This past March, IPWS celebrated its 25th Anniversary as a community organization in Shanghai, providing a platform for professional women to connect and grow over the years. In conjunction with this milestone, IPWS is giving a Lifetime Achievement Award as part of the Women Leadership Awards for the very first time. As with all of the award categories, the independent WLA Jury reviewed the nominations for this award and has selected a winner.
It is with great pleasure that we announce Michelle Garnaut, Founder & CEO of the M Restaurant Group, as the winner of the 2018 WLA Lifetime Achievement Award! Michelle is widely respected not only for her successful career as a celebrated restaurateur, but for her many cultural, community and charity initiatives, including the Shanghai and Capital Literary Festivals, Village People Project, and Mentor Walks.
Michelle has demonstrated lasting and measurable impact through her many professional accomplishments, and has contributed to the advancement of women in our community and beyond. She is an influencer, a mentor and a leader, and embodies the values of IPWS. Michelle truly leads with Confidence.
IPWS is delighted to present the Lifetime Achievement Award at this year’s Leadership Summit on May 25th at the Bellagio Hotel. We hope that you will join us in celebrating Michelle’s well-deserved honor at the Summit, as we explore the topic of “Leading with Confidence.”
You can learn more about the Women Leadership Awards, including the Lifetime Achievement Award, by visiting our website at ipwsconnect.com or clicking here.
Michelle Garnaut
Founder and CEO, M Group
Michelle Garnaut began her career as one of China’s most celebrated restaurateurs in 1989, when she opened M at the Fringe in Hong Kong. It swiftly grew into a city institution, and in 1999, M on the Bund opened, the first independent restaurant on the historic Shanghai waterfront. Like its predecessor, it soon became a beloved oasis for locals, visitors and lovers of good food and warm service. In 2009 she opened Capital M on Tiananmen Square in Beijing. Today, Michelle’s M Restaurant Group includes M on the Bund and Glam, a chic Shanghai dining lounge. Over the years, in tandem with the restaurants’ exuberant growth, an empire of cultural events has grown up. Michelle founded the Shanghai and Capital Literary Festivals, the Shanghai Chamber Music Festival and Competition and the M Literary Residency. She’s also the co-founder of the Village People Project, which aims to improve the lives and health of villagers in rural China and works to promote Educating Girls of Rural China. In Beijing and Shanghai, she spearheads Mentor Walks, where up-and-coming professional women can seek advice from experienced mentors. Mentor Walks now operates in Hong Kong, Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane and continues to spread around Asia. Michelle is the recipient of many international honours, including the inaugural award in Food at the Advance Global Australian Awards. She sits on various boards including the Advance Global Board. In 2015 Michelle was invited to the ‘Legends Hall of Fame’ which pays tribute to the leaders, ground breakers and visionaries of Australia and Victoria’s food and wine industry. She was made an ‘Officer of the Order of Australia’ in the Australia Day Honours List 2018.
