Ted Lipman

Life and career

He was born in Brazil and was raised in Rio de Janeiro, the United Kingdom, and Vancouver. His father was English and his mother was Russian. Lipman took Asian studies at University of British Columbia and studied Chinese history at Peking University.

In 1976, he became a member of the Canadian Department of External Affairs. Positions held by him there have included special projects liaison in the Corporate Planning Division, deputy director of the East Asia Trade Division, and director general of the North Asia Bureau.

Lipman's first work in Asia was to serve the Canadian embassy in Beijing from 1977 to 1980. Lipman then became the first Canadian trade commissioner in South China from 1982 to 1985. Other positions held by Lipman include Canadian consul general in Shanghai from 1995 to 1999, and minister at the Canadian embassy in Beijing between 1999 and 2001. Lipman became executive director of the Canadian Trade Office in Taipei in 2001, and held that position until 2004. Lipman has also worked in the United States three times: as a member of the United Nations General Assembly, as a consul and trade commissioner in New York City, and as a consul in Pittsburgh.

Despite being an immigrant to Canada, Lipman has commented that he has no difficulties in representing the country as a diplomat, stating that "Canada is a very free and fair country where people of various backgrounds thrive and that's part of our success." In 2011 Lipman retired from the diplomatic service.

Lipman is married to famous Chinese singer Zhu Zheqin, better known by her artist name Dadawa.