Dr Angela Chiu Kwan-hung has a long involvement in early childhood education in Hong Kong. For more than 50 years, she has been working with young children and training teachers. Her practical approach, grounded in a sound academic understanding of her subject, and well-recognised contributions, has made her the first recipient of the Institute's Outstanding Educator Award. Dr Chiu believes young children should be encouraged to listen attentively and learn from their environment, rather than be drilled early on in writing and other complex tasks. She is a strong advocate of not pushing children too early into learning second or third languages before they have mastered their first. She also believes teachers need to love children "whether in tears or laughter" if they are to be successful.

Dr Chiu is especially interested in the concept of multiple intelligences as the starting point for educators, as it fosters all areas of a child's development. "The emphasis in the training of early childhood educators should be on the ability and flexibility to nurture and put into practice education for multiple intelligence," she explains.