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Alfred Huang

From EverybodyWiki Bios & Wiki


In this article, the family name is Huang.
Alfred Huang

AM
黃國鑫
Lord Mayor of Adelaide
In office
20 May 2000 – 12 May 2003
Deputy
Preceded byJane Lomax-Smith
Succeeded byMichael Harbison
Deputy Lord Mayor of Adelaide
In office
1995–1997
Lord MayorHenry Ninio
Preceded byJim Crawford
Succeeded byRobert Angove
Member of the Adelaide City Council
In office
1992–1995
Personal details
Born
Huang Shin

1938 (age 87–88)
Chengdu, Sichuan, China
Political partyIndependent
Spouse(s)
Lee Yin-chiao (m. 1973)
Children1
Education
ProfessionCivil engineer
SignatureFile:Signature of Alfred Huang.svg
Chinese name
Traditional Chinese黃國鑫
Simplified Chinese黄国鑫

Alfred Huang Shin (Chinese: 黃國鑫; pinyin: Huáng Guóxīn; born 1938) is an Australian civil engineer and former local government politician who served as Lord Mayor of Adelaide from 2000 to 2003. He was the first China-born person to serve as lord mayor of an Australian capital city.

Huang was born in Chengdu, Sichuan, but he migrated to Shanghai. He then moved to Hong Kong with his family during the Second World War. In 1962, he began studying civil engineering in Hong Kong Baptist College. Then, he went to Australia in 1965 to further his education in the field of civil engineering in Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology. Later on, he acquired postgraduate degrees in engineering and business management. He worked for the government of Australia in Sydney and Melbourne as an engineer before coming to Adelaide in 1980 and worked there as an engineer before joining the local government. He became a member of the Adelaide City Council as an independent in 1992, and served as deputy lord mayor from 1995 to 1997.

Following the May 2000 local elections, Huang was elected Lord Mayor of Adelaide. During his term, he developed the city's international educational, commercial and trade connections, especially with China and other parts of Asia. Some of the friendly city ties developed by Huang during his tenure as Lord Mayor included those of Qingdao, Chengdu and Dalian. Following his departure from local politics in 2003, he began working in international education and Australia–China relations. Huang also served as an adjunct professor at the University of South Australia and president of the China Business Network of South Australia.

Early life and education

Alfred Huang Shin[1] was born in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, in 1938 and was the only child of his parents. During the Second World War moved to Shanghai when Huang was seven.[2] At the age of 15, Huang moved with his family to Hong Kong,[3] where he lived in Tsim Sha Tsui.[2] He studied mathematics and science at school and developed an interest in engineering.[4] In 1962, he began studying civil engineering at Hong Kong Baptist College,[5] but left Hong Kong in 1965 to continue his studies in Australia.[6] He studied civil engineering at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology[3] and subsequently obtained master's degrees in engineering and business management from the University of New South Wales and Monash University,[5] as well as a Master of Business Administration from Monash University.[4] His father had expected him to return to Hong Kong after completing his studies, but Huang remained in Australia and became an Australian citizen in 1970.[2]

Career

Early career (1980–1999)

Following completion of his education, Huang has worked as an engineer for the government of Australia in Sydney and Melbourne prior to settling in Adelaide from 1980 until 1981.[7][3] He worked as a civil engineer for at least 25 years.[4] Huang held senior managerial positions in engineering and infrastructure industries.[3] In the 1970s and 1980s, he was involved in infrastructure works in Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide.[8] Huang later became the state manager of a government construction company.[9]

Huang was elected to the Adelaide City Council as an independent candidate in 1992.[3] Later, he was elected as Deputy Lord Mayor of Adelaide from 1995 to 1997.[10] He first unsuccessfully contested the Adelaide lord mayoral election in 1997.[3] His campaign faced some opposition from people, especially those who demonstrated outside his office with a racially discriminatory slogan based as well as another candidate of Chinese origin in Australia. Huang managed to gain support, however the votes were insufficient to win.[6] On 25 March 1999, he was appointed to the board of the Adelaide Festival Corporation, with effect on 1 April.[11]

Lord Mayor of Adelaide (2000–2003)

In the May 2000 Adelaide lord mayoral election, Huang was re-contested and won with 58% of the votes cast.[6] The results were officially announced on 20 May.[12] As a result, he became the first Chinese born person to be appointed as the lord mayor of an Australian capital city,[13][14] in addition to be among the few immigrants who served as Lord Mayors of Adelaide together with Steve Condous and Jane Lomax-Smith.[15] As the lord mayor, Huang campaigned for the economic growth and increase in the population of Adelaide, business environment, and improving the city's international connections especially the Asia-Pacific region.[13]

