About the Event:
 

The Women's Network is hosting a panel discussion on an important subject for all women, "I Wish I Had Known...". This thoughtful discussion, moderated by Doreen Steidle, former Canadian Consul General for Hong Kong and Macau, will feature Wendy Tong Barnes of Cheung Kong as a senior management executive, and Vanessa Poon of Deloitte as a senior manager, discussing the personal lessons they have learned in their career and life journeys. 

This panel will be of interest to women moving up the corporate ladder who would like to share their own observations and learn from each other's experiences. Because of the nature of the discussion, Chatham House rules will apply.

About the Speakers:

Doreen Steidle
Regional Head (Asia-Pacific), Group Government Affairs at HSBC

Doreen Steidle is currently the Regional Head (Asia-Pacific), for Group Government Affairs at HSBC. She is a former Consul General of Canada to Hong Kong and Macau and High Commissioner to Singapore. A retired career diplomat, she also served at Canadian missions in Sydney, Washington, Seoul, Manila and Damascus.  In Ottawa, she held a number of positions including Director General of the Selection Branch at Citizenship and Immigration Canada, Director General of Corporate Finance, Systems and Planning at the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (DFAIT), CEO of Passport Canada, and finally as Assistant Deputy Minister, Corporate Services and CFO DFAIT.

Doreen served on the Boards of Invest Ottawa, of the Retired Heads of Mission Association, of the Hong Kong Canada Business Association and on the Hong Kong, Ottawa and National Boards of the International Women’s Forum (IWF). She is an author, election observer and mother of four children.

Vanessa Poon 
Senior Manager of Canada Tax Services, Asia Pacific International Core of Excellence, Deloitte

Vanessa is currently part of the Asia Pacific International Core of Excellence (AP ICE) in Deloitte, which is a core group of senior tax professionals that provides international tax services to Asia Pacific based companies investing abroad as well as multinational companies investing in the region. 

Vanessa has completed her tertiary education at the University of Toronto and University of Waterloo and has been practicing Canadian tax for over 10 years. Prior to moving back to Hong Kong, she has worked at Deloitte Toronto for a few years. Now based in Hong Kong, Vanessa is advising clients extensively on international tax issues in relation both inbound and outbound investments to and from Canada.   

Wendy Tong Barnes
Chief Corporate Affairs Officer, Cheung Kong Property Holdings Ltd.

Wendy Tong Barnes is the Chief Corporate Affairs Officer of Cheung Kong Property Holdings Limited. She is also the Chief Corporate Affairs Officer of Cheung Kong Infrastructure Holdings Limited and CK Life Sciences Int’l (Holdings) Inc., as well as the Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Hui Xian Asset Management Limited. Wendy is also a board member of The Community Chest of Hong Kong.

Wendy holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from The University of Hawaii at Manoa, USA, and has had experience in industries including hotel, property, telecommunications, media, infrastructure, retail and energy. She has held a number of senior positions with major corporations in Hong Kong including Wharf Holdings Ltd., Hong Kong Cable Communications Ltd., and Mass Transit Railway Corporation (now known as MTR Corporation Limited). Prior to joining the Cheung Kong Group, she was the Managing Director of Bozell Tong Barnes PR.