The India Australia Business & Community Awards (IABCA) are a welcome sign of how far relations between Australia and India have advanced. This national initiative now in its third year continues to engage, connect and recognise the role played by Australian Indians in shaping this nation through an awards ceremony. The Awards Gala night will be taking place on Friday 28 October 2016 at the Four Points by Sheraton, Darling Harbour, Sydney.
We are delighted to announce that tickets for the Awards night are on sale. Please visit our website www.iabca.com.au
We are pleased to present our 2016 IABCA Panel of Experts.
Stuart Davis, Non-Executive Director and Chairman, Audit and Risk Committee of NEXTDC Limited, 
(ASX:NXT) Chairman, South Asia Forum Ltd, and an active Business Consultant. He is a seasoned senior banking executive with over 30 years banking experience with HSBC in a number of locations around the world. Recent roles include CEO HSBC India (2009-2012) and member of the Asset and Liability Committee (ALCO) and Executive Committee (EXCO) for Asia Pacific; CEO HSBC Australia (2002-2009) and member of Australia Bankers Association Management Committee from 2002 and Deputy Chairman 2006-2009; CEO HSBC Taiwan (1999-2002) and Chairman of the British Taiwan Chamber of Commerce.
Linda Fazldeen FAICD FAIM MIM BA, Ministerial Adviser to the Chief Minister of the Northern Territory.
Linda has specialist knowledge working with Multicultural communities; SMEs and NGOs, working in public and private sectors. A Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Management, she holds a Master of International Management degree and a Bachelor of Arts (Internet Communications). Currently enrolled in a PhD course at Charles Darwin University, she serves on the NT Telstra Business Awards and Telstra Business Women’s Awards judging panels. Elected member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors’ NT Committee; Darwin Symphony Orchestra Board; Government House Foundation Committee; Territory FM Radio Station Advisory Council. A member of Business and Professional Women; Women’s Network NT and the Darwin Beefsteak and Burgundy Club. As a second generation Australian, the daughter of an Indian father and Irish mother, Linda has a natural affinity with people from CALD backgrounds. She travels regularly, particularly on the Indian sub-continent and through SE Asia, affording her a sound understanding of multicultural business management protocols. Linda specialises in community engagement.
Dhruba Gupta, BCom, MCom (UWA), Fellow – AMSRS, QPMR, Managing Director, DBM Consultants Pty Ltd.
He has 25 years in the market research industry in Australia, Asia and Europe. Dhruba is the Managing Director of DBM Consultants, a company he founded in 1992, now one of the 10 largest Australian market research organisations. Dhruba is a leading specialist in quantitative methods and is regularly invited to speak at conferences. His particular interests are in the SME sector, pricing, market performance metrics. Dhruba has been engaged by the majority of the Top 15 Australian corporations, the major government departments and some of the leading firms in the Asia Pacific region. He was awarded the Fellowship of the Australian Market and Social Research Society, for his contributions to the industry. He has a Masters degree in research from the University of Western Australia. He sits on the examiners board for the accreditation of research practitioners. He is also a judge on the panel that decides the Australian Business Banking awards.
Peeyush Gupta, Board member, SBS.
Peeyush has over three decades of experience in executive, financial and strategy roles, previously holding board positions in AMP Capital Investments, the Financial planning Standards Board, Investment Funds Association and strategic policy adviser for AXA. In 2005, he was awarded the inaugural Distinguished Alumni Award from the Australian Graduate School of Management and in 2003 the Distinguished Service Award from the Financial Planning Association. He is currently the Chairman of MLC Limited, State Plus and Charter Hall Direct Property Management Ltd, and non-executive Director on a range of commercial, public sector and not-for-profit boards including National Australia Bank, iCare NSW, Australian School of Business at the University of NSW, and the Bank of New Zealand Life Insurance. He was the co-founder and inaugural CEO of IPAC Securities, a wealth management firm providing financial advice and institutional portfolio management in Australia and internationally. He holds a Masters of Business Administration in Finance from the Australian Graduate School of Management, University of NSW, and qualifications from the Harvard and London Business Schools.
Robyn Hendry, CEO, Canberra Business Chamber.
She was formerly the CEO of the Canberra Convention Bureau. Robyn has terrific Canberra knowledge as well as strong connections with the business and government communities, both at a Territory and Federal level. She has been critical in raising Canberra’s profile as a destination for business and events and has held a number of national roles, including President of Australian Association of Convention Bureau, and Director of Business Event Council of Australia. Robyn has worked in the tourism and hospitality industries in Australia, New Zealand and PNG. She returned to Canberra in 1995 as General Manager of the National Convention Centre and in 2011 was awarded ‘most outstanding achievement by an individual for the ACT’ in the ACT Region Tourism Awards. She is currently a Director of the Cultural Facilities Corporation and a member of the Australia Forum Reference Group.
Anthea Hancocks, CEO, The Scanlon Foundation.
