiting Singapore, this is the perfect opportunity to catch up with the Western community.
The reception will be held in the Enterprise Room in the Fairmont Singapore.
7:45 p.m. – offsite
Gowling WLG CIAC Reception
Open to all CIAC attendees. Registration provided via email or email ciac@asiapacific.ca to inquire
8:00 a.m. -9:00 a.m.
BREAKFAST CONCURRENT SESSION BLOCK
Pursuing Food Security in China and ASEAN: Implications for Canadian and International Stakeholders
Sector: Agri-food and Food Security
Engagement Track: Trade & Supply Chains
Examining the interplay between national and regional policies promoting food security that undergird agri-food trade & supply chains in ASEAN, this session places special emphasis on China’s food security policies and the importance of Chinese firms across the region. How is China’s food security drive, including diversifying its supply sources, influencing agricultural supply chains in the Indo-Pacific region? What related challenges and opportunities do Canadian and other international firms face when engaging with agri-food supply chains in China, ASEAN and across the Indo-Pacific region?
Lead Panellist
Michael Harvey
Executive Director, Canadian Agri-food Trade Alliance (Canada)
Speakers
Joseph Fung
Managing Director, Saltagen Ventures (Hong Kong)
Advancing the Blue Economy Through AI
Sector: Ocean Tech & Blue Economy
Engagement Track: Artificial Intelligence
Accelerating the adoption of AI can help drive desirable outcomes in the ocean space such as increasing economic opportunity, mitigating risk to ocean ecosystems, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. What AI-enabled ocean tech and blue economy success stories have emerged in Canada and Asia? What ocean-related industries will be most affected by AI and what are emerging opportunities? Can AI help move beyond data to solutions? And how can we increase Canada-Asia collaboration in AI-enabled ocean tech and blue economy sectors?
Speakers
Bill Collins
Director & Founding Partner, Cascadia Seaweed (Canada)
Prasad Nair
MDA Space (Canada)
Fostering Clean Tech Start-Up Ecosystems in Asia and Canada
Sector: Clean Technology
Engagement Track: Innovation Ecosystems
This session brings together leaders of clean tech incubators and accelerators with a focus on exploring the work of successful start-up communities in Canada and in parts of Asia. We examine factors that catalyze the creation of new clean tech companies, hear about growth success stories, and explore opportunities for collaboration between clean tech start-up ecosystems.
Powering Asia’s Energy Transitions Through Investment Partnerships
Sector: Energy Transitions & Energy Security
Engagement Track: Investment & Finance
Different economies’ energy transition plans in pursuit of net-zero emissions offer a multiplicity of opportunities for investors of all stripes. This session delves into how the energy transition can facilitate predictable returns for investors and examines blended finance approaches, and opportunities for partnering on investment in large-scale energy transition projects.
Lead Panellist
Vikas Arora
Chief of Impact Investing, Asian Venture Philanthropy Network (Singapore)
Speakers
Robert Todd
Managing Director, Energy, Infrastructure & Transition, Investment Banking, CIBC Capital Markets (Canada)
Wai Leng Leong
Managing Director, Head of Asia Pacific, Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec (CDPQ)
Mike Crawley
Former CEO, Northland Power (Canada)
Vivek Sen
India Director, Climate Policy Initiative (India)
Simone Grasso
Chief Investment Officer, Vena Energy (Singapore)
9:30 a.m. -10:30 a.m.
MORNING PLENARY
Navigating Geopolitical Risk, Recasting Global Supply ChainsRegional conflicts, economic sanctions, tariffs, retributive tariffs, and friendshoring are disrupting and reshaping global supply chains. Geopolitical uncertainty is destabilizing established patterns of trade and investment even while many governments seek to facilitate increased economic predictability through freer trade and investment agreements. How are leading companies and institutions in Asia and Canada responding? What opportunities for collaboration and partnership are emerging amid rising complexity and risk?
