Guo Junqin
Chinese businesswoman and philanthropist 

Madame Guo Junqin, Chinese businesswoman and philanthropist, recently became the first recipient of the ATHENA Award in the People's Republic of China. Junquin received the award at the China-U.S. Conference on Women's Issues held in Beijing, which was jointly sponsored by Global Interactions and the All China Women's Federation in October.

Global Interactions, a Phoenix-based nonprofit, facilitates professional liaisons and development in education, science, technology and business. Through exchanges with international counterparts, such as the All China Women's Federation, the agency promotes domestic and international partnerships that accelerate the exchange of case studies, research and technologies to help further communication and understanding worldwide.

The All China Women's Federation (ACWF) is the largest women's organization in China, designated by the central government for the welfare of women and children throughout the nation. Global Interactions and the ACWF invited the ATHENA Foundation to participate in the bi-lateral women's issues conference because of the Foundation's international reputation of being a catalyst for positive change in the economic advancement of women.

ATHENA Foundation Founder, Martha Mayhood Mertz and ATHENA Global Links Project Director, Dr. Elise Collins-Shields, attended the conference to personally present the award. Patricia Schroeder, President & CEO of the Association of American Publishers and 2000 International ATHENA Award recipient, delivered the welcoming address.

"This event was a very significant milestone not only because it was the first time that the award was given in China, but it also gave us an opportunity to generate awareness for ATHENA as an advocate for leadership and professional development in Asia," said Mertz. "The U.S.-China conference was the perfect venue to introduce the ATHENA Award, as well as to honor the goals and accomplishments of Chinese professional women."

According to Global Interactions President Jerrie Ueberle, the organization has cultivated relationships has with Chinese professional women in the public and private sectors for nearly 20 years. "We have always been inspired by the leadership of women in China because they have been instrumental in the nation's reform and continue to be a viable force today," said Ueberle. "With so many dynamic women throughout the country, we asked ACWF to help us identify a candidate for the award that best represented the ATHENA's philosophy. As a result, Madame Junquin was selected as our honoree for her vast professional and civic contributions," she said.

Junquin is an entrepreneur and Chairman of the Board and Chief Manager of Shangdi Digital Tech Building Company. She is also involved in various community activities including establishing work programs for the unemployed; developing public welfare and environmental reform; increasing drug abuse awareness and prevention; and promoting the national arts and culture.

"ATHENA's participation at the conference was a coup for us because it helped elevate the stature of the event by incorporating the ATHENA Award to highlight the contributions of women from other cultures," said Ueberle. The advantages for conference participation also proved to be mutually beneficial for the ATHENA Foundation. "Our involvement gave ATHENA an opportunity to expand its global network and open possibilities for sharing and learning with our counterparts worldwide," said Mertz. "This is directly linked to fulfilling our mission to become an active participant in the global community by saluting the professional excellence of women around the world."

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