The Association of Chinese Professionals in Ireland (ACPI) was founded in 2004. The ACPI is a non-profit organisation of Chinese professionals, scholars and specialists in different disciplines.

The ACPI was set up with a view to represent and assist the Chinese community in Ireland. It encourages and develops activities between the group and other professionals, promotes the professional development of its members, provides opportunities for interaction and networking among members, assists in training and educating its members and acts as a national voice to help members integrate into Irish society. The 1st Chinese Professional Achievement Awards took place in Dublin on the 26th of January 2016 and a New Year’s Gala was held on the night.

Eight professionals were shortlisted for the award and the Award winners were evaluated according to:

• Contribution towards development of Sino-Irish business as a result of professional knowledge/experience
• Financial, social and humanitarian benefits of the contribution made by the nominee
• Professional skills required and mastered by the nominee.

Three professionals were given awards on the night including Managing Director of Translation.ie Crystal Li. 15 years ago Crystal set up Translation.ie, which has now become the largest interpretation service provider in Ireland and the only company providing 24/7 interpretation service nationally in all languages to both private and public sector bodies. Translation.ie has 50 employees and cooperates with 2000 + linguists both here in Ireland and abroad.

2016 was the 1st year of the Awards and Crystal Li is the 1st woman to win this award. Other award recipients on the night included Professor Bing Wu, Head of International Partnering and Engagement, Professor of Computing at Dublin Institute of Technology and Professor Liming Wang, Director of Institutional Development and Assistant to the President at University College Dublin Confucius Institute.