We are proud to congratulate Olivia Wang on being named 1st Runner-Up at the 2025 Asian Australian Leadership Awards (AALA) in the Arts & Culture category.
A Chinese-born, Australia-trained actor and performing artist, Wang has rapidly emerged as one of the most exciting new voices in the nation’s cultural landscape. Her work bridges two worlds — Chinese emotional aesthetics and Australian physical expressiveness — creating a unique performance language that has captivated audiences across screen, theatre, and festival stages.
Wang’s breakout film Wake Her Up (将她唤醒) has been selected by more than 30 international film festivals, earning her multiple Best Actress awards across Europe, Asia, North America, and Oceania. She has also been recognised as a finalist at the New York International Film Awards and Top Shorts Film Festival — exceptional achievements for an early-career artist.
Olivia Wang’s multidisciplinary skill set — spanning acting, singing, dance, movement coaching, MC work, theatre creation, event direction, and multilingual cultural interpretation — positions her not only as an artist, but as one of the key intercultural innovators shaping the future of Australia’s performing arts landscape.
Beyond the screen, Wang is a pioneering force in intercultural performance. As the founder of Cross Encounters, Australia’s first fully accredited Chinese-Australian performing arts organisation, she has led groundbreaking work showcased at La Mama, major festivals, and in national media features including SBS. Starts as a theatre arts and cultural exchange ambassador, her rising visibility across Sweden, India, Europe, North America, and Australia has solidified her as a global ambassador for Sino-Australian art — a performer who carries heritage and innovation in equal measure.
With her growing list of international accolades, her rising profile in cinematic storytelling, and her cultural leadership connecting Australia and Asia, Olivia Wang stands at the forefront of a new generation of Asian-Australian creative voices.
Congratulations, Olivia, on this well-deserved honour.