Winners of the 2019 India Australia Business & Community Awards, supported by Trade & Investment Queensland, were announced on Friday 11th October at the sixth annual IABCA Gala, which returned to Brisbane for the third consecutive year. Held at one of Brisbane’s newest and most cutting edge cultural and entertainment precincts, Howard Smith Wharves, the annual awards gala attracted more than 350 finalists, government delegates, corporate partners, and alumni for a shared celebration of the India Australia relationship.

Additionally, the 2019 IABCA Gala also welcomed some key leaders and pioneers of the India Australia relationship, including Senator Amanda Stoker, Senator for Queensland representing the Hon. Scott Morrison MP, Prime Minister of Australia, His Excellency, Karthigeyan  Palaniswamy Subramanyan, Deputy High Commissioner of India in Australia, Senator Murray Watt, Senator for Queensland representing the Hon. Anthony Albanese MP, Leader of the Opposition, and the Right Honourable, the Lord Mayor of Brisbane, Councillor Adrian Schrinner, among many others.

Held together by Master of Ceremonies Charlotte Smith, owner of the Charlotte Smith Fashion collection and a recognised cultural enrichment speaker, the sixth annual IABCA Gala showcased the very best of India whilst celebrating its growing connection with Australia. Intertwining a celebration of business and culture, IABCA delivered an engaging program featuring an interactive meditation from Samarpan International, a Gurajati piece by Tulli Academy, and an Odissi performance from Sanatani Rombola. Through ongoing supporter ICC T20 World Cup 2020, guests of the sixth annual IABCA Gala were able to interact first-hand with the official World Cup and learn more about the sport that has connected India and Australia for decades.

Fourteen winners were announced across as many categories in recognition of their contribution to the India Australia relationship across the realms of business, community leadership, sport, research, innovation, and many more.  For 6 years, the Awards have celebrated the Australia India relationship showcasing the best that the two nations have to offer from a commerce, culture, trade and tourism perspective.

TheLifetime Achievement Award 2019, presented by Arun Sharma, 2018 IABCA Lifetime Achievement Winner,was awarded to Prof Jane den Hollander AO whorecentlyretired from full time work as Vice-Chancellor at Deakin University.

The Young Professional of the Year 2019, presented by Senator Amanda Stoker, Senator for Queensland representing the Hon. Scott Morrison MP, Prime Minister of Australia, was awarded to Natasha Bhaskar, General Manager, Newland Global Group.

The highly contested category of Young Community Achiever of the Year 2019, presented by Senator Amanda Stoker, Senator for Queensland representing the Hon. Scott Morrison MP, Prime Minister of Australia, went to Tarang Chawla the founder of Not One More Niki. He started the campaign to 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, presented by His Excellency Karthigeyan Palaniswamy Subramanyan, Acting High Commissioner of India in Australia, went to Margaret Hepworth who founded The Gandhi Experiment in 2014.

Community Services Excellence Award – Organisation 2019, presented by His Excellency Karthigeyan Palaniswamy Subramanyan, Acting High Commissioner of India in Australiawas awarded to Australia India Youth Dialogue (AIYD).

The Businesswoman of the Year 2019, presented by Senator Murray Watt, Senator for Queensland representing the Hon. Anthony Albanese MP, Leader of the Opposition, was awarded to Elena Norman, Chief Executive Officer, Hockey India, for her tireless work for the past eight years.

The Professional of the Year 2019, presented by Nick Hockley, Chief Executive Officer, ICC T20 World Cup 2020 Local Organising Committee, was awarded to Detective Sonali Deshpande, a doctor from India and the first female police officer of Indian heritage to join the Victoria Police won the Professional of the Year 2019.

The Business Leader of the Year 2019, presented by The Right Honourable, the Lord Mayor of Brisbane, Councillor Adrian Schrinner,  Honowasawarded to Ashok Mysore, Vice President and Regional Head of Operations for Australia and New Zealand, Infosys Limited.​

The Spirit of Sport Award 2019, supported by HomeWorld, was awarded to Melanie Jones OAM, a former Australian Cricketer and the first-ever female commentator to be included in the Indian Premier League (IPL).

The Australia India Science, Research & Development Award, supported by Trade & Investment QLD, was awarded to Australia’s leading agricultural biotechnologist Professor Neena Mitter from the University of Queensland.

The Tourism, Hospitality & Catering Award 2019, supported by ZEE TV, was awarded to Travel Crafters, a new travel agency based in Lane Cove, Sydney.

The Excellence in Innovation Award 2019, supported by Australian Football League, was awarded to ‘Get to Sleep Easy’ a company that created the Smart Inclining Bed, which converts any bed into a hospital-bed for 10% of the price.

The Australian Exporter of the Year 2019, presented by Jim Varghese AM, Chairman, AIBC, was awarded to Mack Valves, an 80-year-old Australian icon that manufactures specialist valves with a manufacturing facility in India. Mack Valves also employs disadvantaged women in India.

The Small Business of the Year 2019, presented by Petula Thomas, Director, Indo-Australia Chamber of Commerce, was awarded to Western Specialist Centre, Australia’s first combined Women’s and Children’s Medical centre in Werribee & St Albans, Victoria.

The SME of the Year 2019, supported by Unimoni, was awarded to Medsurge Healthcare, one of the fastest growing pharmaceutical companies of specialized lifesaving medicines to healthcare professionals in Australia and New Zealand and 100% Australian Owned & Operated won this top and prestigious award.

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.  IABCA sure knows how to entertain and inspire.