GBIC Forum: Global Financial Innovation and rising Chinese Second Generation in Canada

On the afternoon of March 18, 2017, the GBIC Forum was jointly hosted by GBIC and Canada’s local financial technology platform foreGrowth.com in UBC. Keynote speakers shared their insights. ForeGrowth, with its purpose of “focusing on inclusive finance and contributing to Canadian society”, hosted its launching ceremony at the end of the forum.

More than 100 guests, including members of the ForeGrowth from Toronto, Vancouver and China attend this forum.

Dr. Guangyu Wang, president of GBIC, made a speech at first to review the idea of GBIC as an objective, neutral and independent Canadian think tank, and GBIC’s goal to building a bridge between science, economy, education and culture in Canada and China. The theme of this forum is “financial innovation in global perspective and the rise of the Chinese second generation in Canada”, and Dr. Wang explained that this forum is to educate Chinese communities to contribute to the Canadian society with a full sense of responsibility, and in return lay a good foundation for Chinese next generation to better integrate into Canada.

This forum invited four keynote speakers to share their thoughts. GBIC’s chief researcher Dr. Jiawei Zhang, who is also the chief strategist of ForeGrowth, presided over the forum. Former Vice President of HSBC, Current University of Victoria Managing Director, BC Hydro Director and Desjardins Bank Advisor Tracy Redies shared her experiences and insights on global finance and the current and future of Canadian finance, discusses the huge challenges and threats that the traditional banking industry is facing from seven aspects. At the end she said: “foreGrowth represents the direction of the new financial future”.

Mr. David Carbonaro, Founder of Gravitas Financial Group, and executive chairman of the Board of Directors of foreGrowth, has 30 years of financial experience and is a practicing lawyer. He is a corporate financial consultant for many listed companies, securities firms, investment banks, and he was named Special Advisor to the Toronto Stock Exchange. In the forum, his keynote address was “The New Trend in Global Financial Development – The Future of Inclusive Finance.” He said he is also a Canadian immigrant himself. His ancestors were immigrants from because of the poverty and inequality brought by World War II. He is very fond of Canada’s land and law as well as the business environment. He believes inclusive finance is a new global financial development trend.

Famous Chinese social activist, investor and philanthropist, President of United Global Chinese Women’s Association of Canada, Ms. Ma Li, reviewed the successes and failures of the overseas investment made by new and old Chinese immigrants. She praised the wisdom and courage of the younger generations, and talked about opportunities and problems for future Chinese in Canada.

Max Guo, COO of foreGrowth, is a young Chinese who has grown up in Canada. With passion and vitality, he is an innovative entrepreneur committed to bringing the essence of Canada’s financial services to investors. First of all, he shared his own experience about the self-confidence and confusion of the Chinese second generation in Canada. He analyzed the contributions and problems of the older Chinese community from his view. Then he showed attendees the great potential of inclusive finance.

At the end of the forum, Mr. Shaopeng Liang, the first secretary general of foreGrowth, shared his knowledge and understanding of finance and inclusive finance with his own personal experience.