Our 2024 Annual Award Night
On Friday, September 20th, the second annual UKCWC (UK Chinese Women’s Collective) Awards Ceremony concluded with great success!
Since its inception, UKCWC has been dedicated to building a platform that connects, empowers, and amplifies the voices of Chinese women in the UK. As a registered charity, UKCWC has gained recognition not only within British society but also on an international level. The annual “Most Influential Chinese Women” awards aim to celebrate the outstanding contributions of Chinese women across various sectors and provide them with a broader platform for networking and self-expression.
UKCWC Chairwoman, Yang Qun, opened the ceremony with an inspiring speech, sharing the founding vision behind UKCWC and its mission to empower Chinese women.
Following her address, committee member Huang Xinyao presented the “Bamboo Ceiling” annual report, shedding light on the challenges and achievements of Chinese women in the workplace.
Since the nomination period opened in August, UKCWC received hundreds of submissions spanning fields such as technology, public service, entrepreneurship, volunteerism, finance, business, and the arts. After a rigorous selection process by a professional judging panel, two finalists were chosen from each field, and the winners were revealed and honored at the ceremony.
The esteemed judging panel included:
- Faustina Yang (Community Expert at Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust, and the inaugural UKCWC award recipient)
- Yan Jin (Managing Director and Chief Economist for China at Standard Bank)
- Winnie Jinyue Cao (Partner and Head of China Business at Blick Rothenberg)
- Eunice Zhu Zhu (Executive Director at SMBC Nikko Securities)
- Perry Xiaopeng (Professor and MRes Course Director at London South Bank University)
- Yu Rong (Children’s Book Illustrator)
Their commitment ensured the selection process was fair and authoritative.
The ceremony also welcomed several distinguished guests and community figures, including:
- Xu Liqun (Head of the UK Bureau, People’s Daily)
- Zhu Xiaojiu (Chairwoman of the UK-China Law Association)
- Zhao Xiaona (Journalist, Xinhua News Agency)
- Zhang Ting (Founder and CEO of Crayfish.io)
- Dachuan (Representative and committee member of Sequoia Society)
The presence of these special guests added prestige to an already dazzling evening.
The following is the list of winners from the second annual UKCWC (UK Chinese Women’s Collective) 2024 Awards:
Chinese Women in Entrepreneurship Award:
This award recognizes Chinese women who have made significant contributions in the field of entrepreneurship.
Winner: Holly Wang – Founder of UK-based fashion brand Miss Patina
Highly Commended: Monica Yan – Founder & CEO, CQ LONDON
Presented by: Ting Zhang
Chinese Women in Sustainability Award:
This award honors the most outstanding Chinese women supporting ecological, human, and economic sustainability.
Winner: Xiangyu Sheng – Senior Director & Business Unit Lead: Temple Group
High Commended: Cecily Liu – Senior Associate, Sustainable Finance & Investment, London Stock Exchange Group
Presented by: Ting Zhang
Chinese Women in Technology Award:
This award celebrates the achievements of Chinese women in the technology sector.
Winner: Xinyi Guo – Advanced Analytics Manager, Lloyds Banking Group
Highly Commended: Luna Song – Technology Operational Risk Metrics & Reporting Specialist, Morgan Stanley
Presented by: Xiaojiu Zhu
Chinese Women in Finance Award:
Recognizing Chinese women for their contributions in the financial industry.
Winner: Kasy Wang – Global Tech COO, Morgan Stanley
Highly Commended: Jing Chang – Financial Risk Senior Manager, Lloyds Bank Corporate Markets
Presented by: Zhu Zhu
Chinese Women in Creative Industries Award:
Celebrating Chinese women who excel in the arts, publishing, visual, and other creative industries.
Winner: Wenyan Lu – Novelist and Literary Translator, author of The Funeral Cryer
Highly Commended: Flora Li – Founder & CEO, Blooming Dance London LTD
Presented by: Rong Yu
Chinese Women in Charity and Public Service Award:
This award recognizes the volunteers who have contributed to the development of UKCWC and supported Chinese women in the UK.
Winner: Alice Huang – Deals Business Development Manager, PwC
Highly Commended: Mengjia Jin – HR Professional with experience in HR operations and recruitment consultancy
Presented by: Julia Shen
Chinese Women in the Public Sector Award:
Recognizing excellence in academia, education, healthcare, politics, and other public sectors.
Winner: Xiaolan Fu – Professor of Technology and International Development, University of Oxford; Founder of OxValue.ai
Highly Commended: Tao Cheng – Professor of Geoinformatics, University College London
Chinese Women Role Model Award:
This award honors positive and influential Chinese women role models.
Winner: Xiaomei Ouyang – Clinical Scientist, Cambridge University Addenbrooke’s Hospital
Highly Commended: PeiYing Sun – Senior Manager at CEDP Chinese Centre; PhD Candidate in Computational Fluid Dynamics, University of Sussex
Presented by: Qun Yang
UKCWC Special Contribution Award:
Winners: Clare Wang, Julia Shen, Katherine Cui
Presented by: Qun Yang
Most Supportive Organization Award:
Recognizing organizations that have shown great support for UKCWC.
Winner: Avoice (Against Violence to Overseas Chinese Women Program), part of AWDPI (Asian Women’s Development Plan International).
Avoice provides psychological, legal, and language support services to Chinese women overseas facing domestic violence, enhancing their resilience and enabling them to live safer and more fulfilling lives. This program currently covers Europe, North America, and Australia.
Presented by: Julia Shen
These awards showcase the remarkable achievements of Chinese women across a diverse range of sectors, highlighting their contributions to the society and beyond.
At the awards ceremony, the winners shared their personal stories, embodying courage and perseverance. They have shattered the glass ceiling in their respective careers, overcoming numerous challenges and making a significant impact in their fields and communities. Their journeys have inspired every woman in attendance. These women are not only leaders and trailblazers in their industries but also role models for all women. We extend our warmest congratulations to these outstanding women!
The atmosphere throughout the event was both warm and lively. Attendees were dressed in their finest attire, enjoying delicious food, sharing heartfelt conversations, and listening to the inspiring stories of the role models. It was an evening filled with uplifting moments and lasting memories. Every face beamed with confidence and joy, reflecting the unique charm and strength of Chinese women.
This was not just a celebration of success, but a reaffirmation of UKCWC’s founding mission. We will continue to walk this journey together, anticipating even greater growth and witnessing the remarkable achievements of more Chinese women across various fields.
Finally, heartfelt thanks go to every individual and organization that has supported UKCWC, as well as the committee members and volunteers who contributed to planning this wonderful event!
