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Australia China Alumni Awards Overview
The Australia China Alumni Awards is an initiative of the Australia China Alumni Association (ACAA) to celebrate excellence in Australian education and recognize the significant achievements of Australian-educated alumni in China and Australia. The aim of the Awards to demonstrate how Australian education can help graduates succeed in an international context and across a variety of fields.
The typical ACAA Awards period lasts 12 months, from January to December each year, separated into four stages: Awards nomination, Awards finalists announcement, Awards presentation and ceremony, and post-award communication and networking.
Past Awards Events
2009 Awards
The inaugural Awards in 2009 attracted sponsorship from CPA Australia, ANZ Bank, Austrade, AusAID, Australian Education International and Qantas Airways. The Awards event was publicised widely, in both media and email campaigns, and was promoted both by the ACAA and our university, government and corporate partners.
As a result of this publicity and the ACAA’s own well-developed network of alumni, university, government and business contacts, over 150 alumni were nominated. From this group, 43 high-quality finalists were selected, ranging from the President of Nokia, China, to a well-known radio host, to the Deputy-Director of International Cooperation at China’s National Ministry of Agriculture. The finalists were both Chinese and expatriates working right across China. Winners received their Awards at a well-attended Awards Presentation Dinner in Beijing in 2009. Over 40 media articles were published about the 2009 Awards, in both Chinese and English language publications.
2010 Awards
The 2010 Alumni Awards were held in Shanghai, with a finalists’ reception at the Australian Pavilion at the World Expo 2010 on May 25 2010, and an Awards Presentation Dinner at the Le Meridien Hotel in Shanghai, on July 10, 2010, that attracted over 270 guests and a wealth of media coverage. The ACAA also hosted a related event at the Australian Consul General’s residence in Guangzhou, to bring national attention to the Awards.
2011 Awards
In 2011, the Awards again returned to Beijing with the Awards Presentation Dinner being held on Saturday, November 12 2011, at the Marriott Beijing North East. The Awards Presentation Dinner attracted some 180 guests, including a number of high level business and government representatives.
2012 Awards
In 2012, around 300 guests joined VIP guests and dignitaries at the Hyatt on the Bund in Shanghai. This was the largest event to date and Australia’s Ambassador to China, and ACAA Patron, HE Frances Adamson delivered the welcome address that set the tone for the award filled evening.
2013 Awards
The 2013 Australia China Alumni Awards were held in Beijing on Saturday 2 November 2013. Some 250+ VIP alumni, senior university staff and corporate business leaders attended with the keynote dinner speech given by Mr. Mark Hutchinson, President of GE Greater China.
2014 Awards
The 2014 Australia China Alumni Awards was held in Shanghai on Saturday 29 November 2014. Some 250+ VIP alumni, senior university staff and corporate business leaders attended with the representative of Mr Geng Xia, the Deputy Governor of Shandong Province, China.
2015 Awards
The 2015 Australia China Alumni Awards was held in Beijing on Saturday 21 November 2015 with 250+ VIPs where the ACAA proudly partnered with new sponsors: IELTS, Austrade, CPA Australia, JJL Overseas Education, Sealink Captain Cook Cruises and Tourism & Events Queensland.
2016 Awards
The Awards has rotated annually between Beijing and Shanghai since 2009. However in 2016 this changed – the 8th Australia China Alumni Awards was hosted in Guangzhou for the first time. This years’ Awards Presentation Dinner was attended by over 200 alumni, including representatives of the Australian government (including the Australian Consul General in Guangzhou), top Australian universities and national and international companies. As the ACAA’s patron, the Australian Ambassador to the People’s Republic of China, H.E. Ms. Jan Adam was present to welcome all attendees to the event. Senior representatives from IELTS, the Australian Trade and Investment Commission, CPA Australia, Business Events Sydney, AIDE Education Service and IDP Education attended to present the winners with the award they sponsored.
2017 Awards
The 2017 Australia China Alumni Awards was held in Shanghai on Saturday 25th November with close to 200 very important attendees. This year the ACAA was delighted to continue our partnerships with the Australian Embassy Beijing, Austrade and CPA Asutralia, and to welcome TOEFL as our event title sponsor and KINGOLD Group and Raw Talent as our Award sponsors.
2018 Awards
The 2018 Australia China Alumni Awards is the 10th anniversary of the Awards. The Presentation Ceremony was back to Beijing where it started and held on Saturday 24th November. Over 200 guests attended to celebrate the 10-year milestone of these Awards, including outstanding alumni, senior Australian government officials and university representatives, and representatives from the Australia-China corporate community. The Australian Ambassador to the P.R.China, HE Ms Jan Adams, ACAA’s patron gave a warm welcome and the founder of ACAA, Mr Edward Smith also sent greetings and best wished to the Awards.
