EXECUTIVE BOARD 2007-2008
 PRESIDENT
Colin Farah International SOS
Colin is a Graduate of Acadia University, Nova Scotia Canada with an Honors Degree in Political Science and Economics. Prior to coming to Vietnam, Colin gained several years of Project Management experience before launching ATF Forestry Management and ATF Silviculture Ltd in 1999. Colin came to Ho Chi Minh City in January 2005 and since then has worked in Sales and Marketing in the emerging private health care industry. Colin is currently employed as a Business Development Manager for International SOS, Vietnam.
 VICE PRESIDENT
Michel Tosto
LuatViet Legal Consultants
Michel
received a Bachelor of Business Administration (B.B.A) in 1999 and a
Master of Science in International Management (M.Sc.) in 2005 both from
HEC Montreal School of Management. His master's thesis explores the
role and importance of social networks for Western business managers in
Asia and included field research in Ho Chi Minh City.
Prior to coming to Vietnam, Michel has accumulated several years of experience in marketing, account management and project management. He has worked in Montreal, Canada, Melbourne and Sydney, Australia. In Vietnam,
Michel works for a well-known Vietnamese Law Firm, namely LuatViet -
Advocates & Solicitors, as the Director of Management Advisory
Services. Michel is fully fluent in English and French, and has
intermediate Italian knowledge. Last
but not least, he’s responsible for the VBF liaison working group
within CanCham. Should you have any concerns you would like to address
in a constructive and responsible manner to the government, please
don’t hesitate to contact him.
 TREASURER
Quang Nguyen
Canadian Education Centre Network
Graduated from McGill University (Montreal) in Bachelor of Engineering, Electrical (Communications) in 1989. Since 2001, Mr. Quang has lived in Vietnam since his graduation. He is now the director of the Canadian Education Centre (CEC) Network in Vietnam – a private, independent non-profit company that was founded in 1995 with support from the Government of Canada to promote and market Canada as a study destination for international students. Mr. Quang is fluent in English, French, Vietnamese and Thai.
Quang has been involved with the Canadian Chamber of Commerce since 2006. In 2006 Quang served as secretary of the board, this year Quang’s Role includes both Secretary and Treasurer of the board.
SECRETARY
Olivier Laforest A.D.K.T Vietnam / InoWeb International Group
Olivier
has lived mainly in Montréal (Qc, Canada). Starting young, by founding
InoWeb in 2001, Olivier has been gradually raising the bar of what
should be expected from an IS/IT service company. With a crave for
solving problems of all types in a realistic way and drawing from a
much diversified background and experience, he has been bringing a new
outlook on the application of technologies; a more realistic, better
adapted and simpler approach for the client.
More recently, Olivier
has moved to Vietnam to found A.D.K.T, an IT development company, to
service both the needs of the Canadian and local.
For Olivier,
CanCham represents an efficient way of supporting the Canadian
entrepreneurs in their quest to better their business. He is currently
in charge of the technological side of the Chamber, intends on further
developing the services to the general business community and
facilitating the globalization for Canadian SMEs.
 BOARD MEMBER
Dr. Andrew H.F.Tsang Maple Healthcare Dental Clinic
Andrew currently serves as the Managing Director of Maple HealthCare Company, a healthcare dental care service provider in Vietnam. He is a graduate of the University of British Columbia having a Bachelor of Science (Hon Biochem) and Doctor of Dental Medicine. He has been living and working in Vietnam since 1999.
 BOARD MEMBER
Gary E.H.Dawson Vien Dong Pacific Healthcare
Gary has been in Vietnam for over 5-years. He comes from Nova Scotia, lived in 12 cities in Canada, and has spent 30 years in the insurance business for most of which was in Canada. He is Chief Representative of Pacific International and is building a health insurance business in Vietnam; offering travel, medical and health insurance to both the foreign and local Vietnamese communities.
Gary has been involved in the Canadian Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam for over three years, the past two years as President. Being a Canadian is a source of pride for Gary
and he feels the Chamber should develop a stronger business voice in
order to assist the Canadian businesses already registered here, and
provide assistance to new Canadian firms seeking information about
doing business in Vietnam.
His hobbies include an active interest in wine and cooking, a good
exercise program, otherwise between the Chamber and work there is
little time left. His one vacation every year is going to a fishing
camp in Northern Canada, so far a 15-year winning streak. No plans to leave Vietnam, just plans to live and work in this beautiful country
BOARD MEMBER Laurence Nguyen Frasers Law Company
Laurence Nguyen has
served CanCham in Vietnam for over three years. She first arrived to
Vietnam in 2004 on a sponsored internship by Foreign Affairs and
International Trade Canada. She currently works in business development
and public relations for a top tier leading corporate and commercial
law firm.
Previous undertakings include employment with the Caisse Central
Desjardins, in Montreal, one of Canada’s largest financial
institutions, and the Guadalajara Chamber of Commerce in Mexico.
Laurence is fluent in English, French, Spanish and Vietnamese.
 BOARD MEMBER
Dr. Thomas Justin Chan
CitySmart
Dr. Chan received his B.A.Sc. in engineering from the University of British Columbia, and his M.E. and Ph.D. in engineering from The University of Michigan. He had started and managed companies in Vancouver in the areas of technical consulting, software development, property management and retail sales.
He spent the past 15 years successfully establishing and managing several Hi-Tech companies in China, Philippines, and Thailand. Dr. Chan started investing in Vietnam over four years ago. He now owns and operates three companies in Vietnam providing card technology solutions to banks, providing education services, and marketing and selling educational products.
 STAFF MEMBER
Ms Vu Thi Diem Office Manager CanCham HCMC
Born in HCMC, Diem has several years of work experience, starting in the administration department of Saigon Tower followed by the Landmark where she worked as sales coordinator. Diem has been CanCham’s Office Manager since November 2001 where she manages all of the activities and the day to day operations of the HCMC Office. |
