Joseph Caron appointed to Advisory Council of the Jack Austin Centre

Former ambassador and experienced business leader Joseph Caron has been appointed to sit on the Advisory Council of the Jack Austin Centre for Asia Pacific Business Studies.

Joseph Caron has more than 40 years’ experience in connecting Canada with Asia, serving at the highest levels of government and business. Mr. Caron has served as Canada’s Ambassador to the People’s Republic of China, Canada’s Ambassador to Japan, and High Commissioner to the Republic of India.

Following retirement from Canada’s Foreign Service in 2010, he has been appointed to the Boards of Directors at Manulife Financial Corporation, Vancouver International Airport, and Westport Innovations Inc., the world’s leading technology company in LNG and other gaseous fuels to power vehicles. He is a Distinguished Fellow of the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada and a Professor and Honorary Research Associate at the Institute of Asian Research of the University of British Columbia.

“We are very fortunate to have Joseph join the Jack Austin Centre Advisory Board”, says Sudheer Gupta, Director of the Jack Austin Centre. “Joseph’s vast experience in Asia and deep knowledge of issues that will shape the future of Canada-Asia relations is highly valuable to our work. He is unique in his ability to navigate both public and private sectors with ease. I look forward to working with Joseph as we carry out our agenda to build better Canada-Asia relations.”

Caron joined the Trade Commissioner Service in 1972, and served in Saigon, Vietnam, and Ankara, Turkey. In 1975, began a series of roles at the Canadian Embassy in Tokyo, including as Minister and Head of Chancery.

During the 1980s, Caron undertook private-sector assignments with responsibilities in Japan,  China, Hong Kong, Korea and Taiwan.  He served as Manager for Asia for the Council of Forest Industries of British Columbia, based in Tokyo, from 1984 to 1987. He also worked briefly for the Potash Corporation of Saskatchewan, responsible for South and South East Asia.

In Ottawa, he has held several positions related to Asian and international economic affairs, including serving in the Foreign and Defense Secretariat of the Privy Council Office under Prime Minister Trudeau. He was also deeply involved in G-8 Summitry, actively participating, over the years, in eight Economic Summit Meetings.

In 1998, he became Assistant Deputy Minister for Asia-Pacific at the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, and served as Canada’s Senior Official for Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, responsible for managing the Canadian participation in APEC including the Leaders annual summit.

From 2001 to 2005, Caron served as Canada’s Ambassador to the People’s Republic of China, with concurrent accreditation to North Korea and Mongolia.

From 2005 to 2008, he was Canada’s Ambassador to Japan.

In August 2008, Caron became High Commissioner to the Republic of India, with concurrent accreditation as Ambassador to the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal and the Kingdom of Bhutan. He served in India for two years, and retired from the Canadian Foreign Service during the summer of 2010.

The Jack Austin Centre for Asia Pacific Business Studies at SFU is a partnership with the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada. The goal of the Centre is to carry out research, outreach and training activities on business issues that are relevant to Canada’s interests in the Asia Pacific region.