Mu-Lan Awards Celebrate Chinese Women’s achievements in the UK.
Hongbing Iris Cai, Director of Positive Speaking received Mu-Lan Achievements Award in 2009 in honour of her dedication and contribution in facilitating culture bridge building between the UK and China.
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The Mu-Lan Awards reception was held in the River Room, House of Lords on Tuesday, 20 October 2009. It was hosted by Baroness Margaret Jay and attended by the Lord Speaker, RT Hon Baroness Hayman, Sarah Brown, RT Hon Harriet Harman, Cherie Booth QC and a host of other guests.
The number of nominations received for the Awards surpassed the organisers’ expectations. They were closely contested, reflecting the depth, range and consistently high quality of achievements in this country. These awards celebrate the very best of the best in the category, and show that we have so much to be proud of.
Award Winner Hongbing Iris Cai with Sara Brown
Mu-Lan Awards Winners with Judges (Cherie Booth QC sixth from right)
(Hongbing Iris Cai the seventh from the right)
Nine women received the Mu-Lan Awards of five categories: Community Woman of the Year; Woman Volunteer of the Year; Female Benefactor of the Year; Contribution to Public Life and Female Young Achiever.
Hongbing Iris Cai received Women Volunteer of the Year of Mu-Lan Awards.
Hongbing Iris was a Finance Manager with Saatchi & Saatchi in China and came to London in 2003. She started voluntary work with a local organisation called Time and Talent, looking after and supporting an old lady. She is also a volunteer at Imperial College, winning the voluntary ward from the Imperial College Volunteer Centre in 2004. She has also been recognised by Time and Talent Association for 4 consecutive years. She continues to do voluntary work with her local church in Rotherhithe, South East London.
Her other voluntary work include teaching Mandarin Chinese to MBA students in the China Interest Club of London Business School. Her teaching approach ‘Study Mandarin Chinese through Culture’ is informative, interesting and inspiring and has received very good feedback from students.
She is also a prolific journalist, writing articles which promote Chinese ancient wisdom and values. Her effort and voluntary work span across the Chinese and British communities which is truly bridge building.
Iris attend the Queen’s Garden Party in Buckingham Palace
Iris Cai the Director of Positive Speaking attended Queen’s Garden Party in Buckingham Palace on 22 May to encourage her effort of enterprise promotion and culture bridge building between the UK and China.
News ItemQueen Elizabeth II meets guests at the first Buckingham Palace garden party of the summer on May 22, 2012 in London, England. Around 8,000 guests attended the garden party hosted by the Queen, as temperatures in the capital soared. At least three garden parties are hosted by the Queen every summer at Buckingham Palace as a way of rewarding and recognising public services.
Garden party invitations are sent out by the Lord Chamberlain' s Office in the Lord Chamberlain's name on behalf of The Queen. About 8000 People from all walks of life are invited on the recommendation of a large number of national organisations who submit lists on a pre-arranged quota. For example, the government, Lord-Lieutenants and organisations such as the Civil Service, Armed Services, Diplomatic Corps, charities and societies, all have quotas for nominations. This ensures that a representative cross-section of the community is invited and that guests are generally people who have contributed a large amount to their various organisations or society.
Iris Cai said it is her honour to have the chance to attend the Queen’s Garden Party. The UK government recognises Chinese people’s achievement in the UK. Iris would like to thank everyone’s great support and help. She said she is only the representative of Chinese people working in the UK, the honour is belongs to everyone who contribute their time, talent and positive energy to the culture bridge building between the UK and China.
Iris Cai at the Garden Party
Queen arrives the Garden Party