APEC Business Advisory Council and biographical note

APEC Business Advisory Council

The APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC), established in 1995, provides a forum for business and political leaders in the Asia-Pacific region to meet and discuss issues related to trade and economic cooperation. ABAC comprises as many as three individuals from each of the 21 APEC members, with business representatives appointed by APEC leaders. Canada’s ABAC representatives help advance Canadian business interests in the Asia-Pacific region. The Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada acts as Canada’s ABAC’s secretariat.

Biographical note 

Ralph J. Lutes (BCom Hon, Queen’s University; LLB, University of New Brunswick). As Vice President, Asia, for Teck Resources Limited, Mr. Lutes is responsible for Teck’s corporate portfolio and presence in Asia, including oversight of marketing, macroeconomic and market research teams, corporate and government affairs, and development of new markets across the region, with an emphasis on China and India. In this capacity, he participates in APEC Mining Task Force meetings and is responsible for Teck’s role in this forum as a private sector partner of Natural Resources Canada.

Mr. Lutes has twice practiced with Canadian law firm Stikeman Elliott LLP, for a total of over 20 years, most recently from 2002-2011 at the firm’s Vancouver office. There, he was involved in mergers and acquisitions (resource and other sectors), finance (including capital markets, investment fund and derivative structures) and corporate reorganizations.

From 1980 to 1995, Mr. Lutes practiced at the firm’s Toronto, Hong Kong and Vancouver offices, managing the firm’s Hong Kong office from 1987 to 1990. During this time, he gained extensive experience in cross-border trade, investment and financing transactions, including those in China. From 2000 to 2002, Mr. Lutes was Vice-President, General Counsel and member of the board of directors of an early stage technology venture. From 1995 to 2000, he was Managing Director and Asia General Counsel of CIBC World Markets, based in Singapore.

In the course of his career, Mr. Lutes has served on governance boards of both public and private companies and non-profit organizations. He currently is Chair of the Advisory Committee of the Canada-China Business Council, Beijing chapter. He also developed and taught a course on corporate governance to MBA students at the University of British Columbia’s Sauder School of Business.

Mr. Lutes currently resides in Beijing, China.