Griffith University alumna, Ms Jingjing (Crystal) Xi is the 2013 winner of the Young Chinese Australia China Alumni of the Year Award.

Ms Jingjing Xi boasts a career in the medical science arena where her work as Deputy Director with the Office of General Administration at the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention is dedicated to improving people’s quality of life in China.

Every year, the Chinese CDC, selects 20 of its most promising employees to pursue studies in public health as part of Griffith University’s renowned public health leadership programme. At just 35 years of age, Jingjing Xi is one the CDC’s youngest mid-level leaders – a testament of her ability and recognition for outstanding performance.

The judging panel was impressed that through her position with the China CDC, Jingjing Xi forms part of a national body with 50 national institutes, centres and offices including over 2,400 employees.

Her work with the CDC involves coordinating key tasks relating to technology business work and public health events. She is also responsible for building leadership and management capacity at both national and provincial levels of the CDC.

Jingjing holds a Bachelor degree of Medicine Administration from the Beijing University of Chinese Medicine. She graduated from Griffith University’s public health leadership program, with a Joint Master of Science in Public Health and a double Masters of Public Health. Jingjing was selected as a participant of the Australian Leadership Awards (ALA) Program in 2008.

Sponsored by the Australian government, Jingjing was one of 40 scholarship holders from around Asia invited to develop leadership skills and links within the Asia-Pacific region. “We all had to study together, finish group work together, discuss assignments together, live together, travel together and shop together,” says Jingjing.

“Griffith provided us with the experience of a multi-cultural environment and how to lead discussions and resolve disagreements.”

While at Griffith University, Jingjing took part in international conferences, organized workshops and seminars, and visited local community health centres – including those specializing in HIV. “These experiences were unique in my study life and of great benefit to me.”

After returning to China, Jingjing was promoted to her position of Deputy Director, General Office at the China CDC where her courses in language, critical and logical thinking, literature review, research design, health impact assessment, risk communication, decision making and public health planning have been of big benefit to her current role.

In 2005, Jingjing Xi received the Chinese Ministry of Health’s Outstanding Young Staff Award.

The judging panel praised Jingjing Xi as “someone who has great potential to continue to collaborate with Australia for many years.” “She will play an important role in Chinese society for years to come.” ■

To read about the other winners of this year’s ACAA / IELTS Australia China Alumni of the Year Awards visit: 

ACAA IELTS 2013 Australia China Alumni of the Year: Mr Zili Shao  

ACAA Young Australian Australia China Alumni of the Year Award: Mr Timothy Coghlan  

Australia China Alumni Award for Research and Innovation: Dr Aihua Wang 

Austrade Australia China Alumni Award for Entrepreneurship: Mr Kai Chen 

CPA Australia, Australia China Alumni Award for Banking and Finance: Mr Derek Chan 

ACAA Australia China Alumni Award for Corporate Achievement: Dr Weihua Sun  

Australia China Alumni Award for Women in Leadership: Julie Song 

Australia China Connections Magazine Australia China Alumni Award for ICT and New Media: Dr Peng Tao