The Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada Podcast

In this special episode of Asia Pacific Conversations, APF Canada’s Senior Program Manager for Trade and Investment, Anastasia Ufimtseva, chats with Colin Harris, one of British Columbia, Canada's most successful technology entrepreneurs.Harris, holder of five patents in microelectronics, is the co-founder of PMC-Sierra – now part of Microsemi Corporations– with R&D operations in Burnaby, B.C. and Montreal, Quebec. His company has a global footprint, including across much of the Asia Pacific.A University of B.C. Engineering Physics alumnus, today Harris is a major player in and supporter of the B.C. entrepreneurial community as both an angel investor and mentor and currently advises many of the vibrant startups in Vancouver.From early entry into Asia’s markets in the 1990s to his company’s integration into the tech supply chain across the region today, Colin discusses his strategies, challenges, and successes in the Asia Pacific.

In this episode of Asia Pacific Conversations, Major-General Greg Smith, Director-General of International Security Policy with Canada's Department of National Defence, unpacks Canada's evolving military engagement in the Indo-Pacific region.In a wide-ranging conversation with the Foundation’s Vice-President Research & Strategy Vina Nadjibulla, MGen Smith draws on his experience with NATO, Canada's multinational allies, and the military industry to discuss the unnerving dynamics playing out on the Korean Peninsula and the broad maritime tensions in the waters of South and Southeast Asia. This episode also touches on security concerns in the North Pacific and the Arctic, as well as Canada's role both abroad and at home in building security and defence partnerships. MGen Smith highlights key trends in Canada's military multilateral defence partnerships amidst a changing defence policy stance with the release of "Our North, Strong and Free: A Renewed Vision for Canada’s Defence" and what it means for Canada's military strategy in the Indo-Pacific.

In this episode of Asia Pacific Conversations, Professor T. V. Paul, Distinguished James McGill Professor of International Relations at McGill University and a Distinguished Fellow with APF Canada, unpacks his latest book, The Unfinished Quest: India’s Search for Major Power Status from Nehru to Modi. In a wide-ranging conversation with the Foundation’s Vice-President Research & Strategy Vina Nadjibulla, Prof. Paul traces India’s postwar trajectory and its rise as a global power. More than a decade in the research and writing, The Unfinished Quest charts the external and internal constraints India has had to contend with in its pursuit of major power status, its accommodation (or lack thereof) in international politics as a new power, and the challenges ahead, including current strains in Canada-India relations. The recording follows an APF Canada partner book launch event at the University of B.C. with the Liu Institute of Global Issues.

In this episode of Asia Pacific Conversations, we turn a spotlight on Taiwan following two recent APF Canada interactions with Asia’s high-tech powerhouse – the Taipei Security Dialogue in Taiwan on September 12 and an APF Canada event in Vancouver with Taipei Economic and Cultural Office Canada Representative Dr. Harry Tseng on September 9. Featuring a conversation with our Vice-President Research & Strategy Vina Nadjibulla, who participated in the security dialogue in Taipei and moderated our public event with Dr. Tseng, this episode explores Taiwan’s security amid the global security challenges posed by China’s rise, the island’s competition for leadership in advanced chip and emerging technologies, the geopolitical implications of that competition, Taiwan’s quest for international partnerships and support, and opportunities for future Canada-Taiwan co-operation.

This episode of Asia Pacific Conversations features an encore audio presentation of our special event with Canada’s Minister of National Defence, Bill Blair. At this public event in Vancouver on August 8, 2024, Minister Blair discussed Canada’s contributions to peace and security in the Indo-Pacific with our Vice-President Research & Strategy, Vina Nadjibulla. In his opening remarks, Minister Blair outlined the shape and size of Canada’s renewed commitment to the Indo-Pacific, discussed our country’s evolving relationship with China, which has become increasingly assertive in the region, and underscored the importance of multilateral engagement with partners in the region. In the moderated Q&A that followed, Minister Blair discussed the shifting security dynamics in Asia and outlined opportunities for Canadian collaboration with allies in the Indo-Pacific through an approach he described as ‘Strength in Unity.’

This episode of Asia Pacific Conversations features a discussion about the dramatic events in Bangladesh over the past several weeks with Michael Kugelman, Director of the South Asia Institute at the Wilson Center. In this episode, Michael and Vina discuss the “trigger point” that set this mass uprising in motion, the violence and repression that rocked the country of more than 170 million, India’s response to the crisis, and the future of an interim government that must now navigate a political and security vacuum at the heart of South Asia.

In this episode of Asia Pacific Conversations, Vina Nadjibulla, APF Canada’s Vice-President Research & Strategy, shares her experiences – and international security takeaways – as a ‘distinguished visitor’ at Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2024, the world’s largest combined joint maritime exercises held every two years in and around the Hawaiian Islands. Hosted by Canada’s Department of National Defence aboard the USS Carl Vinson, the US Navy’s nuclear-powered Nimitz-class supercarrier, Vina had a front-row seat at RIMPAC 2024, where 29 allied nations, 40 surface ships, three submarines, 14 national land forces, 150 aircraft, and more than 25,000 personnel participated in the maritime exercise throughout July 2024.

