2017 Beryl Wilson Austrade Scholarship winner

I am pleased to announce Ms Ying Gao as the winner of the 2017 Beryl Wilson Austrade Scholarship for Women in International Business.

Ms Gao, who is fluent in Mandarin and English, will receive a $15,000 scholarship to complete her Master of International Business degree at Macquarie University.

The scholarship honours Beryl Wilson, Australia's first female Trade Commissioner, who was appointed in 1963 and serviced postings in San Francisco, the Pacific Islands, New Zealand and London.

The scholarship is offered in partnership with Macquarie University to encourage more women into international business.

Ms Gao is closely involved in Australia's global trade and investment through her work on cross-border mergers and acquisitions.

She won several scholarships as an undergraduate in her native China and, since migrating to Australia 10 years ago, has completed a Graduate Certificate in Applied Finance.

She has worked as a volunteer for the Foundation for Australian Studies in China and is passionate about increasing cross-cultural understanding.

Her Mandarin translation of Paint Me Black: Memories of Croker Island and other Journeys by Indigenous Australian author Claire Henty-Gilbert was selected as joint winner of the Australia-China Council's 2016 Book Prize for Translation.

Ms Gao is a great role model for women aspiring to a career in international business.

I congratulate her on winning the Beryl Wilson Austrade Scholarship and wish her every success in future.