Lead Panellist
Vina Nadjibulla
Vice-President, Research & Strategy, APF Canada (Canada)
Speakers
Janet Pau
Executive Director, Asia Business Council (Hong Kong)
Peter Mumford
Practice Head, Southeast Asia, Eurasia Group (Singapore)
11:00 a.m. -12:00 p.m.
MORNING CONCURRENT SESSION BLOCK
Advancing Agri-food & Aquaculture Systems Through AI
Sector: Agri-food and Food Security
Engagement Track: Artificial Intelligence
Whether improving soil quality, optimizing on-farm water use, improving agricultural sustainability, boosting yields, improving food quality, minimizing food loss and waste, or conducting remote food quality checks, AI offers a myriad of technology and process solutions that can advance agri-food systems. This session explores cutting-edge approaches to using AI and AI-powered solutions to improve agri-food systems in Asia and Canada and seeks to identify opportunities to connect Asia-based and Canada-based actors in the AI and agri-food space.
Lead Panellist
Anne Lochoff
Singapore Agri-food Innovation Lab
Speakers
Rajamanohar (Raj) Somasundaram
Founder & CEO, Aquaconnect (India)
Lesly Goh
Senior Technology Advisor (Indonesia)
Allan Lai
Founder/CEO, ProfilePrint (Singapore)
Joshua Pearce
Associate Professor, Western University (Canada)
Connecting Ocean and Blue Economy Innovators in Asia and Canada
Sector: Ocean Tech & Blue Economy
Engagement Track: Innovation Ecosystems
Convening leaders of Canadian and Asia-based blue economy companies, institutions, universities and governments to share innovative work taking place within their ecosystems, and to explore opportunities for Canada-Asia co-operation and connection in an amalgamation of sectors that some conservatively value at around US$1.5 trillion annually. What are best practices supporting collaboration between large corporates and startups? And how can we catalyze increased Asia-Canada collaborations in ocean tech and blue economy innovation?
Speakers
Kendra MacDonald
CEO, Canada’s Ocean Supercluster (Canada)
Takashi Gojobori
Institute Director, Marine Open Innovation Institute (Japan)
Atsushi Sunami
President & CEO, Sasakawa Peace Foundation (Japan)
Clean Tech Priorities for Investors
Sector: Clean Technology
Engagement Track: Investment & Finance
This session brings together investors from Asia and Canada to discuss priorities for investing in the clean technology space, across a range of investment strategies and technologies, including solar, wing, tidal, hydro, carbon capture, utilization and storage, green buildings, and smart manufacturing. Where is smart money going in clean tech and what impact is it having on climate change mitigation and adaptation?
Speakers
Mike Mate
Vice-President, Kickstart (Philippines)
Canadian Energy Supplying Transitions in Asia
Sector: Energy Transitions & Energy Security
Engagement Track: Trade & Supply Chains
With energy demand across Asia steadily growing, and economies across Asia seeking both energy security and cleaner energy sources, this session examines the potential for Canadian-produced energy and energy technologies to supply Asia’s energy transitions in the coming decades. How and where in Asia can Canadian LNG, hydrogen, and nuclear energy and energy technologies contribute?
CLOSING LUNCH PLENARY
12:30 p.m.-1:45 p.m.
Asia’s Sustainable Infrastructure Opportunity
The Asian Development Bank has estimated developing Asia would need over US$26 trillion in infrastructure investment from 2016-30, or US$1.7 trillion per year. Pressure is increasing for that infrastructure to be sustainable and green. Smart and purposeful contributions from institutional investors as well as technology and service providers are required to deliver results. What are some of the leading areas of need and how are companies and institutions in Asia and Canada responding to the sustainable infrastructure opportunity in Asia?