The Scanlon Foundation is a private, philanthropic organisation dedicated to social cohesion with a particular focus on the transition of migrants into Australian society. She brings an extensive background in business development, education, communications, relationship and services marketing and strategic planning. Anthea has broad, senior executive experience in private, government and non-profit organisations. She has previously held senior leadership positions at Herbert Geer, the National Australia Bank, Melbourne Business School, and Deloitte following an earlier career in museums and academia both in Australia and in the United States. In June 2015, Anthea was appointed to the Interim Advisory Board governing the State Government’s Social Cohesion and Multicultural Research Institute, established to develop a research program to address the issues facing Victoria, including those relating to multiculturalism, intercultural relations, youth affairs and extremism and is a member of the Women’s Corrections Services Advisory Committee. She is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (FAICD) and an accredited mediator with the Australian Institute of Arbitrators and Mediators.
Helen Kapalos, Chairperson, Victorian Multicultural Commission.
She is an accomplished journalist, presenter, executive producer and filmmaker who has worked for all three commercial television networks and the two public broadcasters in Australia. A proud Greek Australian, Ms. Kapalos is passionate about supporting Victoria’s culturally and linguistically diverse communities and has worked in a number of philanthropic roles prior to joining the VMC including director at the Heart Foundation, director of Federation Square, ambassador for the Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation, and ambassador with Community Languages Australia.
Sunil Lal, Executive Chairman, Kaden Boriss Legal Group
He is one of two lawyers within the firm who has been instrumental in the Group’s steady international expansion. He is constantly seeking to expand his support of philanthropic activities in Australia and internationally. Sunil’s knowledge and compassion for community issues have enabled him to make a difference in Australia and on an international level. In recognition of his expertise, he was invited to give evidence to the Federal Government Parliamentary Committee on bilateral trade between Australia and India under parliamentary privilege. He is a former Board member of the Australia-India Business Council and the Australia-India Chamber of Commerce. Over the course of his career, Sunil has advised numerous corporations spanning the financial services, aviation, energy, logistics, food and beverages and retail sectors. A regular presenter on doing business in India and intellectual property rights across various Asian markets, Sunil’s business acumen has enabled him to expand his knowledge and expertise into other Asian markets.
Lisa McAuley, CEO, Export Council of Australia.
She has worked in international trade for the last ten years and prior to joining the Export Council of Australia she was working as Marketing Manager in the financial services sector and business events services. Her passion for International Trade and respected voice in the industry puts her on the AmCham Trade Advisory Group and the board of Cargohound. Lisa’s current term as CEO has seen the organisation focus on ground-breaking research and advocacy projects that place Australian SME’s global competitiveness at the heart of all of ECA’s projects.
The Honourable Daniel Mookhey MLC, NSW Parliament
He is the first Australian-Indian to serve in the NSW Parliament and was the first person in Australian history to take the oath of loyalty on the Bhagavad-Gita. Prior to his appointment to the NSW Legislative Council he ran a consultancy firm for the not for profit sector and was the Australian Council of Trade Unions Federal Election Director in 2013. Daniel is a member of the boards of the Chiefly Research Centre and the Law and Justice Foundation. Daniel holds a Bachelor of Business and Laws from the University of Technology and a Masters of Defence Studies from the University of New England. He sits on a number of parliamentary committees including the Standing Committee on Law and Justice and the Joint Committee on Road Safety. He is also a board member of the Law and Justice Foundation and the Chiefly Research Centre.
Neville Roach AO, Chairman, ANZ Advisory Board, Tata Consultancy Services.
Neville Roach is a graduate of the University of Bombay, India, majoring in economics and political science. Mr Roach is a well-known ICT industry leader. He has served as Chairman and CEO of Fujitsu Australia Limited, Chairman of the Australian Information Industry Association and President of the Asian Oceanian Computing Industry Organisation. In 2008 he received the Pearcey Medal for lifetime achievement and contribution to the ICT industry, research and professions. He has made a significant contribution to Education and Research. He is a member of the NSW Premier’s Advisory Council for International Education. He was Chairman of TAFE Global, the export arm of the NSW Department of Education and Training and Founding Chairman of National ICT Australia (NICTA), Australia’s pre-eminent ICT Research Centre. He was awarded a Doctor of Science, Honoris Causa, by UNSW for his eminent service to the community. The NICTA research facility at UNSW has been named the Neville Roach Laboratory. He has actively promoted closer links between Australia and Asia, especially India. He was Chairman of the Australia India Business Council from 2000 to 2006 and a member of the Asia Business Advisory Council of the NSW Government, which appointed him an Honorary Sydney Ambassador to India. He was a member of the Indian Prime Minister’s Global Advisory Council, which comprises 20 eminent Overseas Indians from around the world, the only Australian to have this position. Mr Roach was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) in 2000 for service to business, especially the IT industry and to the development of Australian Multiculturalism. In 2008 he became the first Australian to receive the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award from the President of India, the highest honour conferred on Overseas Indians.
Michelle Rowland MP, Shadow Minister, Small Business, Shadow Minister for Citizenship and Multiculturalism and Member for Greenway.
