Paul Choi, an Icon of Change in Vancouver, Canada

Icons of Change International Awards 2026

Paul Choi

Chair of the Finance and Government Committee, Legislative Assembly of British Columbia, Canada, Burnaby South–Metrotown

Parliamentary Secretary for Trade, and Treasury Board (Cabinet Committee), Government of British Columbia

First Vice President, Pacific NorthWest Economic Region (PNWER)

Assistant Professor, Simon Fraser University

Former Member of the Board of Governor, Kwantlen Polytechnic University

Former President and CEO, Burnaby North Road BIA

Former Crown Prosecutor, Ministry of the Attorney General

SDG Focus: Goal 16 – Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

Changemaker for Inclusive Governance, Access to Justice, Public Accountability, and Stronger Institutions (Canada)

________

Leadership at the Intersection of Justice, Governance and Economic Opportunity

Paul Choi is recognised as an Icon of Change 2026 for a distinguished career spanning policing, law, dispute resolution, legal education, business and economic development, elected public service, legislative oversight, and international cooperation.

As a Member of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia representing Burnaby South–Metrotown, and as British Columbia’s Parliamentary Secretary for Trade, Paul contributes to public policy and economic governance at a time when governments and communities are navigating rapidly changing economic, geopolitical, and institutional realities.

His leadership is distinguished by the breadth of his experience. Before entering elected office, he served with the Vancouver Police Department, including as a detective, before developing a legal career encompassing prosecution, mediation, arbitration, and adjudication. He subsequently brought this practical understanding of law and institutions into higher education and public service.

Across these different roles, a consistent principle emerges: strong societies depend upon institutions that are accessible, accountable, effective, and trusted by the people they serve.

________

A Career Dedicated to Strong and Accessible Institutions

Paul's professional journey provides an unusually broad perspective on the institutions that underpin a functioning society.

His early experience in policing placed him directly within the justice and public-safety system. His subsequent legal career provided deeper exposure to the rule of law, dispute resolution, prosecution, and adjudication. His academic work contributed to the development of future legal professionals, while his legislative career has placed him within the institutions responsible for creating, scrutinising, and improving public policy.

This progression has allowed Paul to understand governance from multiple perspectives: as a public safety professional, legal practitioner, educator, legislator, committee chair, and international economic representative.