Lead Panellist
Anbumozhi Venkatachalam
Director of Research Strategy and Innovations, Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA) (Indonesia)
Speakers
Samantha Hill
Head of Sustainability Integration, CPP Investments (Canada)
Devin Chan
Deputy Executive Director, Infrastructure Asia (Singapore)
Suzanne Gaboury
Director General, Private Sector Operations, Asian Development Bank (Philippines)
Lori Kerr
CEO, FinDev Canada (Canada)
CLOSING REMARKS
1:45 p.m. -2:00 p.m.
8:45 a.m. -10:00 a.m.
CONFERENCE OPENING AND MORNING PLENARY
Opening Remarks from the conference organizers
Plenary Session: The Global Competition for Talent
Economies and companies need top talent to be innovative, creative, and competitive. While the competition for talent has become increasingly intense and global in recent years, there are signals that many countries, including Canada, are tightening access to their markets for education and jobs. What will be the impact of this trend, both for Canada and Asia? How are companies and universities in Canada and Asia recruiting and retaining global talent and providing career pathways?
Lead Panelist
Stephen Toope
President & CEO, Canadian Institute for Advanced Research (CIFAR) (Canada)
Lead Panelist
Ping Soon Kok
CEO, Singapore Business Federation
(Singapore)
Melissa Kennedy
Executive Vice President, Chief Legal & Public Policy Officer, Sun Life Financial (Canada)
Peter Stoicheff
President & Vice Chancellor, University of Saskatchewan (Canada)
Casey Lau
Executive Vice President, Asia Pacific, Web Summit (Hong Kong)
10:30 a.m. -11:30 a.m.
MORNING CONCURRENT SESSION BLOCK
Advancing Food Security Through Innovation
Sector: Agri-food and Food Security
Engagement Track: Innovation Ecosystems
Leaders of dynamic agri-food innovation ecosystems in Canada and Asia share opportunities in their geographies and company success stories. This panel incorporates perspectives from innovation taking place across agri-food value chains, including alternative proteins and primary food production. An opportunity to deepen and broaden knowledge and networks, and to explore new connections and strengthen existing ones.
Lead Panellist
Carla Gomez
UNDP Global Centre for Technology, Innovation and Sustainable Development (Singapore)
Speakers
Justine Hendricks
CEO, Farm Credit Canada (Canada)
Jeff Barlow
Owner, Barlow Farms (Canada)
John Cheng
Founder & CEO, Innovate 360 (Singapore)
Facilitating Investment in Blue Economy Solutions
Sector: Ocean Tech & Blue Economy
Engagement Track: Investment & Finance
Increased investment in ocean technologies and sustainable aquaculture, decarbonization of shipping, protection of marine ecosystems, and adoption of renewable marine energy are required to move toward net-zero goals by mid-century and to support the ongoing vibrancy of related ocean-based sectors. How do investors in Asia and Canada view sustainable economic opportunities in the blue economy? In what ways are the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) shaping blue economy investment strategies? What impediments exist for blue economy companies to access financing for their promising projects? What models and best practices can drive financing of innovation in the ocean economy, including philanthropic and impact investment models?
Lead Panellist
Charles Goddard
Editorial Director, Economist Impact (Australia)
Speakers
Kendra McDonald
CEO, Canada’s Ocean Supercluster (Canada)
Kathlyn Tan
Principal, Rumah Group (Singapore)
Sowmya Balendiran
CEO, Co-Founder & Chief Business Officer, Sea6 (India)
Eduardo Leaño
Director General, Network of Aquaculture Centres in Asia Pacific (Thailand)
Canada as a Stable Provider of Critical Minerals for Asia’s Clean Technologies
Sector: Clean Technology
Engagement Track: Trade & Supply Chains
With global supply chain uncertainty and increasing demand for critical minerals for the manufacture of clean technologies, Canada has the opportunity to enhance its role as a stable and dependable partner for critical mineral production, including for economies in the Asia Pacific region. This session explores demand for critical minerals and critical mineral-enabled clean technologies in Asia and critical minerals opportunities in Canada.
