By Andrew Stokes, Communications Officer

High-ranking officials to Canada from the Asia-Pacific region gathered at Queen’s on June 24 for the annual Ambassador’s Forum.

The event, organized by Hok-Lin Leung, former director of Queen’s School of Urban and Regional Planning, brings together the ambassadors to promote international dialogue, co-operation and action.

“The Ambassador’s Forum was started as a non-official space for diplomats to meet one another and listen to informed Canadians,” says Dr. Leung. “The forum is unique in the world, and it’s great for Queen’s. It gives us a chance to internationalize right here on campus.”

After lunch at Summerhill, the diplomats listened to a presentation by Don Raymond, former chief investment strategist of the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board and a member of the Queen’s Board of Trustees. Mr. Raymond talked about international investment strategies for global investors.

Since the Ambassador’s Forum was established in 2003, Queen’s has welcomed representatives from countries such as Japan, South Korea, Australia and Myanmar listening to presentations by Canadian academics, politicians and labour union leaders. Previous presentations have covered topics such as Canada-U.S. relations, the Canadian identity, and the process of a federal election.

“It’s important that these officials get a neutral venue to interact with each other,” says Dr. Leung. “There’s a lot of potential to build international relationships.”