Chamber Committees

The Canadian Chamber offers a variety of committees for members to take part in. Committee involvement allows members to enjoy quality networking opportunities as well as to assist the Chamber in addressing opportunities and challenges within your industry. All Chamber members are welcome to attend these monthly meetings.

Executive Committee

Acting President: Robert Cook -Senior Executive Vice President,Manulife Financial

The Executive Committee is the driving force behind the Chamber. Chaired by the Chamber′s President, the Executive Committee plots the course of the Chamber, devises strategies and assists in providing resources to contribute to the strategic direction of the Chamber. The Executive consists of 25 business leaders and captains of industry from the Canada-Hong Kong business community. The Committee′s role includes:

Ensuring that the Chamber does not run into funding difficulties, including assisting in sourcing members, sponsors, partnerships, and connections for the Chamber;

Assisting the President and Executive Director in matters of import to the Chamber and Canadian business community;

Taking an active role in deciding what policy issues the Chamber should be active on and assisting in investigating, collecting and documenting views, and working with the Executive Director and Chairman of the Board to decide on the best course to action these items, among others.

China Business Committee

Chair: Henri Arslanian - Prime Brokerage Business Consulting Services, UBS Investment Bank

The mandate of the China Business Committee is to act as a resource for members interested in doing business in China as well as providing them with networking opportunities to meet and get to know other members active on the China mainland.Its members range from representative of large multinationals to entrepreneurs and professionals. In addition to regular briefings on relevant developments in PRC business and related topics, the Committee frequently hosts guest speakers to give insights into their respective China business experience.

Community Relations & Social Committee

Chair: Leslie Stephenson - Senior Manager, Regional Business Development,The Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited

The aim of this committee is to provide networking opportunities for the member and
friends of the chambers. The committee and staff coordinate a number of social functions
through out the year including the Chamber's annual signature events such as the Canadian
Community Ball, Festival Canada, Canada D'eh and Golf tournament etc. This committee also
undertakes special educational, civic and social service projects in conjunction with other
committees to demonstrate chamber′s overall commitment to the betterment of the Hong
Kong community.

Education Committee

Co-Chair: Linda Gross - CEO and Founder, Linda Gross Training and Educational Services
Co-Chair: Jack Saddler -Deputy Principal, Secondary School, Delia School of Canada

The mission of the Education Committee is to be the authoritative voice of the Chamber in the education sector, coordinating initiatives that serve the needs of existing and prospective members. The Committee focuses on the business of education inside the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and explores opportunities, where feasible and desirable, to expand activities into Macau and China (the Pearl River Delta region in particular) through cooperation with local partners. The Education Committee′s initiatives target the promotion of Canadian education in Hong Kong and abroad, and encourage networking and professional development activities.

Entrepreneur and Small Business Committee

Co-Chair: Anthony Behan - Managing Director, The Communication Group.
Co-Chair: Madeleine Behan -Director, The Communication Group

Hong Kong's position as a prosperous international business and financial centre has been built upon the entrepreneurial spirit of its people. Through the years, Canadian entrepreneurs have made an important contribution to that success. The Canadian Chamber of Commerce Entrepreneur Committee was founded in 2004 to develop and foster an entrepreneurial spirit within the Chamber, among its members and in the community at large.

The Committee organizes a variety of events that allow past, present and future entrepreneurs to exchange experiences, seek mentors, and educate themselves about the challenges they face establishing and operating a business in Hong Kong.

Information Technology and Telecommunications Committee

Co-Chair: Sheldon James - Managing Director, S.J. Consulting Group Asia
Co-Chair: Adam Khemiri - Chief Technology Officer,Ultravista
Co-Chair: Rowland Watkins -Architectural Strategist, BizTech Connect

The Canadian Chamber′s IT Committee has two main goals. The first is to provide Chamber companies with seminars and practical advice enabling them to take advantage of the latest trends in technology. The second is to help members develop business opportunities for their organizations within Hong Kong and China. The committee also works with Canadian IT companies and trade missions to help them penetrate these Asian markets.

For more information please see their website at:
sites.google.com/a/cancham.org/technologycommittee/home

Property Committee

Chair: Darren Yates - Executive Director, Corporate Services and Real Estate, Goldman Sachs (Asia) L.L.C

The property committee was formed (a) To discuss property (real estate) issues pertaining to Hong Kong, the Pearl River Delta, and Canada. (b) To invite and arrange leaders from the industry to present property issues that would be of interest to members of the Chamber at events. Besides being educational, this committee would aim to generate revenue, gain positive media exposure, and become a platform to recruit new Cancham members. (c) To draft position papers in regards to real estate issues that may affect Cancham members.

Sustainable Development Committee

Chair: Hendrik Rosenthal - Sustainability Manager, ASrIA (Association for Sustainable and Responsible Investment in Asia)
Vice Chair: Fergus O'Rorke - Director, Mode2 Asia

Mission
The mission of the SDC is to be a leader and innovator in promoting Hong Kong′s sustainable development.

Objectives
1. Build awareness of sustainable development among Chamber members and the Hong Kong community.
2. Formulate and promote the Chamber′s position on the importance of sustainable development in Hong Kong.
3. Partner with business, the HKSAR government, NGOs and the community to further sustainable development.

Meetings
SDC meetings are held monthly at the Canadian Chamber boardroom at Suite 1301, Kinwick Center, 32 Hollywood Road, Central, Hong Kong. Central, Hong Kong

About the CanCham SDC
The Canadian Chamber's Sustainable Development Committee has been actively promoting sustainable social, environmental and economic development in the Hong Kong community since 1997. The committees' efforts focus on raising the awareness of key local issues while engaging Chamber members and the Hong Kong community. Committee activities range from eco-tour outings, research, publishing, and speaker events to working with the Hong Kong Government and other organizations to engage the community through inclusive, multi-stakeholder consensus-building processes. The Chamber′s Sustainable Development Committee is recognized in Hong Kong as a key business contributor to promoting sustainable development of Hong Kong.

Young Professionals Committee

Co-Chair: Victor Chan - Showroom Manager, Hong Kong, Lululemon Athletica
Co-Chair: Corinne Smit -Senior Associate, PricewaterhouseCoopers

The mission of the Young Professionals (YP) Committee is to provide a platform for fledgling business people to enhance their professional development, connect with the business community, foster new networks with peers and senior members, as well as promote their areas of interest. This committee also serves to provide guidance and help with the careers of its members. The committee is comprised of professionals under 28 years old. Past events and programs include InterCham YP functions, junk trips, networking dinners, career-guidance workshops and interactive learning sessions with senior business leaders.