2019 Awards
The 2019 Australia China Alumni Awards Presentation Ceremony was successfully held at the Australian Embassy, China in Beijing on 28th November. Over 100 guests attended to celebrate the Awards, including outstanding alumni, senior Australian government officials and university representatives, and representatives from the Australia-China corporate community. ACAA Patron, His Excellency Mr Graham Fletcher, the Australian Ambassador to the P.R.China gave a warm welcome at the beginning of the Ceremony.
2020 Awards
The 12th Australia China Alumni Awards has made good progress with 44 quality finalists, and a great response to two new categories (Australia-China Relations and Community and Social Impact).
The 2020 Australia China Alumni Awards Networking was held, with great success, on Saturday, 28 November, in TEN cities across China and Australia.
This is the first time that the Australia China Alumni Awards Networking has been held outside China on the same day.
In the TEN cities (Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Hong Kong and Shenyang in China ,and Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Perth and Darwin in Australia), about 300 guests in total attended this celebration of the Awards, including outstanding alumni, senior Australian government officials and university representatives, and representatives from the Australia-China corporate community. The Networking was launched by a warm online welcome given by ACAA’s patron, His Excellency Mr Graham Fletcher, the Australian Ambassador to China.
This year, nine outstanding winners and three winners of Judges’ Citations were recognised for their incredible achievements and contributions to the Australia-China relationship and alumni community.
2021 Awards
The 2021 Australia China Alumni Awards are supported by ACAA Patron, Australian Ambassador to China, HE Graham Fletcher, Australian Embassy, Beijing, Australian Trade and Investment Commission, National Foundation for Australia-China Relations, New South Wales Government, Study Queensland, Trade and Investment Queensland and CPA Australia.
The 2021 Australia China Alumni Awards Networking was held, with great success, on Saturday, 27 November, in seven cities across China and Australia.
In the seven cities (Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong in China ,and Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Perth in Australia), about 400 guests in total attended this celebration of the Awards, including outstanding alumni, senior Australian government officials and university representatives, and representatives from the Australia-China corporate community.
This year, thirteen outstanding winners and five winners of Judges’ Citations were recognised for their incredible achievements and contributions to the Australia-China relationship and alumni community.
2022 Awards
The 2022 Australia China Alumni Awards were sponsored by the Australian Embassy, Beijing, Australian Trade and Investment Commission, Study Queensland/Trade and Investment Queensland, CPA Australia and AMET Education. AMET Education was the global sponsor.
From 26th to 28th November 2022 and in early 2023, ACAA hosted Alumni Awards Networking and presentations in Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne, with around 400 attendees in total to celebrate the success of our alumni in various fields.
2023 Awards
The 2023 Australia China Alumni Awards were sponsored by AMET, Australian Embassy, Beijing and Study Queensland.
The Australia China Alumni Awards celebrations were held in Shanghai，Beijing，Guangzhou，Hong Kong, Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne, with a total of 264 guests, from 18 to 25 November 2023. The guests included current and previous Awards finalists and winners, distinguished alumni, university representatives, Federal and State Government officials, and corporate sponsors. There were fourteen Alumni winners in the ten categories of the 15th Australia China Alumni Awards. Another thirty six alumni received Judges' Commendations and certificates.
2024 Awards
Key supporters of 2024 awards included the Australian Embassy in China, Sydney Stock Exchange, CPA Australia, Taronga Zoo, Oroton Group, Australian National Pavilion of Premium Brands on JD and Cook1788 Wines.
The 16th Australia-China Alumni Awards were held in Beijing on 23 November and in Sydney on 27 November. In Sydney, Andrew Robb AO, former Australian Minister for Trade and Investment, delivered the keynote and presented the awards. The Beijing ceremony featured Australian Ambassador Scott Dewar. Together, the two events attracted over 300 distinguished alumni, with 200 in Sydney and 100 in Beijing.
2025 Awards
Key supporters of the 2025 Awards included the Australian Embassy in China, Sydney Stock Exchange, Export Council of Australia, Taronga Zoo, Universities Australia, Boman, Zao Dx, Shinyway Education, Nontre, and Study Queensland.
The 17th Australia-China Alumni Award Ceremonies were held in Sydney on 18 September and in Beijing on 18 October. In Sydney, the Hon. Matt Thistlethwaite MP, Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs and Assistant Minister for Immigration, joined as Guest of Honour and delivered the keynote address. The Beijing ceremony featured the Deputy Ambassador of the Australian Embassy in China. Together, the two events welcomed 300+ distinguished alumni and guests.
Read more about ACAA past winners here, or email awards@austchinaalumni.org
Previous Australia China Alumni Awards Supporting Partners