In August 2000, shortly after becoming Lord Mayor, Huang organised a civic reception for Hong Kong Financial Secretary Donald Tsang during Tsang's first visit to Adelaide, which formed part of the first official trade mission from Hong Kong to South Australia.[16] In July, Huang had visited his former college, Hong Kong Baptist College, and at the time had spent more than three decades in Australia and worked in both the private and public sectors.[5]

Huang restored the Lord Mayor's Charitable Committee, with an appointed chair.[17] In September 2000, his administration faced criticism over a proposal to establish alcohol-free zones in Adelaide and North Adelaide. At a city council meeting on 18 September, the Whitmore Square Residents Association and other groups protested the proposal, arguing that it could adversely affect Aboriginal people using public spaces. Huang left the meeting during the demonstration and said that the protesters did not understand the council's objectives.[18]

Huang led a delegation to Chengdu in order to improve economic ties in June 2001. Afterward, he made many return visits to Chengdu and other parts of China.[3] Under his mayorship, Adelaide established partnerships with Qingdao, Chengdu and Dalian in 2001.[19][20] The city also increased its capital works budget and commissioned urban designer Jan Gehl to undertake a study of Adelaide's public spaces.[21][22] In October 2001, Premier John Olsen wrote to Huang in response to the Adelaide City Council's New Directions agenda, expressing his government's support for the council's objectives and identifying areas for cooperation through the Capital City Committee. Existing joint initiatives included the North Terrace redevelopment and Marketing Adelaide, while discussions were also under way concerning the Victoria Square project.[23]

File:Don Bradman statue at the Adelaide Oval (028A8496).jpg
Don Bradman statue at the Adelaide Oval in July 2026

During a 2002 visit to China, Huang promoted Adelaide as a destination for international education. Following the visit, the University of South Australia (UniSA) was requested to submit a proposal to the Beijing Municipal People's Government for an executive management development program for middle and senior managers.[24] In the same year, a memorandum of understanding on education and training was made between the Government of Qingdao Municipal and the City of Adelaide. A 19-member delegation from Adelaide headed by Huang arrived in Qingdao and took part in China International Education Exhibition, which was held in Shandong.[25] Huang also took part in other civic and cultural activities such as unveiling of bronze statue of cricketer Don Bradman at Adelaide Oval in 2002[26] and public art work The Forest of Dreams at Hurtle Square in 2003.[27]

Huang did not seek re-election when his mayoral term ended in 2003.[3] On 12 May, he was succeeded as Lord Mayor by Michael Harbison.[28][29] As of 2014, The Advertiser reported that Huang was the last Lord Mayor to have lost office after serving a single term.[30]

Later career (2003–present)

After leaving local government, Huang became involved in international education and Australia–China cultural and educational exchanges.[31] He became an adjunct professor at UniSA's graduate school of business and later worked as a consultant to the university and the South Australian government on trade links with China. Huang was one of the founders and president of the China Business Network of South Australia (CBNSA).[8]

In April 2008, Huang became a prospective candidate for Lord Mayor, competing for the position with city councillor Greg Mackie and former Liberal state election candidate Harbison. Huang and Mackie had a preference agreement in the vote-by-mail election.[32] In 2009, the Rann government appointed Huang as Special Envoy to China to advise on commercial relations, investment and cooperation between South Australia and China. In this role, he conducted lectures and seminars for government officials and business representatives and advised on China-related business and cultural matters.[33] In 2012, he was paid A$50,000 for the role during the 2011–12 financial year, and his appointment was extended until the end of 2012 while the government reviewed the position.[34]

Huang remained Special Envoy to China until 2015.[33] The Rann government subsequently retained him as a special adviser on China,[35] and in October 2015 the South Australian Parliament was informed that he had been engaged at a rate of $1,000 per day for a maximum of 40 days over 12 months,[36] with business class travel, accommodation and entertainment expenses covered. The opposition criticised the government's trade-envoy arrangements over their transparency and performance measures.[37] In February 2015, while president of CBNSA, Huang supported changing South Australia's time zone to either Eastern Standard Time or one hour behind the eastern states, arguing that a smaller time difference with Australia's eastern states and Asian markets would simplify international business dealings.[38]

Honours and awards

On 1 January 2001, Huang was awarded the Centenary Medal for his contribution to the community, particularly as a lord mayor.[39] In 2003, he was awarded an honorary doctorate from UniSA.[40] In the 2004 Queen's Birthday Honours, he was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for services to local government and to business and commerce through the promotion of educational and trade links between Adelaide and South-East Asia, and to the wider community through civic, multicultural and welfare activities.[1] He and Condous were appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in the 2004 Queen's Birthday Honours include Huang and Condous.[41]

