IABCA

Sonia Sadiq Gandhi pulled off yet another amazing Indian Australian event in Brisbane. The India Australia Business and Community Awards (IABCA) was hosted by Gandhi Creations and supported by Trade and Investment Queensland.The awards for the first time was held at one of Brisbane’s newest and most stunning venues, Howard’s Hall at Howard Smith Wharves, located beneath the Story Bridge with panoramic views of the Brisbane city skyline.

Charlotte Smith was the perfect MC who entertained and kept the show going at the right pace.

Senator Amanda Stoker, Senator for Queensland representing the Hon. Scott Morrison MP, Prime Minister of Australia addressed the audience and emphasised on the key relations between India and Australia as trading partners. His Excellency K P Subramanyan,Acting High Commissioner for India in Australia, Peter Varghese AO, Chancellor of University of Queensland, Jim Varghese, AM National Chair of Australia India Business andThe Right Honourable, the Lord Mayor of Brisbane, Councillor Adrian Schrinner was also in attendance.

This the second timethe IABCA annual night of nights was held in Brisbane. The interstate move has proved to be highly successful as the room was packed with more than 300 local and interstate guests.

There were 14 categories and about 6 to 8 well deserved nominees in each category. For 6 years, the Awards have been a hub for India and Australia’s remarkable small and medium-sized businesses to gather, celebrate their achievements and to become ‘that winning’ business.

TheLifetime Achievement Award 2019 was awarded to Prof Jane Den Hollander AOwhorecently retired from full time work as Vice-Chancellor at Deakin University.

Natasha Bhaskar General Manager, Newland Global Group won the Young Professional of the Year 2019.

The toughly contested category of Young Community Achiever of the Year 2019 went to Tarang Chawla the founder of Not One More Niki. He started the campaignto end violence against women, following the murder of his 23-year-old sister, Nikita, in 2015 in Melbourne.

The Community Services Excellence Award – Individual 2019 went to Margaret Hepworth who founded The Gandhi Experiment in 2014.

Elena NormanChief Executive Officer of Hockey India won the Businesswoman of the Year 2019 for her tireless work for the past eight years.

Detective Sonali Deshpandea doctor from India and the first female police officer of Indian heritage in Victoria Police in 2005, won the Professional of the Year 2019.

Business Leader of the Year 2019 was won by Ashok MysoreVice President and Regional Head of Operations for Australia and New Zealandof Infosys Limited.

Melanie Jones OAM a former Australian Cricketer and the first-ever female commentator to be included in the Indian Premier League (IPL) won the Spirit of Sport Award 2019.

Australia’s leading agricultural biotechnologistProfessor Neena Mitter from the University of Queensland won the Australia India Science, Research & Development Award 2019

Community Services Excellence Award – Organisation 2019 was awarded to Australia India Youth Dialogue(AIYD).

Travel Crafters, a newtravel agency based in Lane Cove, Sydney, won the Tourism Hospitality, Hospitality and Catering Award 2019.

Excellence in Innovation 2019 went to ‘Get to Sleep Easy’ a company that has created the Smart Inclining Bed, which converts any bed into a hospital-bed for 10% of the price.

Mack Valves an 80-year-old Australian icon that manufactures specialist valves with a manufacturing facility in India won the AustralianExporter of the Year 2019. Mack employs disadvantaged women in India.

Small Business of the Year 2019 went to Western Specialist Centre, Australia’s first combined Women’s and Children’s Medical centre in Werribee & St Albans, Victoria.
Unimoni – Asia Pacific, a leading global provider of Money Transfer, Foreign Currency Exchange, Payment and Credit solutions was the proud sponsor of the SME (Small, Medium Enterprise) of the Year 2019. Medsurge Healthcare one of the fastest growingpharmaceutical company of specialized lifesaving medicines to healthcare professionals in Australia and New Zealand and 100% Australian Owned & Operated won this top and prestigious award.

HetalRajguru’s team from Tulja Dance Academy entertained the crowd with their fantastic Gujarati garba dance.

These businesses and many of their owners who have come to Australia inspired us all with their resilience, courage, incredible commitment, and their ability to find new solutions and ways of working in Australia. Since 2014, the Awards have showcased some of Australia’s best business talent. Sonia Sadiq Gandhi sure knows how to entertain and inspire.