Anne Pang - Anne Pang Self Defence

About Dr Anne Pang OAM

Photography of Anne Pang wearing a black suit and red scarf, sitting.

Dr Anne Pang OAM

Founder and Chief Instructor

Anne Pang is the founder and chief instructor of the Anne Pang Self Defence Inc.

Anne began her Kung Fu training in 1974 at the Barry Pang Kung Fu Schools, specialising in Wing Chun—a martial art traditionally attributed to a female founder and renowned for its efficiency and effectiveness in self-defence. Over the years, she has earned multiple awards, achieved full qualifications, and has been delivering her own self-defence programs in Melbourne since 1990.

With decades of experience, Anne brings deep expertise, strong credentials, and a genuine passion for empowering men, women, and children of all ages.

She is also the only female recipient of the martial arts industry-recognised Tribute Award for Women’s Self Defence Instructor, presented by Blitz Magazine—an acknowledgment of her outstanding contribution to the field and the only female to be awarded the Australasian Martial Arts Magazine Masters Martial Artists of the Year – Kung Fu in 2023.

In recognition of her contribution to the empowerment of women in Australia, she was recently awarded the Her Glory Awards 2026 for Outstanding Chinese-Australian Women in the category of Female Empowerment.

Anne Pang Showreel

Education & Honours

Bachelor of Arts (Hons), The University of Melbourne
Third degree Black Sash, Barry Pang Kung Fu Schools
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Asian Studies, Languages, Culture and Linguistics. Monash University.
Medal of the Order of Australia – 2026 Kings Birthday Honours list for service to the Chinese community of Melbourne, and to women.

Other Activities and Achievements

Anne is a multiple award winner across local, state, and national martial arts championships.
She is frequently invited to participate in panel discussions on women’s empowerment and related issues.
Keynote speaking on women’s issues has become an increasingly significant part of her professional work.
Beyond her contributions to women’s empowerment, Anne is also an author. She has published several books in both English and Chinese on her great-grandfather—the subject of her PhD—who was a leader of a mass migration, a pioneer, and a Christian revolutionary during the late Qing dynasty in China.

Community Work

Acting President for Chinese Community Council of Australia 2013 – 2014
Multicultural Focus Group, AFL 2014 – 2019
Honorary Patron of Half the Sky (Chinese orphans) 2013-2018.
Honorary President of the Lion’s Sino-Innovation Club 2015 – 2022.
Member of the Advisory Board for Business Confucius Institute 2015 – 2025.
Senior Advisor to Sunflower Ladies Inc 2024-present
Expert Adviser to Asian Women Development Plan International 2025-present.

Experience in Teaching Martial Arts

Kung Fu and Women’s Self Defence classes for government departments, councils, Housing Estates, Women’s groups, corporate, professionals and group classes in Lilydale, Keysborough, Monee Ponds, Kew, Malvern, Blackburn, Ringwood and Melbourne CBD.

Seminars on self-defence and Kung Fu demonstrations for community groups, Neighbour Watch and Rotary groups as well as Chinese New Year celebration, Moomba, The Melbourne Show and so on.

Show full list

Melbourne University Women’s Self Defence and Kung Fu classes
Monash University Women’s Self Defence and Kung Fu classes
La Trobe University Women’s Self Defence and Kung Fu classes [Reference]
Deakin University Women’s Self Defence and Kung Fu classes [Reference]
Swinburne University Women’s Self Defence and Kung Fu classes
Scotch College, Self Defence classes and camps for year 10 boys [Reference]
Melbourne Girls’ Grammar Women’s Self Defence
Linfox Group Limited Self Defence for men and women
B. P. Head Office Self Defence for men and women
Austin Hospital Youth Programme Self Defence
Lauriston Girls School Women’s Self Defence
Doncaster Secondary School Self Defence for boys and girls [Reference]
Kew Secondary School Self Defence for boys and girls
Kew Primary School Self Defence for boys and girls
Balwyn Secondary School Self Defence for boys and girls [Reference]
Strathmore Secondary School Self Defence for Year 7 boys and girls
Mount Scopus Junior School Self Defence
City of Boorandara Youth Programme Self Defence
Darebin City Council Youth Programme Self Defence
City of Melbourne Women’s Self Defence
Hawthorn Council, Youth Programme Self Defence Camp
City of Richmond, Women’s Group, Self Defence camp
Essendon Grammar Cultural Day Kung Fu classes
Methodist Ladies’ College Cultural Day Kung Fu classes
St. Vincent de Paul Kung Fu classes for youth
RMIT University Women’s Self Defence and Kung Fu classes