Positions held by him there have included special projects liaison in the Corporate Planning Division,[2] deputy director of the East Asia Trade Division,[5] and director general of the North Asia Bureau.
[2] 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.
[2] Lipman became executive director of the Canadian Trade Office in Taipei in 2001, and held that position until 2004.
Lipman is married to Chinese singer Zhu Zheqin, better known by her artist name Dadawa.