The Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada Podcast Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada

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.