The 9th Australia-China Alumni Award 2017, sponsored by TOEFL, was launched in Shanghai on 25 November. As the biggest festival for all Australian alumni in China, nearly 200 alumni, representatives of Australian universities and Australian businesses attended the event. The Australian Consul-General in Shanghai, Mr. David Meir, attended and delivered a speech. Representatives from the Australian Embassy in China, Australian Trade and Investment Commission, CPA Australia, TOEFL, Qiaoxin Group and Raw Talent attended and presented awards.
(Photo: Speech by Australian Consul-General in Shanghai, Mr. Robert Merritt)
(Photo: The winners toast. From left, Qi Zhou (Queensland University of Technology), Xiaofei Zhang (University of Newcastle), Ren Wang (University of Technology Sydney), Bethwyn Todd(University of Queensland), Harry Harding(Griffith University), Yiwen Liang (University of Melbourne))
Each of the eight awards, led by the Australia-China Alumni of the Year Award, has its own category. Mr. Zhang Xiaofei, an alumnus of the University of Newcastle in Australia, won the 2017 Australia-China Distinguished Alumni of the Year Award. Professor Zhang is Director of Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics and Professor of Epidemiology and Statistics at Tsinghua Changgeng Hospital affiliated to Tsinghua University in Beijing. His work in the field of cardiovascular diseases has been recognized by his peers at home and abroad. His paper "Current Situation and Epidemic Trend of Death from Cardiovascular and cerebrovascular Diseases in China" won the award of "One Hundred Outstanding Papers of Chinese Medicine in 2016". In addition, in another paper by Professor Zhang, The Death Rate from Ischemic Heart Disease Increased in China, 2004-2010: Disproportionate Increases in Rural and Elderly Mortality -- A 438 million Person year follow-up study published in the European Heart Journal, Vol. 3, 2017, not only complements the epidemiological study of the relationship between risk factors and ischemic heart disease, but also complements the data from a large number of Chinese population studies. The results will also greatly promote the prevention and control of cardiovascular diseases in China. The paper's new findings were also praised by Professor Nicholas S. Downing of Harvard Medical School and Professor Whelton, an eminent epidemiologist at Tulane University in the US. In addition, he collaborated with the University of Newcastle in Australia and CDC in the United States on the epidemiology of ischemic heart disease and the relationship between sodium, potassium, and sodium/potassium ratios and blood pressure.
The Australia-China Distinguished Alumni Award is open to alumni of all Australian universities who are currently resident in China. It is providing a broad platform for educational, cultural and business exchanges between Australia and China.
Since the 1970s, more than 2 million Chinese students have chosen to further their studies in Australia. To contribute to China's development. This year's Australia-China Distinguished Alumni Award has received strong support from various sponsoring organizations.
The 2017 Australia-China Alumni Association "Australia-China Outstanding Alumni Award" belongs to the following organizations:
Australia-china Alumni of the Year Award - TOEFL Sponsorship
Winner: Xiaofei Zhang (Newcastle University), Director of Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Tsinghua University Medical Center, Tsinghua Changgung Hospital, Beijing
Australia-china Alumni Award for Outstanding Women Leaders - sponsored by the Australian Ambassador to China
Winner: Bethwyn Todd (University of Queensland) Group Vice President/President, Asia Pacific/Agricultural Solutions Business Director, Asia Pacific
Australia-china Alumni Enterprise Achievement Award - Sponsored by Qiaoxin Group
Winner: Qi Zhou (Queensland University of Technology) Vice President of Shanghai Zhenhua Heavy Industries (Group) Co. LTD
Australia-china Outstanding Young Alumni of the Year Award - Sponsored by Raw Talent
Winner: Harry Harding (Griffith University) Anchor, Guangdong Radio and Television
Australia-china Alumni Award for Excellence in Information Technology and New Media Industries
Winner: Ophenia Liang Qi Wen Liang (University of Melbourne) Co-founder of Digital Crew Dot Pole International
Australia-china R&D and Innovation Alumni Award
Winner: Wenjun Ma (Griffith University) Director/Chief Physician, Guangdong Institute of Public Health
Australia-china Alumni Award for Excellence in Banking and Finance - sponsored by CPA Australia
Winner: David Luo (University of Technology, Sydney) General Manager, Nanhua Futures Co., LTD
Australia-china Distinguished Entrepreneur Alumni Award - sponsored by the Australian Trade and Investment Commission
Winner: Rob Wang Wang Ren (University of Technology Sydney) General Manager of Beijing Evergreen Group
Background: About Australia-China Alumni Association (ACAA)
Founded in 2007, the Australia-China Alumni Association (ACAA) has grown rapidly to become the largest alumni association in China, with permanent offices in Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou. With the growth of the Alumni Association, we established a chapter in Kunming and hope to establish chapters in more cities. The Australian Alumni Association is a non-profit organization. It aims to provide support to alumni living in China, build a strong and extensive social network for Australian alumni, keep in touch with their Australian Alma maters, contribute to the growing Australia-China relationship and further promote the all-round exchanges between Australia and China in the fields of politics, economy, culture, arts and education. Australia-china Alumni Association has more than 20,000 registered alumni. Australia-china Alumni Association has been strongly supported by many Australian universities, the Australian government and enterprises. Ms. Jan Adams PSM, Australian Ambassador to China, is the honorary President. Successive Australian ambassadors to China, including former Australian Ambassadors to China Dr Gey Raby and Ms Fong Ann Suen, have all been strong supporters of the Australia-China Alumni Association and served as honorary President during their tenure.
