February 19, 2008
No. 37
The Honourable Maxime Bernier, Minister of Foreign Affairs, today announced the
appointment of Gordon Houlden to the Board of Directors of the Asia Pacific
Foundation of Canada, replacing James Fox.
“I am pleased to welcome Mr. Houlden to the Foundation’s Board. He has extensive
experience in Asian issues, having served in several Asian postings on behalf of
Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada. I would like to thank Mr. Fox for his
distinguished service over the past couple of years.”
The Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada is an independent, not-for-profit think tank
focused on Canada’s relations with Asia. The Foundation functions as a knowledge
broker, bringing together people and knowledge to provide the most current and
comprehensive research, analysis and information on Canada’s trans-Pacific relations.
It promotes dialogue on economic, security, political and social issues, helping to
influence public policy and foster informed decision making in Canadian public, private
and non-governmental sectors.
Created in 1984 by an act of Parliament, the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada is
funded by the governments of Canada and British Columbia.
For further information on the Foundation, please visit their Internet site at
www.asiapacific.ca/.
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A biographical note on the appointee is attached.
For further information, media representatives may contact:
Foreign Affairs Media Relations Office
Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada
613-995-1874
www.international.gc.ca/index.aspx
Melina Czerwinski
Communications Coordinator
Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada
604-630-1540
BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE
Gordon Houlden was appointed Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada’s
Director General for East Asia in August 2006, and is responsible for overseeing
Canada’s relations with East Asia: Japan, China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, North and South
Korea, and Mongolia.
He served as Executive Director at the Canadian Trade Office in Taipei from 2004 to
2006, and as minister at the Embassy in Beijing from 2001 to 2004.
Born in Alberta, Mr. Houlden studied at the University of Calgary, and has completed
post-graduate work at Carleton University, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, and
the National Defence College in Kingston.
During his foreign service career he has served in Havana, Hong Kong, Beijing,
Warsaw and in Taipei.
Gordon Houlden and his wife Karen have five adult children.