Personal life

The paternal grandfather of Huang is Hakka people from Jiaoling County, Guangdong Province, but had moved to Pontianak, Indonesia, where Huang's father was born. After that, Huang's father came back to Guangdong Province, and studied in Fudan University, where he met Huang's mother, who was studying accounting in Guanghua University. Later on, the couple moved to Sichuan. In 1973, Huang married Lee Yin-chiao, a pharmacist from Indonesia. Together they have a daughter.[2]

Huang identifies himself as Chinese Australian and is able to speak four languages such as English, Mandarin, Cantonese, and Shanghainese. His preferred cities are Adelaide and Shanghai. The hobbies of Huang include reading and interacting with friends and relatives.[4]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "The full honours list". The Sydney Morning Herald. 2004-06-14. Archived from the original on 2024-11-25. Retrieved 2026-09-07.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 "前澳大利亚阿得雷德市市长黄国鑫先生简介" [Profile of Mr. Michael Harbison, Former Lord Mayor of Adelaide, Australia]. Liuxue.net (in 中文). 2009-08-13. Archived from the original on 2014-10-13. Retrieved 2026-09-08. Unknown parameter |url-status= ignored (help)
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 李伟 (2008-10-23). "保留传统习惯　澳洲华人市长黄国鑫：我是成都人" [Retaining traditional habits Huang Guoxin, the Chinese mayor of Australia: I'm from Chengdu] (in 中文). Sichuan Daily. Archived from the original on 2026-09-07. Retrieved 2026-09-07 – via China Overseas Chinese Network.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 "In conversation: Interviews with notable Chinese Australians" (PDF). Makers Empire. 2018. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2025-05-14. Retrieved 2026-09-07.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 "Australia's Lord Mayor revisits alma mater". New Horizons (1). 2000. p. 19. Archived from the original on 2026-09-07. Retrieved 2026-09-07.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 "黄皮肤不是从政障碍澳洲华人市长细述当官体验" [Having yellow skin is no barrier to a political career: Australian-Chinese mayor shares experiences of holding office.]. Sina Corporation (in 中文). 2002-04-04. Archived from the original on 2026-09-07. Retrieved 2026-09-07.
  7. ↑ "Photo essay: family and fortune" (PDF). The Commonwealth Magazine. 2024. p. 10. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2026-03-29. Retrieved 2026-09-08.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 "Alfred Huang, nation's first Chinese-born lord mayor, deepens trade links of Adelaide, South Australia to China". Adelaide AZ. Archived from the original on 2026-09-07. Retrieved 2026-09-07.
  9. ↑ Phillips, Fred Y. (2008). "The Godfathers: Characteristics and Roles of Central Individuals in the Transformation of Techno-Regions". Journal of Centrum Cathedra. 1 (2): 85. doi:10.7835/jcc-berj-2008-0014. Archived from the original on 2026-09-08. Retrieved 2026-09-08.
  10. ↑ "留学信息：南澳大学4月20日现场面试" [Study Abroad Information: University of South Australia In-Person Interview on April 20]. Sina Corporation (in 中文). 2009-04-14. Archived from the original on 2026-09-08. Retrieved 2026-09-08.
  11. ↑ Template:Gazette SA
  12. ↑ "Local Government Elections" (PDF). Electoral Commission of South Australia. May 2000. p. 25. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2026-09-04. Retrieved 2026-09-08.
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 Coleman, Matt (2000-05-12). "International interest in Adelaide mayoral campaign". ABC listen. Archived from the original on 2026-09-07. Retrieved 2026-09-07.
  14. ↑ Migration Museum. "Chinese in South Australia". SA History Hub. Archived from the original on 2026-05-14. Retrieved 2026-09-07.
  15. ↑ Harcourt, Tim (2014-03-13). "Tim Harcourt: From the Paradise of Dissent to the Paradise of Diversity — the economic future of South Australia". The Advertiser. Retrieved 2026-09-08.
  16. ↑ "Financial Secretary sees great future for Australian wine in Asia". Government of Hong Kong. 2000-08-03. Archived from the original on 2004-11-23. Retrieved 2026-09-07.
  17. ↑ Dunsford, Karin. "Lord Mayor's Charitable Committee". SA History Hub. Archived from the original on 2026-06-30. Retrieved 2026-09-07.
