Geneva, Switzerland
2021 World Trade Organization
The Public Forum is the World Trade Organization’s (WTO) largest outreach event, providing a unique platform for stakeholders from around the world to discuss the latest developments in global trade and to propose ways of enhancing the multilateral trading system. Held annually, the event attracts representatives from civil society, academia, business, government, international organizations, and the media.
At the WTO Public Forum, YDC Delegates listen to, learn from, and interact with experts from around the world to strengthen their networks and gain deeper knowledge about the WTO’s mandate as well as international trade and finance. Delegates attend Summit sessions and participate in meetings with stakeholders on the ground during the Summit.
Angela Minyi Hou, Head Delegate
Angela Minyi Hou is a policy analyst at Natural Resources Canada and a participant in the Advanced Policy Analyst Program. She is a recent graduate of the Masters in International Affairs program at the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies in Geneva, specializing in environmental sustainability and international trade and investment. She also completed an Honours Bachelor of Arts in International Relations and Contemporary Asian Studies at the University of Toronto.
As a former intern in the WTO Accessions Division, Angela’s passion for trade dates back to her participation in the John H. Jackson Moot Court Competition. Since then, she has delved into the world of trade law and policy by working on topics such as fisheries subsidies, WTO reform, and the linkages between circular economy and economic integration.
Angela has a Chinese-Canadian background with roots in Shanghai and Toronto. She speaks Mandarin (Chinese) and basic French. Outside of work, Angela enjoys travelling, reading, learning languages, and listening to music from different cultures. Angela is humbled to serve as Head Delegate of the YDC delegation to the 2021 WTO Public Forum. She looks forward to engaging with the multilateral trading system from the perspective of Canadian youth.
Jiya Hai, Communications Coordinator
Jiya Hai is pursuing a dual degree through a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Honours Business Administration and a BA Honours Specialization in Political Science from Ivey Business School, Western University. She is also in the Scholar’s Electives Program and conducts research in business and public policy.
Currently, Jiya supports the development of housing policy within Ontario’s Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing. Previously, she conducted research on Canadian municipal climate policy implementation. At the Ivey Energy Policy and Management Centre, Jiya contributed to thought leadership for one of Canada’s key economic sectors. During her time in the Political/Economic Section of the U.S. Consulate General in Toronto, Jiya produced reports and cables on bilateral issues.
At university, Jiya promotes student research opportunities. As the Editor-in-Chief of the undergraduate international relations journal, she publishes student papers while writing on international trade and technology. As a Team Lead for Western’s political risk think tank, Jiya led the development of collaborative reports to inform companies’ expansions overseas.
Due to her interests, Jiya follows developments in international trade closely. She is honoured to represent Canadian youth at the WTO Public Forum.
Lindsay Bain, Delegate
Lindsay resides in Winnipeg with proud heredity from Wabigoon Lake Ojibway Nation in Treaty #3 territory. While completing a Bachelor of Arts (Advanced) in Global Political Economy at the University of Manitoba, she was a grateful recipient of a William and Nona Heaslip Scholarship and Valedictory graduate of the President’s Student Leadership Program. She has worked as a Policy Analyst at Northern Policy Institute exploring the impact and successes of the Ontario Treaty Commission (ICO), immigration trends, and affordable housing, plus worked as part of the team to begin extending asset map infrastructure to Ontario’s northern regions with ConnectON.
Lindsay’s prior experience includes research and teaching assistant positions in organizational behavior and leadership with Dr. Suzanne Gagnon, and in economics and labor studies with Dr. Jesse Hajer. She is passionate about mental health and grassroots activism (particularly BIPOC, disability, LGBTQ2S+ and women’s rights), and is actively involved in volunteerism. Her held positions include Director of Logistics of the Global Political Economy Students’ Association, student representative on the Faculty of Arts Endowment Fund and Teaching Excellence Committees, workshop coordinator for the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation, mentor for at-risk youth, and fundraiser for organizations dear to her heart. Upon graduation, Lindsay has professional aspirations in Social Policy and is applying for Master of Public Policy programs for September 2022. She is grateful and excited for the opportunity to represent Canadian youth and YDC as a Delegate at the 2021 WTO Public Forum.
Pierre-Alexandre Carrier, Delegate
Pierre-Alexandre is a candidate for the Master of Laws in Applied International Law and International Politics at Sherbrooke University. He graduated from Laval University with a Bachelor’s in Public Affairs and International Relations.
During his studies, Pierre-Alexandre organized two trade missions to Colombia, worked as a business consultant and attended the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile. He also interned at the Quebec Office in Mexico and at the Canadian Embassy in Beijing.
For the past year, Pierre-Alexandre was a Researcher for the International Labour Organization (ILO), where he worked on collecting the State practice in relation to the qualification of the COVID-19 infection as a work-related injury, and collaborated with the UN Global Compact on “business & human rights” projects. Since May 2020, Pierre-Alexandre works at Global Affairs Canada – he currently serves in the Trade Commissioners Service.
Pierre-Alexandre is the Regional Director (Quebec) for the United Nations Association in Canada, as well as a World Economic Forum Global Shaper (Quebec City hub).
Avid art enthusiast, Pierre-Alexandre aims to work in the field of trade and public diplomacy to cultivate mutual understanding between Canada and China. He enjoys spending his free time producing music, reading, skiing and playing guitar.
Ashton Mathias, Delegate
Ashton is a first year Masters student at the Norman Paterson School of International Affairs at Carleton University, specializing in International Economic Policy. Ashton most recently completed his Honours Bachelors in Political Science at McGill University.
As a Policy Intern at the Canadian Permanent Mission to the International Organizations in Vienna, Ashton’s capstone project was a food-for-thought paper on how Canada should encourage a review of the IAEA’s human resources “rotation” policy, given its gendered impacts. As a delegate to the UN’s 58th Commission on Social Development (CSocD), Ashton met with various Permanent Missions regarding policy papers that he and his colleagues drafted, and helped organize a well-attended side-event at the conference.
Other notable roles include his work at the US Consulate Toronto, at the Office of the Parliamentary Assistant to Ontario’s Minister of Labour, Training, and Skills Development (MLTSD), and at Canada’s largest Model UN conferences, SSUNS and McMUN.
In his free time, Ashton likes to hike, stargaze, kayak, watch late night comedy, and learn new languages including Russian and Spanish.
Ashton is excited to represent Canadian youth while learning more about transparency measures that countries can adopt to tackle the issue of optimal obfuscation in the post-COVID economic recovery.
Oona Palmer, Delegate
Oona Palmer is completing her MSc in International Political Economy at the London School of Economics. Her research has focused on the trade-off between predictability and stability created by a trade agreement as well as the effects of uncertainty in trade negotiations.
During her undergraduate work at Reed College in Portland, Oregon, Oona worked as a research assistant for Professor Kimberly Clausing. Her work for Professor Clausing’s book, Open: The Progressive Case for Free Trade, Immigration, and Global Capital, allowed her to explore the importance of addressing the welfare impacts of globalization and the opening of borders through considered policy.
Following the completion of her BA in economics, Oona worked for CANFAX as a research analyst on projects related to sustainable agriculture and market development in Canadian agriculture.
Alongside her academic work, Oona has volunteered with the Waterton Biosphere Reserve, a UNESCO designated reserve, which aims to foster and encourage sustainable management of the land. The Waterton Biosphere recognized internationally for demonstrating practical approaches to balancing biodiversity conservation and sustainable human use of the land. Her interests lie in the negotiation of trade agreements, humanitarian and development assistance, and sustainability.