In this episode of Asia Pacific Conversations, Vina Nadjibulla, APF Canada’s Vice-President Research & Strategy, discusses her takeaways and concerns following a multi-country visit to the Indo-Pacific in May/June that included meetings, summits, and dialogues in the Philippines, South Korea, Singapore, and Mongolia, where she participated in the Ulaanbaatar Dialogue on Northeast Asia Security. Touchpoints in this episode’s conversation include the ramifications of a new and enhanced security partnership between Cold War allies Russia and North Korea, the current and future state of Canada-India relations following India’s national elections (and on the anniversary of both the Air India Bombing (1985) and the murder in Canada of Hardeep Sing Nijjar (2023)), and rising tensions between China and the Philippines in the South China Sea.

Southeast Asia boasts a population of 660 million and, as a region, represents Canada’s fourth-largest merchandise trading partner, with trade reaching $40.7 billion in 2022. In this episode of Asia Pacific Conversations, APF Canada’s Program Manager, International Trade & Investment, Anastasia Ufimtseva, chats with Noel Navin, the Director of International Sales (Southeast Asia) for Agropur. Agropur is a dairy co-operative based in Québec and represents some 3,000 dairy farmers and producers in the province. Ten years ago, Agropur established a sales office and innovation centre in Southeast Asia, with headquarters in Singapore. In this podcast episode, Noel discusses the challenges and successes of his company’s journey into Asia that began a decade ago.

India is a rising regional and global power and a champion of peace and security across the Indo-Pacific. Its growing economic might and strategic influence place India in a unique position as it navigates expanding great power rivalries at its doorstep and beyond. India is also currently in the late stages of its 2024 national elections (April 19 to June 1), the largest in world history with nearly one billion people eligible to cast their ballots. Against this backdrop, in APF Canada’s latest episode of Asia Pacific Conversations, The RAND Corporation’s Senior Defence Analyst Derek Grossman chats with the Foundation’s Vice-President Research & Strategy Vina Nadjibulla about India’s rise and influence. They discuss the elections and their potential outcomes, including for Canada. They explore India’s policy of strategic autonomy and the South Asian giant’s geopolitical dance between the U.S., China, and Russia. And they evaluate India’s domestic and foreign policies, including the current irritants and strains in Canada-India relations.

As international attention has turned to the devastating wars in Europe and the Middle East, the escalating civil war between the military junta and pro-democracy forces in Myanmar rages on. Since the military seized power in a February 2021 coup d’etat, tens of thousands of people have been killed, and some 2.5 million people have been displaced as the junta attempts to thwart a growing civilian resistance. In this episode of Asia Pacific Conversations, recorded on the sidelines of our May 18 townhall discussion in partnership with the University of B.C.'s School of Public Policy and Global Affairs (Institute of Asian Research), UBC Myanmar Initiative, and Canada's International Development Research Centre, APF Canada’s Vice-President Research and Strategy Vina Nadjibulla talks with Aung Myo Min, Minister of Human Rights with the National Unity Government, Myanmar’s government in exile. __ Alors que l’attention internationale se tourne vers les guerres dévastatrices en Europe et au Moyen-Orient, l’escalade de la guerre civile entre la junte militaire et les forces pro-démocratiques au Myanmar fait rage. Depuis la prise du pouvoir par les militaires lors d’un coup d’État en février 2021, des dizaines de milliers de personnes ont été tuées et quelque 2,5 millions d’autres ont été déplacées, la junte tentant de contrecarrer la résistance civile grandissante. Dans cet épisode de Conversations Asie-Pacifique, enregistré en marge de notre discussion ouverte du 18 mai en partenariat avec la School of Public Policy and Global Affairs (Institute of Asian Research) de la University of B.C., la UBC Myanmar Initiative et le Centre de recherches pour le développement international du Canada, Vina Nadjibulla, vice-présidente de la recherche et de la stratégie de la FAP Canada, s’entretient avec Aung Myo Min, ministre des Droits de la personne au sein du gouvernement d’unité nationale, le gouvernement en exil du Myanmar.

In this special episode of Asia Pacific Conversations, Santiago Alba-Corral, Director of the International Development Research Centre’s Climate Resilient Food Systems Program, discusses the ongoing work of this Canadian institution in supporting research and researchers in developing countries to find solutions to the “global challenges of humanity.” Santiago – a key speaker and participant at the Climate Solutions conference that was part of APF Canada’s Canada-in-Asia Conferences in Singapore in February 2024 – discusses what he sees as the two major global challenges of the current era: increased inequality and the climate crisis. With 47 active projects across 17 Asian economies, Santiago further explains the work of IDRC in the interconnected global ecosystems of food production and security.