  18. ↑ Newnam, Kathy (2000-09-27). "Racist attack on use of public space". Green Left. Archived from the original on 2026-01-24. Retrieved 2026-09-07.
  19. ↑ Williams, Tim (2013-10-10). "Cheers to Chinese beer city bid". News.com.au. Archived from the original on 2018-09-07. Retrieved 2026-09-08.
  20. ↑ Williams, Tim (2013-10-09). "Adelaide City Council wants a sister city relationship with Qingdao, home of Tsingtao beer". The Messenger. Retrieved 2026-09-08 – via The Advertiser.
  21. ↑ "Headlines: Architecture Australia, September 2001". ArchitectureAU. 2001-09-01. Archived from the original on 2024-05-29. Retrieved 2026-09-07.
  22. ↑ Bridgland, John. "The square mile tug of war". The Adelaide Review. Archived from the original on 2026-05-10. Retrieved 2026-09-08.
  23. ↑ "State response to Adelaide City Council's new directions". Department of the Premier and Cabinet. 2001. Archived from the original on 2026-09-07. Retrieved 2026-09-07.
  24. ↑ "Beijing's best may make UniSA their classroom" (PDF). UniSA News. April 2003. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2025-12-06. Retrieved 2026-09-07. Unknown parameter |url-status= ignored (help)
  25. ↑ "Qingdao, China". City of Adelaide. Archived from the original on 2026-08-06. Retrieved 2026-09-08.
  26. ↑ "Robert Hannaford's 2001 sculpture of Don Bradman at Adelaide Oval captures drive for a 99.94 Test average". Adelaide AZ. Archived from the original on 2025-01-26. Retrieved 2026-09-07.
  27. ↑ "Anton Hart's artwords for 2003 'The Forest of Dreams' anchor corner within Hurtle Square/ Tangkaira, Adelaide city". Adelaide AZ. Archived from the original on 2026-09-07. Retrieved 2026-09-07.
  28. ↑ "Report for the South Australian local government elections" (PDF). Electoral Commission of South Australia. May 2003. p. 5. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2026-09-04. Retrieved 2026-09-08.
  29. ↑ "Shock results in local govt elections in SA". ABC News. 2003-05-13. Archived from the original on 2025-01-20. Retrieved 2026-09-08.
  30. ↑ Hough, Andrew (2014-11-10). "Former Lord Mayor Stephen Yarwood defends campaign after loss to businessman Martin Haese". The Advertiser. Archived from the original on 2017-06-06. Retrieved 2026-09-08.
  31. ↑ "前澳大利亚阿德雷德市市长自曝留学经历_新浪教育_新浪网" [Former Mayor of Adelaide, Australia, Opens Up About Studying Abroad]. Sina Corporation (in 中文). 2009-04-20. Archived from the original on 2026-09-08. Retrieved 2026-09-08.
  32. ↑ "Mackie runs for Adelaide". Star Observer. 2008-04-20. Archived from the original on 2022-11-15. Retrieved 2026-09-08.
  33. ↑ 33.0 33.1 Groot, Gerry (February 2022). "South Australia". In Fitzgerald, John. Taking the Low Road: China's Influence in Australian States and Territories (PDF). Australian Strategic Policy Institute. p. 118. ISBN 978-1-925229-72-1. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2026-07-01. Retrieved 2026-09-07. Search this book on
  34. ↑ England, Cameron (2012-12-05). "Call for review as part-time envoy's wage skyrockets". The Advertiser. Retrieved 2026-09-08.
  35. ↑ "House of Assembly". Parliament of South Australia. 2015-10-29. p. 3399. Retrieved 2026-09-07.
  36. ↑ House of Assembly. Parliament of South Australia. 2015-10-29. p. 3399. Search this book on
  37. ↑ Owen, Michael (2015-09-11). "SA's part-time $120,000-a-year trade 'adviser' queried". The Australian. Retrieved 2026-09-08.
  38. ↑ "Business community debates best options for SA time zone shift". ABC News. 2015-02-06. Archived from the original on 2015-10-22. Retrieved 2026-09-07.
  39. ↑ "The Rt Hon Alfred Huang". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. Archived from the original on 2026-09-07. Retrieved 2026-09-07.
  40. ↑ "Past honorary award recipients". University of South Australia. Archived from the original on 2025-09-22. Retrieved 2026-07-20. Unknown parameter |url-status= ignored (help)
  41. ↑ "Stretton receives top Queen's Birthday honour". ABC News. 2004-06-14. Archived from the original on 2016-10-27. Retrieved 2026-09-07.

External links

Civic offices
Preceded by
Jane Lomax-Smith 		Lord Mayor of Adelaide
2000 – 2003 		Succeeded by
Michael Harbison
Preceded by
Jim Crawford 		Deputy Lord Mayor of Adelaide
1995 – 1997 		Succeeded by
Robert Angove


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