L. Philippe Rheault

L. Philippe Rheault takes on the leadership of The China Institute following a 25-year career in the Canadian diplomatic service, during which he focused primarily on China and East Asia. Over the course of his career, he has been posted to the region six times, serving in Beijing, Taipei, Chongqing (twice), Mongolia, and Guangzhou. Notably, Philippe has led two of Canada’s four diplomatic missions in Mainland China: first, as Canada’s inaugural Consul General to the southwestern metropolis of Chongqing (2012–2017), and most recently as the Consul General of Canada for South China, based in Guangzhou (Canton) (2019–2023).

Over the past two and a half decades, Philippe has witnessed China’s extraordinary rise firsthand and has been directly involved in many of the key milestones shaping the evolution of Canada-China relations. His extensive network spans China, Canada, and beyond, enabling him to advise and support a diverse cross-section of top leaders across government, business, academia, and civil society.

As the new Director of The China Institute, Philippe aims to deepen Canada’s understanding of China, examine China’s role in addressing key emerging global issues, and chart paths forward for enlightened and fruitful engagement between Canada and China. He holds degrees in Philosophy, Political Science, and Law, is a member of the Québec bar, and has served as an Adjunct Professor of Law at China’s Southwest University of Political Science and Law. Philippe is frequently cited in both national and international media, has authored or co-authored several recent articles discussing Canada-China issues, teaches the advanced course on China for the Canadian Foreign Service Institute, and is professionally fluent in Mandarin Chinese, Spanish, English, and French.