In this special episode of Asia Pacific Conversations, APF Canada’s Trade and Investment Program Manager Anastasia Ufimtseva chats with Mark Nicol, an Asia-based tech-consultant and Business Development Lead (Asia Pacific, Europe the Middle East and Africa) for Calgary-based Mobiltex Data. Mobiltex develops innovative field and cloud-connected technologies to deliver operational, safety, and ESG benefits to energy, water utility, and critical infrastructure operations. Mark – a speaker at the Climate Solutions conference that was part of APF Canada’s Canada-in-Asia Conferences in Singapore in February 2024 – discusses innovations in water supply management and the importance of engagement with businesses and government to bolster connections in the Asia Pacific. Originally from the U.K., where he worked for Thames Water as a water network engineer, Mark relocated to Asia in 2007 and has spent the last 16 years helping the region tackle challenges related to their water supply management.

In this special episode of Asia Pacific Conversations, APF Canada’s Trade and Investment Program Manager Anastasia Ufimtseva chats with Dr. Gaurav Sharma, co-founder of Shandi Global, a Singapore-based company with Canadian connections. Shandi creates sustainable, affordable, nutritious meat alternatives – or plant-based proteins – with the potential of benefitting millions worldwide. Dr. Sharma – a speaker at the Agri-food conference that was part of APF Canada’s Canada-in-Asia Conferences in Singapore in February – discusses the importance of food security in plant-based proteins, Canada’s connection as a ‘food basket’ brimming with the peas used in Shandi’s plant-based proteins, and the growing Asia business opportunities for other firms and entrepreneurs in this agri-food sector.

The State of Southeast Asia 2024 Survey is the sixth in an annual series of surveys conducted by the ASEAN Studies Centre at ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute in Singapore. Based on nearly 2,000 high-value respondents from 10 Southeast Asian economies, the survey’s 72-page summary report captures perceptions of ASEAN, China, the U.S., broader Asia, the EU, and Canada. In this podcast episode, APF Canada’s Vice-President Research & Strategy, Vina Nadjibulla, discussed the survey’s findings – including Southeast Asia’s top economic and geopolitical preoccupations and the fact that China edged past the U.S. this year to become the prevailing choice if the region were forced to align itself in the ongoing US-China rivalry.

In this special episode of Asia Pacific Conversations, APF Canada’s Trade and Investment Program Manager Anastasia Ufimtseva chats with two international business leaders active in climate solutions bridging Canada and Asia. Chad Rickaby, Managing Partner at Greentech Asia (Singapore/Vancouver) and CEO of ClimateDoor (Vancouver), explains how Canadian businesses have a unique opportunity to prioritize a region looking for products and services where Canada has an advantage. Alex Hanly, CEO of Lithium Universe Limited (Australia), explains how his company is expanding its footprint in Quebec and the growing opportunities he sees for Canada’s lithium sector in the coming decade.

As 968 million registered voters prepare to cast their ballots in the world’s largest election from April 19 to June 1, APF Canada’s Vice-President Research & Strategy, Vina Nadjibulla, explores the critical dynamics of India’s upcoming elections with Michael Kugelman, Director of the South Asia Institute at the Wilson Center in Washington, D.C., and their implications for stakeholders in Canada and around the world. Kugelman, an expert on shifting geopolitics of South Asia and U.S.-India relations, is a columnist for Foreign Policy magazine and has written extensively for The New York Times, Foreign Affairs, and The Wall Street Journal. He offers his thoughts on the global implications of India’s economic and geopolitical rise, as well as the current and future state of Canada-India relations.

2023 Marshall McLuhan Fellow Jodesz Gavilan, an investigative reporter with Rappler, an independent news outlet in the Philippines, discusses the challenges for human rights journalists in her country. In her conversation with APF Canada's Senior Program Manager, Erin Williams, she talks about covering the Duterte administration's 'war on drugs', fractious politics, and creating impactful solutions to social challenges.

From January 29 to February 2, 2024, Canada’s Foreign Interference Commission held preliminary hearings as part of the Public Inquiry into Foreign Interference in Federal Electoral Processes and Democratic Institutions. As APF Canada continues to monitor and provide analysis on this process and its impact and importance for Canadians, our Vice-President Research & Strategy, Vina Nadjibulla, unpacks this first round of hearings and their implications for our national security and the integrity of our democratic institutions.

In this special edition of Asia Pacific Conversations, Vina Nadjibulla, APF Canada's Vice-President, Research & Strategy, discusses Taiwans 2024 presidential and legislative elections with Dr. Yves Tiberghien. Yves is a Professor of Political Science, Director Emeritus of the Institute of Asian Research, and Co-Director of the Center for Japanese Research at the University B.C. An APF Canada Distinguished Fellow, he is a currently a visiting professor at the Taipei School of Economic and Political Science and had a front-row seat for Taiwan's consequential elections on January 13.