Speakers

Jacquie is President of Invest Vancouver, where she leads the regional economic development service for Metro Vancouver. She is dedicated to attracting strategic investment, fostering collaboration across the region, and driving the economic growth essential to long-term prosperity.

As a founding member of Invest Vancouver, Jacquie served as Executive Vice President before becoming President, transforming the organization from concept to reality. Under her leadership, Invest Vancouver has expanded its global profile, forged strategic partnerships in sectors such as technology, life sciences, and clean transportation, and played a pivotal role in securing major multinational investments for the region. Jacquie is passionate about promoting the region and its incredible talent to a global audience.

Jacquie holds a Bachelor of Commerce from UBC’s Sauder School of Business and a Master of Arts, along with professional designations from the Institute of Corporate Directors (ICD.D) and the Chartered Professionals in Human Resources (CPHR). With over 20 years of leadership experience spanning mining, banking, education, and local government, she has been recognized as one of Business in Vancouver’s “40 Under Forty.” She currently serves as the vice-chair for CPHR BC & Yukon, as well as the chair of the Consider Canada City Alliance. Jacquie is also a member of the World Trade Center Advisory Committee through the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade.

Jenny Ng is an Immigration Manager in EY Law LLP’s Vancouver business immigration practice. She has the privilege of providing strategic immigration advice and legal services for global industry leaders in the technology sector (software development, cloud services), mining and chemical, coffeehouse, and fashion retail industries, among others. She is passionate about guiding international companies with their expansion to BC, supporting the local ecosystems and economy.

Ishaan Kohli is a serial entrepreneur and award-winning hardware developer, recognized as Canada’s CleanTech Youth Founder of the Year. Growing up around blueberry farms in British Columbia, and later witnessing climate shocks in Abbotsford, he became focused on how fragile and inefficient our food systems have become. 

Drawing on experience building medical devices at a Sam Altman, backed startup and at BC Cancer, Ishaan repurposed a drug-delivery platform into a low-energy aeroponic irrigation system. This technology became the foundation of SkyAcres, where he now serves as CEO, working to make farming more efficient, sustainable, and accessible while improving the nutritional quality of modern food. Ishaan has been featured on Dragons’ Den and named to BC’s 30 Under 30. Outside of work, he enjoys snowboarding and a good board game.

Brian Simmers is a dynamic leader at the forefront of healthcare transformation. As CFO and VP Health Informatics at Providence Health Care, and President of PHC Ventures—the organization’s commercialization and venture arm—Brian champions initiatives that integrate advanced analytics, AI, and innovative technologies into care delivery and investment strategies. His mission: to accelerate digital transformation, optimize operations, and improve patient outcomes.

With over 25 years of experience spanning start-ups, regulatory bodies, and large-scale enterprises, Brian brings a unique blend of financial acumen and entrepreneurial vision. At Technical Safety BC, he spearheaded the organization’s evolution into an AI-enabled regulatory authority. Earlier, as CFO of Aegis Mobility, he helped commercialize patented distracted-driving software, and at Cityfone Telecommunications, he oversaw fivefold growth leading to its acquisition by Rogers Communications.

Under Brian’s leadership, PHC Ventures has become a catalyst for health innovation—investing in early-stage companies, incubating breakthrough ideas, and forging strategic partnerships to navigate Canada’s complex healthcare landscape. Recognized as Life Sciences BC’s Strategic Partner of the Year, PHC Ventures reinvests returns to fuel research and innovation within Providence.

Brian holds a CPA (CA) from the Chartered Professional Accountants of BC, a CPA from the University of Illinois, and a BA in Business Administration from Simon Fraser University. Passionate about shaping the future of healthcare, he thrives at the intersection of finance, technology, and innovation.

Mr. Samuel Chien, FCHSM, FHKCHSE is currently the General Manager of Associated Medical Supplies Co. Ltd., a medical device distributor promoting novel technologies such as radiofrequency ablation and cryoneurolysis for pain management. 

Previously, he was a Senior Consultant with the Hong Kong Productivity Council specializing in R&D of gerontechnology and smart hospital applications.  As the project manager, he was awarded by the Innovation and Technology Fund – General Support Programme to carry out an awareness program on holistic care for “Body, Soul and Spirit” via gerontechnology in collaboration with universities, social enterprises, an elderly home NGO and the HK Occupational Therapy Association.  He was also the proposal champion for the Trade and Industrial Organisation Support Fund, that is to assist Hong Kong’s furniture enterprises in capturing the business opportunity in an emerging silver economy within the GBA.

Recently, Samuel completed the dual fellowship program of the Hong Kong College of Health Services Executives (HKCHSE) and the Australiasian College of Health Service Management (ACHSM).  Samuel was awarded the Dr Geoffrey Lieu and Dr David Briggs Award for Excellence in the 2024 Hong Kong College of Health Service Executives Fellowship Examinations. 

Samuel is also a proud Canadian-Chinese having lived and studied in Toronto, he was conferred a BBA (Honours) degree at Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo prior to his journey into Hong Kong.

Based in Toronto, Grace Lau is the Deputy Head of Invest Hong Kong's presence in Canada. Her office’s mission is to facilitate and promote economically and strategically important investment, both inward and outward, to support the economic development of Hong Kong.

InvestHK is the HKSAR Government’s dedicated investment promotion agency, providing free, confidential and customised support for companies to establish and expand in Hong Kong and to use the city as a platform for outbound investment. It delivers sector-specific advice, coordinates with relevant government bodies and professional service providers, and offers ongoing aftercare to foster sustained inward and outward business growth. InvestHK also works closely with other government departments to reflect investor feedback in policy design, strengthen the overall business environment and enhance Hong Kong’s competitiveness as an international investment hub.

InvestHK (Canada) collaborates with various levels of the Canadian Government and business ecosystem partners to create win-win scenarios.

Before joining InvestHK, Grace walked the entrepreneurial path with extensive insights into the Canadian and Hong Kong private and non-profit sectors. Her prior experience as a co-founding member of a Silicon Valley VC-funded tech company headquartered in Hong Kong, with offices located in the US and Asia Pacific, has proven invaluable in guiding business leaders and entrepreneurs to successfully land in Hong Kong.