Human Rights Advocate · Canada

Sherap
Therchin

Executive Director, Canada Tibet Committee

Executive leader advancing Tibetan rights, democratic freedoms, and values-based Canadian foreign policy for over 8 years. Drove two unanimous House of Commons motions on Tibet, contributed to Canada’s foreign interference legislation, and serves as a trusted parliamentary witness on transnational repression and Sino-Tibetan relations.

🎍 King Charles III Coronation Medal — 2025 Sanctioned by Beijing — Dec 2024 Parliamentary Witness · Senate & House of Commons
8+
Years Leading Canada Tibet Committee
2
Unanimous House of Commons Motions on Tibet
C-70
Foreign Interference Legislation Influenced
20
Canadians Sanctioned by Beijing — Therchin Among Them
Beijing Sanction — December 2024

One of 20 Canadians officially sanctioned by the People’s Republic of China in direct response to sustained human rights advocacy and policy impact — described by Therchin as “a badge of honour.”

Areas of Expertise

Policy, Advocacy
& Strategic Leadership

🏛

Government Relations

Sustained influence with parliamentarians, ministers’ offices, and officials through delegation engagement, briefing materials, and targeted campaigns.

Senate TestimonyParliamentary Committees

Public Policy Advocacy

Drove two unanimous House of Commons motions on Tibet and shaped Canada’s legislative response to foreign interference and transnational repression.

Bill C-70Foreign Interference
🌐

Human Rights Strategy

Led cross-party campaigns advancing Tibetan rights, diaspora protections, and accountability for human rights abuses linked to China-controlled regions.

Tibet RightsDiaspora Protection
📡

Media & Public Communications

National media voice on Tibet, China, foreign interference, and the Dalai Lama succession through CBC appearances and published policy commentary.

CBCGlobe & MailPolicy Commentary
🤝

Coalition Building

Convened senior international forums in Ottawa with government officials, diplomats, and legislators to advance coordinated Canada–U.S. responses on Tibet.

International CoalitionsDiplomatic Engagement
📋

Executive Leadership

Directs national strategy, programs, fundraising, coalition management, and organizational operations for Canada’s leading Tibet advocacy organization.

Organizational StrategyDigital Security
📊

Program Management

Designed and managed programs across international development contexts — Tibetan exile communities, entrepreneurship education, and youth empowerment.

Results-Based MgmtCapacity Building
Professional Experience

A Career Built on
Advocacy & Impact

Executive Director
Jan 2018 – Present
Canada Tibet Committee · Toronto, Ontario
Parliamentary & Senate Testimony
  • Appeared repeatedly before Senate and House of Commons committees on transnational repression, foreign interference, forced labour, education rights, and accountability mechanisms — elevating Tibet issues within Canada’s national security and human rights agenda.
  • Advocacy contributed to stronger diaspora protections in Bill C-70 and reinforced parliamentary scrutiny of authoritarian interference linked to China-controlled regions.
  • April 2026 testimony before the Subcommittee on International Human Rights — warned that China’s repression has “gone transnational” and is an active threat inside Canada.
Government Advocacy & Policy Influence
  • Led cross-party advocacy securing two unanimous House of Commons motions on Tibet — including the first all-party commitment in a decade for Sino-Tibetan dialogue (Dec 2022) and a 2024 motion affirming Tibetans’ right to self-determination.
  • Built sustained influence with parliamentarians through delegation engagement and targeted campaigns on Tibet, foreign interference, and supply-chain transparency.
  • Coordinated a three-day official Ottawa visit by the Tibetan government-in-exile to engage Canadian MPs and policy stakeholders.
Media & Public Communications
  • Served as a national media voice on Tibet, China, foreign interference, and the Dalai Lama succession through repeated CBC appearances and published commentary.
  • Featured in Globe and Mail coverage of Beijing’s sanctions against Canadian Tibet advocates.
  • Extended organizational reach through digital content amplifying testimony, advocacy priorities, and policy analysis.
International Forum Convening
  • Convened senior international forums in Ottawa with government officials, diplomats, legislators, and policy experts to advance coordinated Canada–U.S. responses on Tibet and transnational repression.
  • Translated convening into policy output through published recommendations and cross-border frameworks on human rights coordination and diaspora protection.
Organizational Leadership
  • Directs national strategy, programs, fundraising, coalition management, and organizational operations; maintained operational continuity and strengthened digital security after being sanctioned by Beijing in December 2024.
Entrepreneurship Education Project Advisor
Feb 2019 – Apr 2020
Alinea International · Gatineau, Quebec
  • Assessed school needs, developed entrepreneurship education tools, and designed virtual workshop content for Tibetan secondary students in India.
Proposal Consultant
Dec 2016 – Jan 2017
Agriteam Canada Consulting Ltd. · Gatineau, Quebec
  • Developed international development proposals using results-based management tools, integrating gender equality and sustainability objectives.
Deputy Director
Jan 2013 – Jan 2015
The Tibet Fund · Dharamshala, India
  • Designed and managed programs for the Tibetan exile community, supporting proposal development, donor reporting, and partner capacity building.
Assistant Executive Director
Oct 2010 – Dec 2012
Himalayan Society for Youth and Women Empowerment · Kathmandu, Nepal
  • Supported program delivery, training coordination, reporting, and planning for youth and women’s empowerment initiatives.
Research Analyst
Jun 2007 – Jun 2008
Thomson Reuters · Bangalore, India
  • Researched corporate actions and mapped financial identifiers to improve centralized client data access across Thomson Reuters products.
Media Coverage

In the News

Globe & MailDec 23, 2024

China Sanctions 20 in Canada — Including Sherap Therchin

Beijing formally sanctioned Canada Tibet Committee leadership including Therchin, formalising restrictions on diaspora Tibetans — described as inevitable for anyone leading the advocacy work.

