ANNUAL REPORT 2015 | 2016 CONNECT | CONVENE | COLLABORATE 2 ASIA PACIFIC FOUNDATION OF CANADA | 2016 ANNUAL REPORT CONTENTS STRATEGIC PILLARS ...........................................................................4 LETTER FROM THE CHAIR OF THE BOARD ..................................... 5 LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT ........................................................ 6 THE YEAR IN REVIEW ........................................................................ 8 COLLABORATE ..............................................................................9 CONVENE ....................................................................................11 CONNECT ....................................................................................13 RESEARCH & ANALYSIS ...............................................................14 OUR IMPACT .....................................................................................16 TOP 10 BLOG POSTS ..................................................................16 TOP 5 CANADA-ASIA AGENDA REPORTS .................................17 KEY NUMBERS .............................................................................17 ONLINE + SOCIAL MEDIA ENGAGEMENT .....................................18 A YEAR IN REPORTS ........................................................................19 IN THE NEWS ....................................................................................20 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS ............................................................... 22 DONORS ...........................................................................................26 GOVERNANCE ................................................................................. 27 STAFF ................................................................................................28 ASIA PACIFIC FOUNDATION OF CANADA | 2016 ANNUAL REPORT 3 STRATEGIC PILLARS PROMOTING TRADE, INVESTMENT, AND INNOVATION Encouraging two-way business and fostering linkages between innovation ecosystems in Canada and Asia MOBILIZING ENERGY ASSETS Moving quickly and effectively to meet Asia’s changing energy requirements and promoting co-operation between Canada and Asia on a range of issues related to energy and the environment BUILDING SKILLS AND COMPETENCIES Increasing and enhancing two-way flows of students and providing Canadians with the skills, knowledge, and experience to be successful in Asia UNDERSTANDING ASIA NOW Providing timely information and analysis on significant developments in global affairs relevant to the Canada-Asia relationship 4 ASIA PACIFIC FOUNDATION OF CANADA | 2016 ANNUAL REPORT LETTER FROM DAVID L. EMERSON APF CANADA IS IDEALLY SITUATED TO PLAY A PIVOTAL ROLE IN CONVENING AND CONNECTING STAKEHOLDERS IN THE CANADA-ASIA CONVERSATION The Asia Pacific has become an increasingly significant of the new strategic areas that the Foundation set forth player in the global economy and will continue to rise last year in its core thematic pillars, particularly in the areas in importance over the next 15 years. By 2030, Asia will of “Promoting Trade, Investment, and Innovation” and account for 66 per cent of the world’s middle class and “Building Skills and Competencies.” some 50 per cent of global GDP. The economic and polit- This year, the Foundation successfully activated several ical resurgence of Asia will be one of the defining shifts of key initiatives supporting these strategic pillars, includ- the 21st century. ing: the Asia Business Leaders Advisory Council, the Asia When I assumed the role of Chair of the Board of Direc- Leaders Speaker Series, our Connect to Asia competency tors of the Asia Pacific Foundation on July 1, 2015, it was program for high-school and post-secondary students, with a sense of honour and pride. But it was also with a two trade-related national opinion polls, an Asia Pacific sense of anticipation. This is an important time not only for Youth Advisory Council, and a series of domestic and in- Asia, but also for Canada; how our country responds and ternational roundtables with Asia Pacific luminaries, along positions itself in the context of this ongoing global trans- with several insightful research reports, all illustrating the formation will shape its future — and clearly, the future of depth and breadth of our organization as Canada’s go-to Canada and Asia is a shared one. resource hub for the Asia Pacific. There is much work to be done, and much at stake, in I also had the pleasure this year of welcoming several new preparing the governments, businesses, people and insti- Directors to the Board of the Asia Pacific Foundation of tutions of Canada for the “Asian Century” that lies ahead. Canada, including Sandra Pupatello, Murad Al-Katib, Jean The Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada is ideally situated Charest, Blaine Favel, and Paul Lee. These distinguished to play a pivotal role in convening and connecting stake- Canadians will bring additional business acumen and polit- holders in the Canada-Asia conversation, and in support- ical insight to our strong team of Directors, and I welcome ing the Government of Canada as it creates a long-term, them as partners in our collaborative organization. truly regional and strategic approach to the rise of Asia. And I remind them of the Foundation’s vital role in the I know I speak for the entire Board of Directors when I say evolving Canada-Asia dynamic, and our important mission that we believe Canada has an immediate opportunity to to be Canada’s catalyst for en- strengthen its position as a credible and reliable collabo- gagement with Asia and Asia’s rator and partner in Asia. Our future economic prosperity bridge to Canada. and security will be linked to Asia’s transformation, includ- ing the remarkable growth of China and India, the matura- David L. Emerson tion of South Korea and Japan, and the exciting develop- Chair of the Board ments within the dynamic ASEAN region. Which is why the focal point of our activities this year was the creation of Building Blocks for a Canada-Asia Strategy, a comprehensive document outlining a series of recom- mendations to the Government of Canada and released by a panel comprising Stewart Beck, Kevin Lynch, Sandra Pupatello, and Janet De Silva at Canada 2020’s Ottawa Forum on January 28, 2016. It is our hope that the Government will incorporate our recommendations into a more targeted and strategic approach to Asia that advances our national interests, respects Canadians’ core beliefs, and contributes to the sustainable development and growth of the entire Asia Pacific region. Building Blocks for a Canada-Asia Strategy draws on many ASIA PACIFIC FOUNDATION OF CANADA | 2016 ANNUAL REPORT 5 LETTER FROM STEWART BECK WE HAVE MADE REAL STRIDES THIS YEAR IN POSITIVELY TRANSITIONING OUR MANDATE FROM IDEATION TO ACTIVATION As the end of my second year as President and CEO of the In February, the Foundation convened the inaugural Foundation draws to a close, I look back on another interest- meeting of the Asia Business Leaders Advisory Council ing and wonderful year filled with new and continuing initia- 2016 (ABLAC 2016) in Vancouver. A gathering of 28 senior tives that have enabled us to gain substantive traction based business leaders from across Asia and Canada, ABLAC on the strategic objectives we charted just a year earlier. 2016 provided a unique platform for Asian and Canadian business leaders to share strategic policy advice with gov- With our Board of leading Canadians under the direction ernment, business leaders, and policy-makers, and foster of our new Chair, David Emerson, along with our team open and candid dialogue on how Canada can realize the of Senior and Distinguished Fellows and our high-calibre full potential of its engagement and partnerships with Foundation staff, I am proud to report that we have made Asia. It featured sessions on building Canada’s brand in real strides this year in positively transitioning our mandate Asia, enhancing Canada’s competitive opportunities in the from ideation to activation. region, and deepening Canada-Asia commercial networks. Our task is by no means complete. By 2020, 40 per cent And finally, our goal to build Asia competence among of the global GDP and 64 per cent of the world’s middle Canadians entered the real world as a program of engage- class will originate in Asia. It is our job at the Foundation ment that includes a pilot partnership with British Colum- to continue to explore this historic transformation and to bia high-school teachers to incorporate a stronger focus explain to Canadians the implications and opportunities a on Asia in their curricula (starting this fall), and financial rising Asia represents. support to post-secondary students for the pursuit of co- The Foundation’s activities this year have been many and op and internship placements in Asia. fruitful. From our action-oriented research work and our With the rapid rise and evolution of the new and devel- strategic media placements, to our insightful speakers se- oped economies of Asia, ries and the innovative events we’ve convened in our new this is a pivotal time in the Vancouver office space, we have continued to engage our Canada-Asia dynamic. It traditional stakeholders while building relationships with is the continuing role of new partners and audiences, particularly among the young the Foundation to ensure Canadians who will represent Canada in the Asian Century. our engagement upholds There were three Foundation initiatives this year, however, Canadian values,