Ambassadors and high commissioners from around the Asia-Pacific Region were welcomed to Queen’s University on Friday, April 22 to take part in the annual Ambassadors' Forum.

The event, first held in 2003, brought together diplomatic officials from 16 countries –Indonesia to India, Malaysia to Japan – for a special luncheon as well as a presentation and discussions.

In the afternoon, the guests attended a presentation by Queen’s alumnus Tiff Macklem, Dean of the Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto and former Senior Deputy Governor of the Bank of Canada, entitled “Global Forces, Canada and the Asia-Pacific Region.” 

A key element for Queen’s is that the meeting provides a chance for the university to directly inform the visitors about a range of new and ongoing initiatives, particularly on the international front.

“We have many cross-disciplinary initiatives underway in the Asia-Pacific Region involving teaching, research and student exchanges,” says Principal Daniel Woolf. “As Queen’s continues to promote international exchange and cooperation there remains significant potential for growth in all of these areas and establishing trusting diplomatic relations is an important part of creating strong global connections.”

The forum also serves as a chance for the ambassadors to meet in a neutral setting to promote international dialogue and cooperation.

“While it is not a large event the Ambassadors' Forum is important because not only are these national representatives here to learn about Queen’s, Kingston and Canada but they also have the opportunity to make connections and build relationships with each other,” says Professor Emeritus and former Director of the School of Urban and Regional Planning Hok-Lin Leung, the organizer of the event.

Also representing Queen’s at the luncheon were Associate Vice-Principal (International) Kathy O’Brien, Vice Principal (Research) Steven Liss and Vice-Principal (Finance and Administration) Caroline Davis.

Queen’s unveiled its Comprehensive International Plan in August 2015 with the aim of strengthening the university’s international research engagement and creating more opportunities for student mobility through programs such as academic exchange. The plan also aims to attract high-quality international students to Queen’s and to increase international educational opportunities at Queen’s.