Manchester Metropolitan University have awarded an honorary doctorate of business administration to Lady Debbie Buffini, whose life-changing philanthropy work has positively influenced the lives of over 10,000 young people from disadvantaged backgrounds.
Overcoming the culture shock of arriving in Newcastle from Hong Kong during the mid 1970s to an English culture of Bay City Rollers, Oxford Bags and Morecambe & Wise — Lady Buffini carved out a hugely successful career for herself.
And now, her life is about identifying the same aspiration and drive in children across the UK, which is why she and her husband, Sir Damon Buffini, set up the Buffini Chao Foundation in 2006. Its core aims are to promote education, aspiration and opportunities.
Projects focus on access to the arts, sports, the outdoors, health and nutrition, supporting charities and their programmes, with the aim of impacting thousands of young people from disadvantaged backgrounds.
She puts her own drive to succeed down to her roots.
Her father was sent to the UK at age 16, having first moved to Hong Kong with his parents from China. Arriving in the UK with little English, Lady Buffini’s father met and married her English mother before the couple moved back to Hong Kong — despite mixed-heritage marriages causing controversy at the time.
“I grew up with Geordie and Chinese grandparents, who impressed upon me a strong work ethic.” Lady Buffini said. “My Geordie grandparents lived through two world wars, and both survived until they were nearly a century old. They experienced much social change, but hard work was always key.
“Aspiration and a drive to succeed have always been a strong focus for my family, and I have carried that through since childhood.”
Move to Manchester
Lady Buffini finished her secondary education and then enrolled at Manchester
Met to study law.
Lady Buffini remembers Manchester Met as bohemian, eclectic and vibrant. She also found the melting pot of creativity, and different social backgrounds freeing.
“I loved every minute of my time at Manchester Metropolitan University,” she said.
“I lived in halls of residence and fully embraced my time there. It was lively, and sociable. I was keen to emulate a trendy sense of style. So much so that I embraced a pink fringe for a time —
before I realised I couldn’t quite pull it off as well as my peers.”
As well as gaining the knowledge to set the foundation for a successful career in law, Lady Buffini acknowledged the wider impact her three-year course and the University had. It prepared her
for a heavy and demanding workload, and self-discipline and critical thinking.
After graduating, Lady Buffini successfully practised law in London before moving to Boston in the USA with her then-boyfriend (now husband and knight of the realm), Sir Damon Buffini, after he secured his place at Harvard Business School.
Working at an international law firm in Boston, Lady Buffini’s career flourished, qualifying at the New York State Bar before returning to London in the late 1980s.
At the time, the City was an economic giant and a global financial powerhouse. Soon
working for a global shipping firm, Lady Buffini skills were well used.
She continued to practise after the birth of her first daughter, who was born with hearing loss. At that point, Lady Buffini and Sir Damon decided they needed a change of pace and focus, which would better meet the demands of family life.
The Buffini Chao Foundation was born.
And with Lady Buffini a huge fan of ballet (she sits on the Board of Trustees for the English National
Ballet), access to dance is a priority for the Foundation as a pathway to cultivating creativity and confidence in young people.
Looking back at the Foundation’s impact, Lady Buffini highlights its support of a young girl with a passion for dance, seeking an outlet for her creative talents.
Joining the London Children’s Ballet age nine, the project encouraged the young dancer to audition for the Royal Ballet School. Her parents couldn’t afford ballet shoes on top of the school fees, so
the Foundation stepped in. They funded countless pairs of ballet shoes after her successful audition and acceptance into the prestigious school.
It seemed a small gesture, but it was one that made a difference.
Now, the young girl has grown up to be a principal dancer at the Royal Ballet and one of the UK’s top performers.
The importance of a UK-wide arts scene is vital for the Foundation, which receives a huge number of funding applications every year. For instance, Lady Buffini takes pride in global cities like Manchester
being a beacon for international performances and independent productions.
