2019 also saw Simon honoured with the
Golden Silkball Friendship Award by the government of Guangxi, his 'home province' (population 50 million) for 'cultural contributions enriching society'. He was even invited, in his capacity as a Foreign Expert, to The Great Hall of the People in Beijing as a dinner guest of the Vice-Premier of China!
In 2020 Simon scripted a psychological thriller as a vehicle for talented up-and-coming Australian actor Jay Jay Jegatheva Jegathesan. His chilling performance took on two forms; as an entry in the
World Monologue Games (the global Olympics of Acting) and as an independent short film.
Soul Catcher and
Catch and Release have, between them, as of 2023, garnered 83 Official Selections and 21 Awards at film festivals all over the world.
Simon currently divides his working time between writing that next novel, doing online school talks, lecturing at a prominent Guilin university, and contributing to TV scripts and other visual projects. Maintaining his martial arts skills and gym training fills in the gaps.