Read Full Article →
CBC NewsJun 8, 2023

Diaspora Groups Call for Public Inquiry on Foreign Interference

Therchin appeared on CBC’s Power & Politics alongside Uyghur rights leaders, urging a full public inquiry into Chinese foreign interference targeting diaspora communities in Canada.

Watch CBC Segment →
PhayulApril 22, 2026

China’s Transnational Repression in Canada “Not an Abstract Concern”

Therchin testified before the Subcommittee on International Human Rights, warning that China’s repression has gone transnational — affecting every aspect of daily life for diaspora Tibetans in Canada.

Read Full Report →
CBC News2023

Tibetan Boarding Schools, Biometrics & Beijing’s Cultural Crackdown

Therchin told CBC that Beijing’s attacks on Tibetan community and culture were “almost at an all-time high,” citing China’s policy of forcibly separating Tibetan children and mandatory biometric data collection.

Read CBC Article →
Tribune India / ANIApril 23, 2026

CTC Director Warns Canadian Panel of China’s Expanding Repression

International coverage of Therchin’s April 2026 parliamentary testimony, detailing phishing attacks, malware campaigns against CTC, and the daily consequences of Beijing’s sanctions.

Read Coverage →
House of Commons44th Parliament

Cited in Parliamentary Committee Report on Tibet & Human Rights

Therchin’s testimony on Sino-Tibetan dialogue, the Panchen Lama’s disappearance, and language rights suppression was directly cited in the official House of Commons report.

View Parliamentary Record →
Parliamentary Record

Testimonies &
Committee Appearances

2026

Transnational Repression & China’s Expanding Reach in Canada

Subcommittee on International Human Rights · FAAE

Delivered a personal account of the sanctions’ real impact — cyberattacks, travel restrictions, and psychological toll — warning MPs that China’s repression is no longer limited to its borders.

Read Full Coverage →
2023

Foreign Interference & Diaspora Community Protections

Procedure & House Affairs Committee · Canada Election Act

Testified on proposed amendments to better address Chinese foreign interference, drawing on first-hand experience of CTC’s exposure to Beijing’s influence operations.

CBC Coverage →
2023

Sino-Tibetan Dialogue, Language Rights & Tibet’s Political Status

Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs & International Development

Testified on Tibet’s political situation under Xi Jinping, the December 2022 unanimous motion for Sino-Tibetan dialogue, and the imprisonment of Tibetan language activist Tashi Wangchuk.

Parliamentary Record →
2023

Supply Chain Accountability & Forced Labour

Senate / House of Commons Committees

Contributed expert testimony on forced labour, education rights abuses, and accountability mechanisms linked to China’s control of Tibet — strengthening Canada’s import accountability framework.

CBC Coverage →
Ongoing

Dalai Lama Succession & Religious Freedom

Parliamentary Subcommittees · International Human Rights

Trusted parliamentary witness on China’s interference in the Dalai Lama succession. Coordinated the Tibetan government-in-exile’s Ottawa delegation alongside His Holiness’s North American representative.

Tibet.net Report →
Ongoing

National Security, Biometric Data & Boarding Schools

Senate Committee on National Security

Raised concerns over Beijing’s mandatory biometric data collection from Tibetans and forced separation of Tibetan children into boarding schools, with implications for Canadian diaspora communities.

CBC Coverage →
Research & Publications

Published Work &
Policy Contributions

Recognition

Awards &
Distinctions

King Charles III Coronation Medal

January 2025

Recognized for outstanding contributions to democracy, human rights, and the Tibetan community in Canada. Awarded to Canadians who have made a significant contribution to Canada, their province or territory, or to a particular region of Canada.

Read community recognition ↗

Sanctioned by Beijing — Badge of Honour

December 2024

Among 20 Canadians sanctioned by the People’s Republic of China in direct response to sustained human rights advocacy. Therchin described the sanctions as “a badge of honour” reflecting genuine policy impact on Beijing’s interests.

Globe & Mail coverage ↗

Education

Academic
Background

Master’s Degree

Entrepreneurship & Innovation

Smith School of Business, Queen’s University
2015 – 2016
Master of Business Administration

MBA

PES University, Bangalore
2008 – 2010
Bachelor’s Degree

Business Management — Finance

Bangalore University
2004 – 2007
Tibetan
Native / Bilingual
English
Full Professional
Hindi
Limited Working
Nepali
Limited Working