14 bilateral contributors receive top honours at 2023 IABCA Award ceremony

Highlights of the 2023 IABCA Award Winners and High Commended:

Daniel, India Vision Institute

The IACBA Australia India Impact Award (Organisation) - KAS Group Asia (KGA); the Highly Commended Certificate - Gaura Travel

IABCA Young Professional of the Year - Khushaal Vyas, Western Sydney University, Justice Clinic

IABCA Business Leader of the Year - Jay Hira, Cyber Transformation

IABCA Managing Director of the Year - Dr Raj Khillan, Healthcare Awareness Society of Australia; the Highly Commended Certificate - Jonah Stephen Jeremiah, Carisma Solutions Private Limited

The IABCA Community Services Excellence Award (Individual)‘Little India Harris Park Business Association (LIHPBA)’; and Rengarajan Chidambaranathan, Rotary Club of Granville

The IABCA Community Services

Excellence Award (Organisation)

- ‘IT Girls Work Experience Program’, Tata Consultancy Services Limited

The IABCA Businesswoman of the Year - Priyanka Berani, Healthy Smiles Dental Group; and the Highly Commended Certificate - Esha Oberoi, Afea Care Services

The IABCA Australia India Impact Award (Individual)-Vinod

That business relations underlie many endeavours in diverse arenas of human activities has been well comprehended and appreciated. The fruits of the growing bilateral relations across fields must percolate to individuals achievers of excellence is also well appreciated. Moreover, the footprints of an entity that is into eliciting and recognizing excellence across human endeavours, must reach out beyond the confines of local interests and become global in outlook in contemporary times characterized by dynamic business ecosystems and diverse interests.

In such a complex backdrop full of potentialities and opportunities, the IABCA decided to kick-start a new era of engagements by first celebrating a decade of relentless engagement by endeavouring to spread its wings globally through its inaugural ‘IABCA India Showcase’, a celebrationwhich had the support and blessings of both governments. The festivities were organized from 13 to 17 February.

It was a 12-month long endeavour duringwhich the IABCA offered an apt platform for the confluence of 400 key influencers and bilateral leaders from across the two nations. The ‘Meeting of Minds’,as it was appropriately consisted of the two high-profile events in the form of the IABCA Global Leaders Forum and the Awards Ceremony, and the environment was that of the Taj Palace, New Delhi. The occasion was an opportune moment to connect entrepreneurs, innovators and disruptors from across Australia and India.

During the inaugural launch of IABCA India Immersion Week, High Commissioner of Australia to India, Barry O’Farrell, who was attending the celebrations said, “I welcome IABCA’s decision to expand its scope and showcase the amazing depth of our bilateral business and community links in Mumbai and New Delhi.

Congratulations to all the IABCA 2023 Finalists.”

The IABCA Global Leaders Forum was an apt platform to discuss issues of mutual interest and areas of opportunity for both the countries. But before that an understanding of what India is and stands for would have been most appropriate given the significance of the occasion. Therefore the organizers initiated two separate panel discussions that sought to understand the Australia India relationship across bilateral partnerships and its significance.The keynote speech was delivered by Vice Chairman of Suzlon Group Girish Tanti. Following the Global Leaders Forum, the IABCA awards ceremony was organized. There were as many as 14 awardees across trade and investment, who were awarded for their bilateral contributions.

Applauding the IABCA inaugural India biennial decision, Author, Australia Economic Strategy Report, Former Ambassador and Secretary, Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India, Anil Wadhwa said, “The India Australia Business and Community Alliance is just ten years old, however, it has effectively taken centre stage in the Australia India relationship as a leading platform that connects businesses, people and institutions in both countries with an ease and comfort that no other institution can. Through its web of initiatives aimed at forging connections which are vital for sustaining the bilateral relationship between the two countries, IABCA initiatives and awards are much sought after and heavily subscribed. This year IABCA will showcase this power of connections in India in 2023the program is much welcomed in New Delhi and in Mumbai.”

The Australia India Science, Research & Development Award (Individual)DrSonuBhaskar, Global Health Neurology Lab;the Highly Commended Certificate - Prof Suresh Kumar Bhargava, Research & Innovation, Research Partnerships (India), Director for CAMIC, Dean, STEM College, RMIT University, Melbourne

The Excellence in Innovation Award - ‘The Avolution; the Highly Commended Certificate - Alluvium

The ‘Excellence in Trade & Investment’ AwardFlavourtech Ltd

The ‘Excellence in Partnerships Award’Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER) & Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi, India

The SME of the Year AwardCoral Heatlhcare

The Lifetime Achievement Award - Ambassador Harinder Sidhu, former High Commissioner for Australia to India and current High Commissioner for Australia to New Zealand