The 18th Australia China Alumni Awards Sydney Gala and the Australia China Alumni Association (ACAA) Scholarships Presentation were held last night at Sergeants’ Mess, Mosman. Close to 150 distinguished alumni and guests from government, business, academia, the arts and the media came together to celebrate the achievements of the Australia–China alumni community.
(Photo of award recipients, scholarship recipients and guests)
The University of Sydney, UNSW Sydney, Monash University, the University of Melbourne, the University of Wollongong and Macquarie University all sent senior representatives, including Professor Lisa Zamberlan, Interim Deputy Vice-Chancellor Global, UNSW; Professor Barney Tan, Senior Deputy Dean, Impact and Partnerships, UNSW; Professor Priscilla Johanesen, Associate Dean (Research Training), Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University; and Ms Alexandra Hyvonen, Deputy Director, Alumni Engagement and Benefits, University of Sydney. Representatives of scholarship sponsors Teamlink, RL Education, Laurel International and Duan & Duan also attended.
(Event highlights)
His Excellency Mr Scott Dewar, Australian Ambassador to China and Patron of ACAA, sent a video message congratulating the alumni community. Every Australian Ambassador to China has served as ACAA’s Patron since the association was founded in 2007.
(Australian Ambassador to China and ACAA Patron Scott Dewar)
Sara Cheng: from connection to empowerment
Opening the evening, ACAA Co-Chair Ms Sara Cheng spoke on the theme “From Connection to Empowerment”. Since 2007, ACAA has built a network of more than 45,000 members and eight chapters across Australia and China. The wider Australia–China alumni community – people of Chinese background who have graduated from Australian universities and other higher education institutions, and Australians who have studied in China – has grown to more than one million people over the past 20 years, and most first-generation adult Chinese migrants in Australia belong to it. With such broad reach, she said, ACAA is focusing its effort on the programs that matter most to this community.
This year, ACAA’s three major programs each empower a different part of the community: free workshops on Australia’s legal system, culture and career development support young alumni; the Australia China Alumni Awards recognise and empower established alumni; and the ACAA Scholarships support Chinese international students and students of Chinese heritage.
Ms Cheng invited guests to talk to ACAA and propose initiatives that are relevant to this community. “We have built the connection. Now, let’s build the empowerment – together,” she said.
(Co-Chair of the ACAA, Sara Cheng)
Mark Coure recognises the Chinese and alumni communities
In his remarks, Mr Coure recognised the contribution and achievements of the Chinese community and the Australia–China alumni community to Australia’s society, economy and culture, before presenting the Business Achievement Award.
(Mark Coure MP, Member for Oatley and NSW Shadow Minister for Roads, Multiculturalism and South-Western Sydney)
Jason Yat-sen Li presents Alumni of the Year
As both a Member of the NSW Parliament and Pro-Chancellor of the University of Sydney, Mr Li presented the evening’s highest honour, the 2026 Australia China Alumni of the Year, to University of Sydney alumna Dr Tianli Zu. He noted that many Australians have seen her work without knowing it: her Lunar New Year Gates have lit up Darling Harbour, her lanterns have glowed across the Adelaide Festival Centre’s screens, her Eight Treasures Mask papercut installation is in the Powerhouse Museum’s collection, and this year her Lantern Horse brought the Year of the Horse to life in Chatswood. Through her work, he said, she has made Chinese culture part of the everyday Australian landscape – a bridge between the two countries that people can see, stand under and walk through.
(Strathfield MP and University of Sydney Deputy Chancellor Jason Yat-sen Li MP)
The Australia China Alumni Awards comprise eight category awards and one grand award, the Australia China Alumni of the Year. They are celebrated at two gala ceremonies each year: alumni based in Australia receive their awards in Sydney, and alumni based in China receive theirs in Beijing. This year, four category awards and the grand award were won by Australia-based alumni and presented last night in Sydney.
2026 Australia China Alumni Awards winners (Sydney)
Business Achievement Award: Mr Huiming Lin, Founder and Managing Partner, Auslaw Partners; alumnus of Bond University and the Australian National University. Presented by Mr Mark Coure MP.
(Founder and Managing Partner of Auslaw Partners, Huiming Lin)
(Cosmetic Chemist, Founder and CEO of Auskin Laboratories, Cici Li)
Arts and Creativity Award: Dr Tianli Zu, Chinese-Australian multimedia artist; alumna of the University of Sydney (MFA, PhD). Presented by Ms Alexandra Hyvonen, University of Sydney.
(University of Sydney alumna, Dr Tianli Zu)
(Dr Kaiqin Le, Biomedical Research Fellow at Monash University)
2026 Australia China Alumni of the Year: Dr Tianli Zu, Chinese-Australian multimedia artist; alumna of the University of Sydney. Presented by Mr Jason Yat-sen Li MP, Pro-Chancellor, University of Sydney.
(2026 Australia China Alumni of the Year, Dr Tianli Zu)
ACAA Scholarships totalling AUD 40,000 were also presented. Funded by alumni-led organisations, they reflect the community’s spirit of success giving back to success. The 2026 recipients are:
ACAA–Teamlink Scholarship for R&D Innovation, sponsored by Teamlink. Winner: Yudi Tang, PhD candidate in Mining Engineering, UNSW Sydney. Presented by Ms Melody Safakoglu, Group Growth & Strategy Manager, Teamlink, and Professor Lisa Zamberlan, UNSW.
(Yudi Tang, PhD Candidate in Mining Engineering at UNSW Sydney)
(Cindy Li, Year 11 student at Abbotsleigh)
ACAA–Laurel Scholarship for Emerging Leaders in Medical Science, sponsored by Laurel International. Winner: Zhongyang Guan, PhD candidate in Public Health, Curtin University; runner-up: Raymond Zhuang, James Cook University; third place: Zhiwei Yang, University of Sydney. Presented by Ms Katherine Chen, Director, Laurel International.
(Raymond Zhuang, James Cook University)
(Zhiwei Yang, University of Sydney)
(Susan (Yuet Tung) Pun, PhD Candidate in Law at Monash University)
The evening closed with a vote of thanks from Mr Simon Chan AM, a lucky draw and dancing.
(Simon Chan AM, Chair of the NSW Multicultural Advisory Committee and ACAA Advisory Board Member)
The remaining four category awards will be announced and presented to China-based alumni at the Beijing gala ceremony on 21 November 2026 at the China World Hotel (中国大饭店), Beijing. A senior representative of the Australian Embassy in Beijing will join alumni at the event. Tickets for the Beijing ceremony are on sale now at www.austchinaalumni.org.
(Group photo from the event)
The Australia China Alumni Association (ACAA) was established in 2007 with the support of the Australian Ambassador to China, and every Australian Ambassador to China since has served as its Patron. A registered charity, ACAA has chapters in Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra, Brisbane, Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Hong Kong. Through the Australia China Alumni Awards, its Scholarships Program, mentoring, and career development and social integration forums, ACAA connects students, alumni, universities, government and business to strengthen people-to-people ties between Australia and China.