In 2024 Deakin is celebrating three decades of existence in India and marked this milestone by partnering with the India Australia Business & Community Alliance (IABCA) who are celebrating a decade of existence by launching the inaugural Deakin x IABCA Leadership Series during Prime Minister Modi’s Vibrant Gujarat Summit at GIFT City

Deakin University is the first international university in the world to open a teaching campus in
India through the establishment of its international branch campus at the GIFT City at
Gandhinagar, Gujarat and the first international university to set up operations in 1994.
Leading up to the official campus inauguration, Shri Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India, met
with the Deakin delegation, and spoke about enhancing collaboration between government
and academic institutions pertaining to cyber security, Deakin’s three-decade presence and
engagement in India, and the upcoming campus inauguration alongside the Vibrant Gujarat
Summit.

IABCA as the largest bi-lateral platform that strengthens the India-Australia relationship by
honouring people-to-people links was pleased to collaborate with Education partner Deakin to
share this people centric government and industry approach. Having steadily engaged in
cultural diplomacy and bilateral growth through people, organisations, and businesses, the
launch of the Deakin x IABCA Leadership Series kick started the industry engagement during the
Vibrant Gujarat Summit, bringing together prominent figures from both Indian and Australian
governments and industries including Princess Jahanvi from the Royal family of Mewar, a Deakin
Alumni demonstrating a participative dialogue on ‘Building Sustainable Futures across the
Australia-India Corridor’.

Speaking on the launch of the Series His Excellency. Philip Green OAM, High Commissioner of
Australia to India said:

“I thank Deakin and IABCA for this initiative. Forums like the Deakin X IABCA Leadership Series
provide a platform for dialogue between business, academia, and the broader community. This
is a good example of how Australia and India’s people-to-people links, our ‘human bridge’, give
so much strength to our relationship.”

Speaking on the launch of the Series Ravneet Pahwa, Vice President Global Alliances & CEO
South Asia Deakin University Australia said:

“It gives me immense pleasure to launch the Deakin University X IABCA Leadership Series 2024 at
a pivotal moment when Deakin University celebrates three years of engagement in India with
the landmark inauguration of its India campus. Over the years Deakin has created a legacy of
holistic understanding and partnership across the academic, industrial and government
landscape of India. Leveraging the soft power of knowledge diplomacy to enmesh ties between
Australia and India further, Deakin has found invaluable support from IABCA to strategically
enhance its vital industry engagement.

It is my firm belief that the series will work as a crucial platform as well as a catalyst to bring
together people who are motivated by challenges and the desire to explore the bi-lateral corridor to forge better ties of business, knowledge, and community outcomes in the backdrop
of cultural amity and environmental responsibility.”

Speaking on the launch of the Series Sonia Sadiq Gandhi, Australia Day Amb. Founder, IABCA
and Director, Gandhi Creations, said:

“IABCA (India Australia Business Community Alliance) is thrilled to collaborate with its Education
Partner, Deakin University for the inaugural Deakin x IABCA Leadership Series 2024. This industry
engagement is an exciting series that sets the tone for our partnership in harnessing people
centric knowledge and development. As IABCA celebrates a decade in 2024, we are pleased
to announce our Immersion Week in collaboration with Deakin in Australia from 12 – 16 August
2024 with the awards ceremony taking place at the Australian Parliament on 15th August, Indian
Independence Day. I am convinced that IABCA’s sustained engagement with Deakin will
continue to enhance industry engagement and the bilateral relationship between our two
nations and this launch has indeed set the stage for a series of strategic dialogues and
partnerships for shared progress.

The Deakin x IABCA Leadership Series will comprise of 3 roundtables/ In-conversation and Ted-X
styles series of events with key leaders across the Australia India corridor and take place quarterly
in India and Australia. The Leadership Series will provide a strong platform for strengthening
business-to-business ties.