Speakers
Keith Tan
Associate Director, Metals & Pricing, S&P Global (Singapore)
Stewart Paterson
Senior Fellow, Hinrich Foundation (Singapore / U.K.)
Jan Kwak
Managing Director - Australia and Asia, Hatch (Australia)
Greening Grids Through AI
Sector: Energy Transitions & Energy Security
Engagement Track: Artificial Intelligence
Deploying AI-driven technologies and capabilities at grid level can reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the pursuit of climate targets while increasing the resilience and efficiency of energy systems. This session explores the intersection of AI and smart grids, modelling of energy demand and supply, and energy storage, and looks at the opportunities in Asia for Canadian AI-driven solutions.
Lead Panellist
David Lederhendler
Founder and CEO, Yeji Data Lab (Canada)
Speakers
Bala Venkatesh
Director, Centre for Urban Energy, Toronto Metropolitan University (Canada)
Prof. Tiong Sieh Kiong
Director of the Institute of Sustainable Energy, Universiti Tenaga Nasional (Malaysia)
12:00 p.m. -1:30 p.m.
LUNCH PLENARY
Canadian Investment in Research for Development in Asia
For decades Canada has been a reliable source of investment for researchers and research institutions in Asia. For example, the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) has, since 2016, invested C$500 million into research and innovation to understand and find solutions for problems in developing countries and regions across Asia and the Pacific. This session delves into Canadian investments into research and R&D across Asia and the positive impacts of these significant investments.
Speakers
Kapil Kapoor
Regional Director for Asia, IDRC (India/Canada)
Joe Wong
Vice-President, International, University of Toronto (Canada)
Jean-Louis Arcand
President, Global Development
Network (Canada/Switzerland)
AFTERNOON CONCURRENT SESSION BLOCK
2:00 p.m. -3:00 p.m.
Addressing Financing Bottlenecks in Agriculture and Agri-food in Asia
Sector: Agri-food and Food Security
Engagement Track: Investment & Finance
NOTE: Developed in partnership with Grow Asia
This session draws on Grow Asia’s experience working with smallholder farmers across Asia and profiles its insights into blended finance and blended microfinance solutions to facilitate the adoption of productivity-boosting technologies. Doing so not only enhances yields while improving environmental outcomes but empowers women farmers in the process. We examine what approaches have worked well, which can be scaled, and ways in which multinational players can contribute to systemic change while expanding their client relationships.
Lead Panellist
Bev Postma
Executive Director, Grow Asia (Singapore)
Speakers
Ho Ren Wah
CEO, Thai Wah Group (Thailand)
Marie Cheong
Founding Partner, Wavemaker Impact (Singapore)
Collaborating on Shipping Decarbonization
Sector: Ocean Tech & Blue Economy
Engagement Track: Trade & Supply Chains
Reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the shipping sector is critical to the achievement of net-zero goals. What advances are being made in Canada and Asia on international energy efficiency and reduction of carbon intensity in shipping? What incentives are ports in Asia and Canada offering to shipping companies that achieve emission reduction targets, and what are the key technologies and innovations that are working? What are emerging best practices in Canada and Asia, and where are regulatory incentives driving emissions reductions?
Speakers
Kuo Dyi Chang
AVP Sustainability, PSA International (Singapore)
Harnessing Data and AI for Clean Technology and Climate Resilience
Sector: Clean Technology
Engagement Track: Artificial Intelligence
Asia is on the front lines of climate change, facing an increasing frequency and intensity of natural disasters such as typhoons, floods, and droughts. Climate resilience — our ability to anticipate, prepare for, and respond to these environmental shocks — has never been more critical.
Data and AI are game-changers in the development of clean technologies to build climate resilience and adaptation strategies. By analyzing vast datasets from satellite imagery, weather stations, and IoT devices, AI can provide early warning systems for natural disasters, optimize water and energy usage, and drive innovations in renewable energy, smart agriculture, and sustainable urban planning. What AI success stories can we learn from, what are the challenges, and how can Canada and Asia collaborate to foster climate resilience?
