#6 | 5 at 50 Winners Miniseries: Lifetime Achievement Award Winner Jack Austin

Hon. Jack Austin is the Lifetime Achievement Award winner in CCBC’s 5 at 50 initiative. Jack’s nomination describes him as “likely the longest serving person in both public and private life in building Canada’s modern relationship to China,” active in one or more capacities from 1970 to the present time. He has done so in four different domains: diplomacy and government, legal practice, corporate leadership, and academic leadership.

Key takeaways from Jack:

• The impetus for Canada’s recognition of China back in 1970 was to involve China in the United Nations and help it become a supportive player in global trade, governance, etc. China was very poor in 1970 and unlikely to become an effective global trading country for several decades.
• Early commercial agreements focused on capability building, including oil drilling and recovery, creation of modern industry, and developing a tax system.
• Jack relates his experience with a whole series of Canadian and Chinese senior leaders over 50 years.
• He opines on what a future Government of Canada should do to forge a bilateral relationship that works for Canada, following resolution of the current diplomatic difficulties.

This multi-part miniseries is sponsored by Manulife.