IABCA PARLIAMENTARY WINNER ROUNDTABLE 2018

On Thursday 21 June, Canberra’s Parliament House welcomed the first ever IABCA Winners Roundtable. A new addition to the IABCA initiative, this roundtable brought together the platform’s key Alumni and stakeholders by providing them the opportunity to speak directly to key decision makers from the Australian and Indian Government.

The IABCA Winner Roundtable was kindly hosted by Julian Leeser MP, Federal Member for Berowra and Co-Chair, Parliamentary Friends of India in the presence of His Excellency, Dr. Gondane, High Commissioner of India in Australia and kindly facilitated by Sheba Nandkeolyar, Chair, AIBC and Board member, Australia India Council (DFAT).

This cohort of influential leaders addressed several key issues pertaining to the development of India Australia relations, whilst also aiming to identify opportunities to further capitalize on the ever-expanding Indian diaspora currently residing within Australia. Topics of discussion ranged from government-to-government links, start-ups, international education, arts and culture, sports and community integration. The forum raised a variety of important strategies that will be implemented to continually develop the ways in which Indians and Australians do business with one another.

Since its inception in 2014, the IABCA platform has maintained a constantly growing network with more than 1,400 businesses, community and thought leaders from Australia and India who have engaged on the IABCA platform. A long-term objective of the IABCA platform has always been to maintain ongoing relationships with its IABCA alumni and to generate a forum for them to collaborate with one another in increasing the contribution of the Indian diaspora to Australia’s economic and cultural backbone.

The presence of so many influential minds in one room evinced a strong sense that tangible progress was being achieved as every point was raised, as each question was asked, and as each solution was posited.

Co-chair of the Parliamentary Friends of India, Julian Leeser MP who led this brilliant initiative said, “The Roundtable was a fantastic event that brought together some of the very dynamic Indian businesses operating in Australia with decision-makers in Government. “It was a valuable opportunity to better understand the challenges businesses face and the strengths and opportunities of the Australia-India relationship. “As the co-Chair of the Parliamentary Friends of India, I welcome these opportunities to highlight the great work of members of the Indian community in Australia and to further broaden the conversation between our two countries.”

IABCA would like to extend its appreciation to the following Federal Members of Parliament who attended the roundtable.

• The Hon. Alan Tudge MP, Member for Aston, Victoria, Minister for Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs
• The Hon. Craig Laundy MP, Member for Reid, NSW, Minister for Small and Family Business, the Workplace and Deregulation
• The Hon. Michael Keenan MP, Minister for Human Services and Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Digital Transformation
• Ben Morton MP, Federal Member for Tangney, WA, Chair of Joint Standing Committee on the National Capital and External Territories
• Trevor Evans MP, Member for Brisbane, Queensland

We look forward to revealing our IABCA Finalists for 2018 in early August on www.iabca.com.au, stay tuned.