Lead Panellist
Sue Paish
President & CEO, DIGITAL (Canada)
Speakers
Nick Parker
Founder & CEO, CleanAI (Canada)
Christine Allen
Professor, University of Toronto (Canada)
Innovating for Energy Transitions in Asia and Canada
Sector: Energy Transitions & Energy Security
Engagement Track: Innovation Ecosystems
This session brings together leaders from companies and innovation ecosystems in Asia and Canada to discuss approaches to developing and deploying clean energy technologies at scale. What are the major energy transition challenges in different jurisdictions in Asia and Canada? Which jurisdictions are fertile for developing technologies to address these challenges? Where can you find opportunities to connect with energy technology companies that can help with energy transition challenges you are encountering?
Speakers
Benjamin Cashore
Director, Institute for Environment & Sustainability; National University of Singapore (Singapore)
Gayathri Gopal
Vice-President, Venture Build, ENGIE Factory (Singapore)
Ramnath Iyer
Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (Hong Kong)
3:15 p.m. -4:15 p.m.
EXECUTIVE ROUNDTABLES
By invitation only
3:30 p.m.-5:00 p.m.
Investment Opportunities into Canada's Agriculture / Agri-food Sector
Organized by the Canada-ASEAN Business Council (CABC) and the Indo-Pacific Agriculture and Agri-Food Office (IPAAO), this session focuses on exploring Canada’s leadership in the agriculture and agri-food sector, particularly in innovation, sustainability, and high-quality production. Canada offers a unique regulatory landscape with vast agricultural resources, cutting-edge agri-tech solutions, and strong government support, positioning Canada as a prime destination for ASEAN investments in agriculture and agri-food.
This session, part of the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada’s Canada-in-Asia Conference 2025, will emphasize key themes such as plant-based protein, innovative technologies, and the regulatory landscape that facilitates investment opportunities. Participants will gain valuable insights into why Canada stands out as a premier destination for foreign direct investment (FDI) in the agriculture and agri-food sector.
Register here: Investment Opportunities into Canada's Agriculture / Agri-food Sector at CIAC 2025 | CABC
Strengthening evidence-informed policymaking in Asia over five decades: Perspectives from IDRC’s research for development investments
3:30 p.m.-4:15 p.m.
For over five decades, Canada’s International Development Research Centre (IDRC) has supported research to improve people’s lives across the world, including Asia. IDRC’s work in Asia has aimed to increase research that can shape development policies, build local research capacity, foster adaptation to climate change, improve food and livestock systems, boost health systems and readiness, advance women’s economic empowerment and gender equality, and create inclusive technological solutions to development issues.
With a strong focus on co-creating knowledge with Southern researchers and in partnership with Canadian institutions, IDRC's projects are catalyzing sustainable, scalable solutions that empower individuals and strengthen institutions.
This side event will highlight insights from key research initiatives across Asia and demonstrate how this research has informed policy and action to help build a more inclusive, sustainable, and resilient Asia over the decades. Representatives from IDRC, leading research institutions, think tanks and development agencies will share insights on their work, including from IDRC-supported research initiatives and its impact on development policymaking.
This panel will also focus on the critical role of IDRC in supporting research for development priorities and opportunities across Asia.
BUSINESS NETWORKING SESSION
4:00 p.m.-5:30 p.m.
5:30 p.m.-6:30 p.m.
GALA RECEPTION
6:30 p.m. -9:00 p.m.
GALA DINNER
Major Partner Remarks:
Laurel Broten
President & CEO, Invest in Canada
Canada-Asia Cooperation in Space:
Shawna Pandya
Commercial Astronaut, International Institute for Astronautical Sciences (IIAS) & Director, IIAS Space Medicine Group
