Anne Pang

Anne Pi-Yau Pang (黄碧瑶 Huang Bi-yao; born 23 October 1958) is a scholar and the author of the first published English books on the life of her great-grandfather, the historical figure Chinese reformer Wong Nai Siong. As a martial artist Pang has developed a system of women's self defence. Pang ran an art gallery specializing in Australian art. Her son is actor Chris Pang and her husband is the kung fu practitioner and business entrepreneur Barry Pang. Anne is a recipient of the medal of the order of Australia in 2026 for her services to the Australian Chinese community and to women's self defence.

Early life Pang was born in Taipei, Taiwan, and migrated to Australia in July 1970 at the end of the White Australia policy. She attended Gardener's Road Primary in Sydney and then Randwick Girl's High in Randwick in 1970 and 1971. After moving to Melbourne in 1971, the family lived in Pascoe Vale and she attended Strathmore High School till 1976. After completing her Bachelor of Arts (Hon) at Melbourne University in 1980, she continued with her PhD studies at Monash University in 1997. Pang's book is the first full-length scholarly study in English of the Christian journalist and revolutionary Huang Naishang. A third edition of the book was launched at the 122nd anniversary celebration of the New Fuzhou settlement in March 2023 where it was noted copies were held at 20 major libraries around the world.

In 2012 Pang and her son Chris worked on a screenplay about Wong Nai Siong's life and attempted to get funding for a feature film.

Pang studied the history of fine art at Melbourne University as part of her Bachelor of Arts (Hon) degree and became an art consultant. She set up her own business, Artpreciation in 1999 dealing in Australian fine art. It dealt primarily with Australian paintings and focused on growing a burgeoning Australian art market. Upon retirement from the art market, The Barry & Anne Pang Collection was auctioned off in 2015.

She has spoken publicly as a leading member of the Chinese Australian community on how the Australian Federal Government's rhetoric on China in 2021/2022 has led to increased hostility towards Asian Australians under the Liberal Australian Government. Pang assisted with developing surveys into Chinese Australian experience of racism and conducted Women's Self defence courses for the community. She observed that "Racism has worsened in the last three years. And it's a bit of surprise to people that it's not just due to COVID-19 but before COVID-19 as well." She has been campaigning to make the Australian political parties aware of how their political weaponisation of China is playing out at the community level in Australia.

Martial arts

Pang met her instructor and later husband, Barry, in July 1974. She began training in the art of Wing Chun and some Choy Lee Fut at the age of 15 after being fascinated by Wuxia comics and Kung fu films as a child. Anne Pang began competing in the open martial arts tournaments that were appearing in Australia in the late 1970's and 1980's, frequently winning both form and sparring competitions. In 2021 Pang begun an instructors course in women's self defence. In 2021 the women's self defence 'train the trainer course' was established in Victoria University, Melbourne. In 2023, the City of Melbourne funded a series of women's awareness and self defence videos in partnership with LEADAA where Anne was the martial arts advisor for the project.

In the early 1990s, Pang met Wu Hua Tai, a Southern Dragon Kung Fu (Lung Ying) practitioner who was a senior student of Grandmaster Lam Yiu Gwai. Anne and Barry Pang began practicing Lung Ying, Liuhebafa and Tai Chi in addition to Wing Chun. They trained under Wu Hua Tai until his death in 2002.

Awards

1998, Blitz Hall of Fame Award, Tribute Award for Female Self Defence Instructions.

2022, Australasian Martial Arts Magazine Masters Martial Artists of the Year - Kung Fu.

2026, Recipient of the 'Female Empowerment award' from HerWell, a community organisation dedicated to empowering Chinese women in Australia.

2026, In June as part of the Kings Birthday Honours, Anne was awarded Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for her services to the Chinese Australian community and for her work with teaching women's self defence.

Horse racing career

Pang is involved in Australian horse racing along with her husband Barry. Together they are owners of horses that have won group 1 races. Marwong won the Caulfield Guineas in 1987. Pang was a part-owner of the Melbourne Cup 2013 winner horse Fiorente under friend and trainer Gai Waterhouse. In 2019 Cape Of Good Hope won the Caulfield Stakes with trainer David Hayes.