Nov 7 | Breakfast Dialogue with H.E. Jennifer May, Ambassador of Canada to the People’s Republic of China, and Karen Kennedy, Minister (Economic and Commercial)
Breakfast Dialogue with H.E. Jennifer May, Ambassador of Canada to the People’s Republic of China, and Karen Kennedy, Minister (Economic and Commercial)
Nov 7, 2025 | 8:15 – 10:00am
CanCham Members ONLY*
(Exclusive to Corporate and Professional Individuals*)
THE LANGHAM, 99 Madang Road, Xintiandi, Shanghai
The Canadian Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai is honored to host a Breakfast Dialogue with H.E. Jennifer May, Ambassador of Canada to the People’s Republic of China, and Karen Kennedy, Minister (Economic and Commercial).
Ambassador H.E. Jennifer May was appointed to her position in September 2022 and has since been working to strengthen Canada-China relations.
Minister (Economic and Commercial) Karen Kennedy took on the post in July 2025, where she leads Canada’s trade, economic, and business development programs in China.
The dialogue will have H.E. Jennifer May’s remarks, followed by Karen Kennedy’s address. The event will conclude with a 30-minute Q&A session.
The event will be held at THE LANGHAM, from 8:15 am to 10:00 am on November 7th. Please note that this event is CanCham members only* (Exclusive to Corporate and Professional Individuals*).
About Ambassador Jennifer May
H.E. Jennifer May was appointed Canada’s Ambassador to the People’s Republic of China on September 23, 2022 and is the first woman to serve in this position.
Prior to her nomination, Ambassador May served as the Ambassador of Canada to the Federative Republic of Brazil from 2019 to 2022. She was Deputy Head of Mission at the Embassy of Canada to the Federal Republic of Germany from 2015 to 2019.
Ambassador May has extensive Asia experience, having served in political and economic roles at the Consulate General of Canada in Hong Kong from 1998 to 2000, in Beijing at the Embassy of Canada to the People’s Republic of China from 2000 to 2004 and in Bangkok at the Embassy of Canada to the Kingdom of Thailand from 2010 to 2012, with additional responsibility to Myanmar, Cambodia and Laos.
Through her thirty-two-year career with the Government of Canada, Ambassador May has also served as Director of Eastern Europe and Eurasia Relations, Executive Director of the Defence and Security Relations Division at Global Affairs Canada and held overseas assignments in Vienna, Austria and Bonn, Germany.
Ambassador Jennifer May is known as 梅倩琳 in Chinese.
About Minister Karen Kennedy
Karen Kennedy took on the post of Minister (Economic and Commercial) at the Embassy of Canada to China in July 2025. She leads Canada’s trade, economic, and business development programs in China, overseeing a country-wide trade and investment network.
Her previous assignments abroad include serving as Counsellor and Senior Trade Commissioner at the Mission of Canada to the European Union (2021–2025), where she managed Canada’s trade and economic relationship with the EU and oversaw implementation of the Canada-EU Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA); as Counsellor and Senior Trade Commissioner at the Embassy of Canada to Spain (2016–2021); and as Consul and Head of the Investment Program at the Consulate General of Canada in New York (2007–2011).
In Ottawa, Ms. Kennedy spent the majority of her time working in trade policy, including as Director of the CETA Secretariat at Global Affairs Canada (2013–2016), with earlier management roles in Intellectual Property Trade Policy and Softwood Lumber.
She holds an MSc in Negotiation and Conflict Resolution from Columbia University and a BA in Political Science from the University of Calgary.
Breakfast Dialogue with H.E. Jennifer May, Ambassador of Canada to the People’s Republic of China, and Karen Kennedy, Minister (Economic and Commercial)
Nov 7, 2025 | 8:15 – 10:00am
CanCham Members ONLY*
(Exclusive to Corporate and Professional Individuals*)
THE LANGHAM, 99 Madang Road, Xintiandi, Shanghai
*This event is only available for CanCham Platinum, Corporate, Government & Trade Association, Academy Members, Associate Individual and Professional Individual Members.
Honorary Members, Young Professional Individual Members, Community Members, Student & Alumni Members are not eligible for this registration.
If you wish to upgrade your membership to register for this event, please contact our membership team by scanning the QR code below or email: info@cancham.asia
