1.0    From humble beginnings to Miss Canada

3.0   From Vancouver to the World Stage 

4. 0   A Lasting Imprint in Toronto

As Andrea’s expertise and success in real estate and brokerage escalated, she also expanded into the more influential and impactful role as property developer.

 

In the early 1990’s, Andrea’s global work would fortuitously take her back to Canada. Even as Toronto was mired in recession at the time, Andrea recognized the development potential of Toronto’s waterfront. With trademark foresight and grit, she convinced Richard Li to finance the $100 million project.

Andrea sourced the lands from the Special Credit department of a Canadian bank, turning a dormant asset into a revenue-producing property, creating 600 man-years of employment in Toronto for the construction project. Five hundred thousand square feet of residential condominium was developed, bringing to life the vision of architects Bruce Kuwabara and Shirley Blumberg. The penthouse of the building was designated “Best in Canada” by Canadian Interior magazine in 1991.

Then Toronto mayor Barbara Hall publicly recognized Andrea’s personal efforts and monumental determination to carry the project through three levels of government bureaucracy and for having the courage to invest in the city during uncertain times.

 5.0   A track record of giving back

- Valerie Gibson, VANCOUVER MAGAZINE   1990 December

Believing that you cannot build a good building without a solid community foundation, Andrea has always found time to volunteer and give back to the community.

As President of the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Garden Society, Andrea’s fundraising record still stands today, eighteen years later. The project, the first full-scale Chinese classical garden recreated in the western world by artisans from Suzhou, was an important cultural icon and enjoyed the support of Vancouver’s multi-cultural societies, the Chinese community and all levels of the Canadian and Chinese governments.  During her term, one of the finest collections of penjing in the world was graciously donated by Dr. Yee-Sun Wu, retired Hong Kong banker and one of the world’s renown penjing collectors and artists, which became permanently housed in a new wing of the Vancouver Chinese classical garden.   She traveled to Hong Kong to meet with Dr. Wu.  (1985 – 1991) 

Andrea was part of the founding group of the Hong Kong-Canada Business Association and she became its third national president and subsequently Governor and Past Vancouver Section President.   Under her stewardship, the group became the largest bilateral trade organization in Canada with 3,300 members across Canada.   She traveled across the country and actively promoted commercial opportunities for Canadians in Asia.    (1987-1993)

6.0  Public Recognitions & Distinctions

• Top 100 Chinese Canadians, Vancouver Sun   (2006)
•  Forty under Forty, Vancouver’s top business achievers under the age of 40, Business in Vancouver   (1990)
• Power 50 Panel Judge, Vancouver Magazine  (2003 and 2004)
• Miss Vancouver Chinatown Pageant Hall of Fame   (1986)
• Outstanding Alumna who has brought distinction to the University of British Columbia through her professional dedication and exceptional contribution to the community   (1990)
• Medallion Club, Vancouver Real Estate Board
• Recipient of multiple academic scholarships while in attendance at the University of British Columbia

 MEDIA

        

Gregarious and confident, Andrea became a reporter for the “Vancouver Show” and “Saturday Morning Lineup” at CKVU-TV (1978-1979) upon graduation from the Commerce faculty at UBC.  Still fermenting her early career, she moved into Promotions and Public Relations when she directed promotions at the Food and Beverage division at the Hyatt Regency Vancouver  (1979-1980).  Her public role and early-adopter nature would bring her to become knowledgeable about 3G-telecom technology, and in 2006 she worked with the marketing team of 3UK in London, England to develop video content for mobile telephones. 3G technology had not yet penetrated the North American market although it was the dominant technology on other continents.  She was Advisor to the Chair at the start-up of the China Internet portal Tom.com.  (2000)   

 

7.0   Over two decades, Andrea has been in the public's eye and was fortuitous to have met many of the world’s most powerful decision makers in business, some of who have become good friends.  She returned to Vancouver in 2003 and now cares for her aging Father whose health and business affairs have not been tended to properly.  Andrea treats this pious duty responsibly and she is also taking this chapter of her life as an opportunity to achieve personal balance - which she does through yoga study. She still selectively advises and consults globally with respect to property investment in Canada and globally.       

 

Andrea’s business network is now firmly established on an international level. She is able to operate from Vancouver as her base through the use of technology.  She has proven global management skills, with flexibility to lead and communicate with people of many cultures and opinions.  Vancouver is ideal for her as she is a plane ride away from any of the world’s financial capitals and her clients.  From her base she provides her clients a safe haven from business paparazzi on their stopovers in Vancouver.  Never resting on her laurels, she is always ready to bring people and opportunities together.  When she read about Mission Hills' Oculus wine in Mac Parry's column in the Vancouver Sun, she introduced her [unnamed but influential] visiting guest to the Canadian winery, and Mission Hill wines are now sold in Watson's Wine Cellar in Hong Kong.    When the Malaysian magnate Tan Sri Dato Khoo Kay-Peng acquired Laura Ashley and visited the management in Boston, Andrea was invited to consult because of her strong cross-cultural skills and business acumen.    Andrea's current work includes team members of the start up of the world's first satellite television network who are strategically located around the world.