Anna Lo MLA said: “In this election, the public will have the chance to lead change and send a pro-European, pro-environment and pro-shared future message to Europe by voting for Alliance. Northern Ireland needs to present an open, modern, progressive and outward-looking face to Europe and the rest of the world.
“Northern Ireland already benefits enormously from the European Union, but with three Eurosceptic MEPs, we aren’t living up to our full potential. I want to use the European Union to help grow our economy and achieve a shared future.
“Alliance has shown that we can lead change and make a difference, whether it is Naomi Long in Parliament or David Ford and Stephen Farry in the Executive. On May 22nd, I would encourage everybody to vote for a better future by voting Alliance.”
Endorsing Anna Lo, Alliance Leader David Ford said: “Anna has a proven track record of representing everyone at the Assembly and in her constituency. As Chair of the Environment Committee she has worked tirelessly to protect our environment and promote sustainable development.
“She is one the most progressive voices in the Assembly. Northern Ireland will be a better place by having Anna Lo represent us in Europe.”
ENDS
About Anna
Anna was born in Hong Kong and worked in London for a year prior to coming to live in Northern Ireland in 1974. For several years, she made regular contributions to the BBC Chinese Service about the Chinese community and Northern Ireland affairs. In 1978, she started the first ever English evening class for Chinese people in Northern Ireland in a further education college.
Following a career break to have her two sons, she joined the Chinese Welfare Association in 1987 as a community interpreter. Four years later she returned to full-time education and qualified as a social worker from the University of Ulster in 1993 and worked in the health and social services trust and Barnardo’s.
She took up the post of director of the Chinese Welfare Association in 1997.
Anna was the first vice chair of the Northern Ireland Council for Ethnic Minorities and a founding commissioner for the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland. She was also the first chair of the South Belfast Partnership Board.
Anna was awarded an MBE in 1999 for Services to Ethnic Minorities. In March 2007, she was elected to serve as the MLA for South Belfast for the Alliance Party, and became the first ethnic Chinese born person to be elected to a legislature in Europe. She was re-elected in May 2011 where she topped the poll in South Belfast.
Anna is Chairperson of the Assembly Environment Committee.