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Honorary Doctor of the University, 2007
Bio | Citation

Supanee Gazeley is a leading international business figure. After an education in Thailand, where she became fluent in Thai and several dialects of Chinese, she enrolled in the Bell School of Languages in Cambridge. Once Supanee had learned the basics of English, she studied at the Cambridge College of Art & Technology (CCAT), one of the forerunner colleges of what is now Anglia Ruskin University. Here she studied Company Law, Accounting and Finance, graduating in 1962 with a Certificate in Private Secretaryship.

Returning to Asia, Supanee helped found the Thong Sia Group of Companies which became sole distributor of Seiko clocks and watches for Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore and Macau. After runaway sales success in the Asia market, Supanee then established and directed the International Optical Company (IOC), which brought advanced optical manufacturing techniques to Hong Kong from Europe, and later founded the Houston Crest Group of Companies. Houston Optical, which married the existing manufacturing business with optical retail, was expanded under the brand 'Optical 88' to become a chain of stores with more than 100 outlets throughout Asia. Moves into the computing and property sectors helped build the business to the point where Supanee was heading up two major groups of companies each supporting thousands of employees.

Supanee has since stepped down from all her major roles within both the public and family holding companies, but nevertheless she still keeps an eagle eye on her children who are following in her footsteps as international business entrepreneurs in both UK and Hong Kong. Her main interest now is her internationally acclaimed abstract encaustic artworks. She has held numerous exhibitions in UK, Thailand, and Hong Kong, her most recent one being her very successful exhibition at the Lucy Cavendish College, Cambridge.

In 2007 Supanee Gazeley received the Honorary degree of Doctor of the University.

Areas Of Interest: Business, Arts, Alumni
Faculty: Lord Ashcroft International Business School
Citation:

"The Senate of Anglia Ruskin University takes great pleasure in recommending the award of Honorary Doctorate of the University to an alumni of Anglia Ruskin University who has enjoyed a forty year career as a leading international business figure.

The story of Supanee Gazeley is as inspirational as it is awe-inspiring. Starting from humble beginnings, it is a story of triumph and hard work, and of love and family happiness; which clearly demonstrates to us all that the correct ratio of work-life balance will almost always improve overall business performance!

Supanee Kanjanapas was born on 14 January 1939 in Bangkok, Thailand. As the eldest of 11 children, it fell to her to help her mother with her siblings, a challenging but character-building start in life that would give her the drive and determination to realise her own personal dreams.

After receiving an early education in Thailand, where she became fluent in Thai and several dialects of Chinese, she recognised that English would be essential to her future endeavours and so she enrolled in the Bell School of Languages in Cambridge.

Once she had learned the basics, she began studies at the Cambridge College of Art & Technology (CCAT), one of the forerunner colleges of what is now Anglia Ruskin University. It was here that she studied
full-time covering several subjects including Company Law, Accounting and Finance, graduating in 1962 with a Certificate in Private Secretaryship.

At this point, she returned to Asia to help her father set up a new business venture in Hong Kong. While a student in Cambridge, queuing up to sign up for her course, she met her English husband Albert Gazeley whom she later married in 1965 when he moved to Hong Kong to join her. They have two children, three grandchildren and now split their 'retirement' time, travelling between their two homes - in Cambridge and Hong Kong.

While working and bringing up her children, Supanee helped to found the Thong Sia Group of Companies which became sole distributor of Seiko clocks and watches for Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore and Macau. After runaway sales success in the Asia market, she then turned her attention to developing markets in Europe.

With growing marketing experience, and a fast-growing family, she then established and directed the International Optical Company (IOC) which was responsible for bringing advanced optical manufacturing techniques to Hong Kong from Europe.

From here, she moved offices to the Houston Centre in Hong Kong and founded the Houston Crest Group of Companies starting with Houston Optical which married the existing manufacturing business with optical retail. The business was expanded under the brand ?Optical 88? to become a chain of stores operating throughout Asia with a total of more than 100 outlets.

Moves into the computing and property sectors helped to build the business to the point where Supanee was heading up two major groups of companies each supporting thousands of employees.

Today, we celebrate the incredible achievements of Supanee Gazeley who brought innovative technology from Europe into Hong Kong and in doing so made Hong Kong a serious competitor in the global market within the watch and optical industries.

To acknowledge the success of this extra-ordinary alumni, I am exercising the power conferred on me by Senate, to invite the Vice Chancellor to bestow the award of Honorary Doctor of the University upon Supanee Gazeley."

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