Michelle lives in Glenwood with her husband and daughter. Michelle was elected to the House of Representatives in 2010 as the member for Greenway. Michelle was then re-elected in 2013 before being promoted to the positions of Shadow Minister for Citizenship and Multiculturalism and Shadow Assistant Minister for Communications. She was elevated to the Shadow Cabinet in October 2015 and appointed the Shadow Minister for Small Business and Shadow Minister for Citizenship and Multiculturalism. Prior to entering politics she was a senior lawyer, specialising in competition and regulation in the telecommunications, media and technology sectors. Michelle is passionate about affording everyone, regardless of background, equality of opportunity.
Professor Arun Sharma, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Commercialisation), QUT.
During the past decade, he has overseen a rapid expansion of the university’s research capacity, including a more than three-fold increase in external research income. Professor Sharma has played a leadership role in the development of Australian research capability in information and communication technology. He was co-founder of National ICT Australia Limited (NICTA), and served as the inaugural Director of its largest research laboratory. Prior to establishing NICTA, he was the Head of the School of Computer Science and Engineering at the University of New South Wales where he co-founded the Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) for Smart Internet Technology, and later played an important role in the establishment of its successor, the CRC for Smart Services. At QUT he has facilitated the development of strong research programs in technologies such as robotics and automation, big data and machine learning, bio-fabrication and 3D printing.Professor Sharma has served in many advisory roles at the national and state level. He was awarded the 2010 Premier’s Special Award for contribution to building the export profile of Queensland.His current board memberships include the Translational Research Institute (TRI) Ltd and Adani Abbot Point Terminal Pty Ltd. He received a PhD in Computer Science from the State University of New York at Buffalo in 1990, his postdoctoral training in the Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (1990-91) and his undergraduate degree in Computer Science from the Birla Institute of Technology and Science in 1985. He is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Parsuram Sharma-Luital JP, Hon Secretary, FECCA, member of the Board of Directors of the Ethnic Communities’ Council of Victoria (ECCV), and Convenor of the New and Emerging Communities (NEC) Policy Committee at ECCV.
Parsu has served as FECCA’s NEC Chair from 2011 to 2015. Parsu is the recipient of the: Inaugural New Australian of the Year 2014, a new award category initiated by Australia Day Council, Victoria. He is a former refugee from Bhutan, arrived Australia in 2002. He obtained a Master of Horticulture from the Melbourne University and currently studying Master of Public Policy at RMIT University. He is the Chair of Statelessness Working Group of Asia Pacific Refugee Rights Network (APPRN) based in Bangkok, and Core Group member for establishing Statelessness Network for Asia Pacific (SNAP). He has represented Australian refugee communities in the UNHCR NGO Consultations for last six years and UNHCR Standing Committee meetings for two years in Geneva. Parsu volunteers as White Ribbon Ambassador; Welcome to Australia Ambassador; AFL Multicultural Community Ambassador; Melbourne Victory FC Community Ambassador & President of Rotary Club of Coburg at present. He has served as the founding president of Bhutanese Community in Australia Inc. in 2009 and Bhutanese Organisation in Australia Inc. in 2012.
Associate Professor Adrian Vicary, is a Fellow of the University of South Australia and an Adjunct Associate Professor at the University.
Prior to his retirement from the University in 2014, he held leadership positions including Head of School, and a Dean with responsibilities for international Engagement. During this time Adrian developed relationships on behalf of the University of South Australia in many countries including India, China, Singapore, Malaysia, and in Europe. He is an Emeritus Fellow of the Association for Tertiary Education Management Inc, a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, and a member of the Board of the Council for International Trade and Commerce South Australia. In November 2015, Adrian was elected as Chair of the Board of Nexus Multicultural Arts Centre in Adelaide. Nexus is the only CALD body of its kind in South Australia, and has partnerships with other arts and cultural organisations nationally in promoting intercultural understanding. Adrian has been actively involved in relationships with India for 20 years, beginning with student mobility programs at the University of South Australia and extending into research and institutional partnerships. In August 2015, Adrian led the Education, Culture, Sport and Tourism Stream during the South Australian Government Business Mission to India.
Nicola Watkinson, Minister Commercial and Senior Trade & Investment Commissioner South Asia, Austrade.
She commenced this role in March 2013, Nicola is responsible for developing trade, investment and education links between Australia and South Asia with a team of over fifty-five staff in fifteen offices across India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. After a career in the private sector in the UK and with the Victorian Government in Melbourne, Nicola joined Austrade in 2003. Nicola’s career in Austrade has included roles as Consul-General Frankfurt, Senior Trade and Investment Commissioner Western Europe, Global Head of Investment and Senior Investment Commissioner for Europe, Middle East and Africa. She has also worked in North Asian markets with a particular focus on Japan, China and Korea. Nicola has sat on the advisory boards including the CSIRO (Australia’s premier research organisation), Industry Capability Network, Australia China Business Council and Australian Business in Europe.
