For the first time in China, the public relations industry announced the winners of the "Top Ten VIP's in the China Public Relations Industry" Award in a landmark ceremony held on 7th June at Beijing University.  Ms. Frances Sun, Senior Vice President of Hill & Knowlton (China), global client service director for Hill & Knowlton's Beijing 2008 Olympic Games International Communications Project, was one of the awardees

This landmark event and award was conducted by the China Public Relations Association, and co-hosted by "PR World" Magazine and the International Brand Federation as well as several other institutions.    A rigorous selection procedure was unveiled in October 2008 with nominees proposed by public relations associations, academics and authorized institutions.  The final list of award winners included representatives from across the public relations spectrum including PR agencies, Government organizations, and the creative industry as well as corporations and with geographic representation from Mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau.

The award was established to demonstrate the increasingly prominent and leading role that public relations plays in either promoting a world class event such as The Beijing Olympic Games or the handling of a crisis.  The award was also established to enhance the status of public relations and its influence by promoting the leading experts in the field. 

Commenting on her award, Frances Sun, Senior Vice President at Hill & Knowlton China said, "It is a great honor to win this accolade.  More importantly the award signifies the increasing importance that public relations plays in designing communications strategies that help shape and inform opinion and the way it helps business and governments achieve real and tangible outcomes"   She continued, "the industry is still in its infancy here in China and as public relations matures so its sphere of influence will grow."  

Hill & Knowlton China, Senior Vice President Frances Sun has had a long and distinguished career stretching over twenty years.    In addition to being a Public Relations Industry Veteran she is a published author on Crisis Management: World Famous Examples of Crisis Situations. She holds an MPA from the Harvard Kennedy School.
 
The final award winners in the "Top 10 V.I.P. in China Public Relation" are:

Ms. Wang Hui - Director of the Media and Communications Department of the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad

Ms. Frances Sun - Senior Vice President of Hill & Knowlton(China), client service director for Hill & Knowlton's Beijing 2008 Olympic Games International Communications Project

Ms. YAN Xu – Marketing President of Tsingtao Brewery, was also awarded due to her significant leadership and vision during the Olympic marketing competition.

Mr. Yu Mingyang – Scholar in PR field, author of 2008 China Brand Report

Mr. Chen Anjie – General Secretary of Yangpu District, Shanghai

Mr. Lee Man Tat – Chairman of Lee Kum Kee Group

Mr. Ping Anjun – Founder, Chairman and CEO of DADE Group

Mr. Qi Xinchao – PR Campaigner

Mr. Poon Yee-wo – PR Campaigner from Hong Kong

Mr. Huen Wai-kei – PR Campaigner from Macao