Australia's China connection going strong
by Katrina Kalleske
Two
UniSA alumni were among the winners at the Australia China Alumni
Awards in Beijing last month.
The Australia China Alumni Association (ACAA), which is an
inclusive organisation for all China-based alumni of Australian
universities, held the annual awards for the first time this year.
UniSA was the only Australian university with two winners,
including the top award – the CPA Australia Alumni of the Year to
Hui Wing Mau. Mr Hui, who is the Chairman and Executive Director of
Shimao Property Holdings, graduated with a Masters of Business
Administration in 2003.
Mr Hui founded the Shimao Group in the 1980s, focusing on
the development of high-end residential and business properties and
luxury hotels. Under his leadership, the Shimao Group has not only
changed the landscape of urban China, but also injected new vitality
into urban living.
The Award citation also states that “apart from being a
generous donor to charities, education and social welfare
establishments, Mr Hui has always been the first to react to any
relief effort for natural disasters. His generous offers during the
Sichuan Earthquake made him a stand-out philanthropist.”
UniSA’s other award winner was Luqiang Qiao who took out
the award for culture and arts. Mr Qiao’s association with Australia
has stretched over 20 years.
In 1997 he was granted a scholarship to study a Graduate
Diploma of Arts Management at UniSA. Mr Qiao said that at that time,
there were no arts training courses like it in China. After
completing that course, he stayed on to undertake a MBA. While
he was in South Australia, he was involved with several cultural and
arts events including the World Music Festival (Asian Theme), in
1999.
“The skills and knowledge, especially the way of thinking I
obtained through the courses of arts management and the MBA, have
been very beneficial to life and work,” Mr Qiao said.
Mr Qiao is now the Deputy Director of General Office at
China’s National Centre for the Performing Arts in Beijing. In this
role he has made extensive contributions to cultural exchanges
between Australia and China.
“My job for the past nearly 20 years can be considered a
bridge between the two countries. I believe that each Chinese
graduate from Australia can be considered a part of the big bridge.
“China-based Australian alumni are a great help in setting
up a platform for graduates to make closer contacts with Australia,
and at the same time help the development of the relationship
between the two countries.”
Congratulations also go to Dr Hao Yalei who was a finalist
in the Austrade Award for Entrepreneurship. A 2009 PhD
graduate of UniSA, he has worked for major corporations and made
significant progress in the exploration of natural gas, and
currently works for PetroChina as the Deputy Director of the Foreign
Cooperation Administration Department.
UniSA alumni living in China are encouraged to join the
ACAA network. The ACAA run monthly social and professional
networking events in Beijing and Shanghai, and regular events across
a number of other cities in China. For more information,
visit the ACCA website.