The University of Melbourne’s Mr. Zili Shao was this year’s big winner at the ACAA / IELTS 2013 Australia China Alumni Awards, taking out the prestigious Alumni of the year Award.

Mr Shao was celebrated as a quiet achiever who has steadfastly climbed the corporate career ladder in Australia and in China, to his current position as Chairman & Chief Executive Officer, Chinese Operations for JPMorgan Chase & Co.

Judges commented that “Zili Shao is an example of an Australian alumni excelling in all facets of their professional life and rising into senior leadership positions. He is a great inspiration to students and potential students of Australian universities.”

Mr Shao is widely recognised as a leader in the banking and finance field, and is a leading Australian-educated executive. The annual awards celebrate and recognize the outstanding achievements of Australian university graduates currently based in China.

Now in its fifth year, the event honours Australian-educated professionals, excelling in their various fields in China. The Australia China Alumni Awards are hosted under the umbrella of the Australia China Alumni Association – an organisation which boasts more than 9000 members.

Other winner’s of this year’s prestigious event include ICT and New Media winner, Dr Peng Tao, also an alumnus of The University of Melbourne, whose travel app, Breadtrip, has won numerous accolades, including Best App of the year by App Store 2012, and the Editor’s Choice by Apple.

University of New South Wales alumna, Dr Aihua Wang took out the award for Research and Innovation, for her combined work with her husband Dr Jianhua Zhao, also a UNSW alumnus, in their contribution to solar technologies making this clean energy technology more affordable to millions of people around the world.

The Young Alumni Award was this year split between Ms Jingjing Xi, whose 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, and Mr Timothy Coghlan who was praised for his work facilitating the luxury fashion relationship between Australia and China. Jingjing Xi graduated from Griffith University and Timothy Coghlan from The Australian National University.

ANU alumna Ms Julie Song took out the award for Women in Leadership through her 15-year career with Rio Tinto, China.

The Austrade Australia China Alumni Award for Entrepreneurship went to Mr Kai Chen, a UTS alumnus, and the general manager and founder of Jiangsu Aucksun Co.,Ltd. Kai Chen impressed the judging panel with his ability to build up his successful business in a relatively short period of time, listing the business on the Shenzhen stock exchange in 2008.

Central Queensland University alumnus, Mr Derek Chan took out the CPA Australia, Australia China Alumni Award for Banking and Finance for his as Managing Partner, Plateau Corporation Limited – one of the largest local private equity funds in China.

University of Wollongong alumnus, Dr Weihua Sun, was the winner of this year’s Australia China Alumni Award for Corporate Achievement for his work with the Jigang Group Co Ltd – one of China’s top 100 companies. Over his career, Dr Sun has secured 13 patents in the areas of metal production and rolling. ■

To read more about the winners of this year’s ACAA IELTS Australia China Alumni Awards, visit:

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

ACAA Young Chinese Australia China Alumni of the Year Award: Ms Jingjing Xi 

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