Nominations Now Open: 14th February–4^thMay 2018

Nominations for the fifth annual India Australia Business & Community Awards (IABCA) are now open and entrants will have until the 4^thMay to submit their nominations via the platforms online awards portal here. This year’s initiative will feature 13 categories that celebrate success stories across a variety of business and community related endeavours. Being nominated for IABCA aids businesses, professionals and community driven individuals attain recognition at a local, state, and national level. It manufactures an outstanding community profile for the individual and broadcasts businesses and their success stories to a global audience. Build a reputation for yourself inside and outside of your industry and celebrate the success of your migrant journey or outstanding work in the Australia India space.

IABCA showcases outstanding business and community initiatives by providing a platform through which these migrant success stories can be told, exchanged, celebrated, and disseminated on a nation-wide scale. Additionally, IABCA provides a launching pad for future success between aspiring businesses by promoting networking, collaboration, and the exchange of important and innovative ideas between the two nations. In Australia’s rapidly diversifying business and community landscape, the India Australia Business & Community Awards has positioned itself as a core component of Australia’s business events calendar.

Since it’s inception in 2014, IABCA has engaged over 1400 of Australia and India’s most influential and widely renowned businesses, professionals, and community leaders. Conversely, the awards have also functioned as a prominent platform for emerging entrepreneurs, young professionals, and start-up businesses to establish a strong foothold

within their industry and the Australia-India space, with a handful of ongoing success stories such as the Chai Walli having resulted from being conferred an IABCA award. Nevertheless, increased engagement with the IABCA initiative is by no means limited to a rise in nominations, as the platform has also prospered alongside the rallying support of various Government institutions and representatives, media personalities, and public influencers. The sustained engagement from delegates such as His Excellency, Dr. A.M Gondane, High Commissioner of India to Australia and Her Excellency, Ms. Harinder Sidhu, High Commissioner from Australia to India has given the IABCA initiative a previously unattainable degree of prestige and transnational significance.

In recent years, the IABCA initiative has undergone several major transformations to ensure that it is able to cater more effectively to the vast amount of contributions being made to strengthen the Australia India relationship. In 2018 in conjunction with the IABCA board we have introduced a new category, the Excellence in Innovation Award, which accounts for the rapidly increasing influx of Indian migrants and consequent emerging start-up businesses and innovative products, services, and policies that are being executed in response.

Award Categories

• Young Professional of the Year 2018

• Young Community Achiever of the Year 2018

• Community Services Excellence Award 2018

• Businesswoman of the Year 2018

• Business Leader or Professional of the Year 2018

• Spirit of Sport Award 2018

• Travel Agency / Tour Operator of the Year 2018

• Excellence in Innovation of the Year 2018

• Australian Exporter of the Year 2018

• Indian Investment in the Australian Market 2018

• Small Business of the Year 2018

• SME of the Year 2018

“My warmest congratulations to everyone who has been nominated for the India Australia Business and Community Awards this year. In every sphere of endeavour, in every corner of our country, and in every walk of life, there are passionate Indian Australians helping to make our nation a stronger and better place. These awards are a great opportunity to recognise these inspiring individuals, businesses, and organisation—the hardworking, caring and innovative people who are making a real difference.

It is also a chance to celebrate the best of Indian culture, and the growing links between our nations. Australia and India enjoy a long-standing friendship, based on our shared history, a commitment to democracy and the rule of law. In the years, ahead, it is my hope and expectation that we will see the benefits of even closer bonds between our nations. I once again congratulate nominees and wish you every success for the future.”

The Hon Malcolm Turnbull MP, Prime Minister of Australia

“I am writing to thank you, the IABCA Board and the IABCA Selection Panel for recognising me as the IABCA Ambassador of the Year for 2017. 

As I said at the event, I feel extremely honoured to receive this award, not only because it is the highest granted by IABCA each year, but especially because of the stature of the previous awardees and the recognition that IABCA has achieved in Australia within both the Indian and the wider Australian Community. 

Again, it was a special honour to be acknowledged in the presence of so many well-known and highly respected leaders, a veritable Who’s Who in the India Australia space. 

Congratulations on creating IABCA and making it the success it has clearly been. I am sure it will go from strength to strength, encouraging, rewarding and celebrating success in the Australia India space.”

Neville Roach AO, Chairman Emeritus, AIBC

Chairman, Tata Consultancy Services

IABCA Lifetime Achievement of the Year

“The India Australia Business & Community Awards (IABCA) provide a national platform to recognise the significant contributions Indian–Australians have made in shaping this nation. Members the Indian diaspora—be they of Indian heritage or descent—have proved themselves to be entrepreneurial and hardworking; they have also been community-minded. Today, Indian–Australians are one of the fastest growing communities in Australia. They are critical to building economic linkages between Australia and India and are also important contributors to Australia’s vibrant multicultural society. I commend the IABCA on this initiative and acknowledge the important role nominees play in building stronger linkages between Australia and India now and into the future.”

Her Excellency, Ms. Harinder Sidhu, High Commissioner of Australia in India

We wish all those entering the 2018 IABCA Awards the best of luck with their nominations and thank them for engaging with our national initiative. For nomination or technical support, please call 0449 786 056 during business hours to connect with one of our helpful staff members.

For more information on the IABCA initiative or to nominate, visit the IABCA website at http://www.iabca.com.au.

(Photo Credit: Ali Mousawi)