The East-West Center and EWC Alumni Association will recognize six outstanding alumni and two alumni chapters for their exceptional accomplishments and service at the EWC/EWCA International Conference in Beijing, Sept. 1-3 at Peking University.

Recipients of the 2012 Distinguished Alumni Award are:
Senen Bacani, former Philippines Secretary of Agriculture under President Corazon Aquino and current Chairman and President of La Frutera, Inc., the Philippines’ largest banana exporter.  Bacani established his successful company in the autonomous region of Mindanao helping to bring jobs to the war-torn region. He envisioned La Frutera as a model of how Muslims and Christians can work together.

Amanda Ellis, New Zealand’s Deputy Secretary of Foreign Affairs and Trade in charge of international development. Ellis formerly served as Lead Specialist for Gender and Development for the World Bank, where she played a vital role in economically empowering women in an impressive number of the world’s developing countries.
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