stating "you can't work at 110 percent forever and that is what this job requires." Honours and positions In 2006, So was named World Mayor ahead of other candidates including Job Cohen, Ray Nagin, Michael Bloomberg and Shintaro Ishihara. In 2006, So was among eleven recipients of the You Bring Charm to the World Award, presented at Peking University in Beijing. The award was jointly sponsored by Phoenix Television, Baidu, and Beijing Youth Daily and recognised the achievements of the "most influential Chinese in 2006". In 2007, So received an honorary degree of Doctor of the University from Victoria University, in recognition of his services to local government. In 2010, So was appointed as one of the six panel members of the Lee Kuan Yew World City Prize Council. In 2011, So was a recipient of the World Chinese Economic Forum Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2013, So was awarded the Sir Edward 'Weary' Dunlop Asia Medal. On the Queen's Birthday in 2014, So was made an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) for "distinguished service to local government and community relations, as an ambassador for cultural diversity, and to the promotion of Melbourne as a tourist and investment destination". So is also a Member of the World Mayors Council on Climate Change. Personal life So has been married twice and has four children. His partner, Wendy Cheng, served as the Lady Mayoress of Melbourne and chaired the Lady Mayoress' Committee between 2001 and 2008. So's youngest son, John So Jnr, an investment banker and businessman, ran unsuccessfully to be elected as Deputy Lord Mayor of Melbourne alongside Australia Sotheby's CEO, Gary Singer, in the 2012 Melbourne City Council Elections. Singer was previously Deputy Lord Mayor while John So Snr was in office. So supports the Melbourne Demons in the Australian Football League. References External links John So – Official Website John So No. 1 World Mayor WCEF Global Business Council Mayors and Lord Mayors of Melbourne Businesspeople from Melbourne Australian politicians of Chinese descent Australian politicians of Hong Kong descent University of Melbourne alumni Hong Kong emigrants to Australia 1946 births Living people People educated at University High School, Melbourne Politicians from Melbourne Officers of the Order of Australia