The Indian Newslink Indian Business Awards (IBA) have been gaining attention and support of an increasing number of companies, entrepreneurs, professionals and individuals, evidenced by their response since the scheme was established in 2008.
Following the success of the first IBA Awards Night held at the Stamford Plaza Hotel on November 16, 2008, Shobhna Golian, a successful Auckland based lawyer suggested that it was time Indian businesswomen were recognised and rewarded for their success in the business community.
“We have among us chartered accountants, lawyers, solicitors, engineers, doctors, manufacturers, entrepreneurs and many other professionals. They have contributed significantly to the progress of the economy, the society and the community over the past several years. We must acknowledge their achievements and celebrate their success. Indian Newslink has done well to institute Business Awards. You should consider an independent category for businesswomen,” she had said.
We respect the opinions of well-wishers and readers such as Ms Golian. She was in fact a finalist in the Best Professional Services Business and the Best Professional Business Person of the Year categories in IBA 2008.
Since then, a number of other businesses and potential entrants suggested a separate category to honour successful businesswomen.
“Indian women have been in the business sector for more than 75 years in New Zealand, as farmers, medical practitioners and lawyers. In recent years, we have seen an increasing number of them as chief executives, top managers, consultants and professionals. Such women deserve to be recognised and celebrated,” they said.
It took us more than a year to consider various aspects of the category including expected response, fields of inclusion and other factors.
The Panel of Judges headed by Chad Wilkie, an expert in analysing and judging business awards, agreed for the inclusion of the category.
“The Best Businesswoman of the Year category provides an interesting addition to the IBA as it would recognise an outstanding woman who has had a significant impact on the success of a business,” he said.
As a departure from other categories, participants in the Best Businesswoman of the Year Award could file their entries directly or be nominated by a company or an individual, provided they meet the criteria.
This could be in addition to entering three other categories.
TV 3, which is a part of the Media Works Group, is the sponsor of this Award.
Best Large Business
A majority of businesses in the Indian community are owner-operated and remain in the small business sector, reflecting the profile of the New Zealand business characteristic feature. However, hundreds of businesses belong to the Large and Medium business sector. Among them are manufacturers, exporters, importers and service providers.
The IBA has been an eye-opener, showcasing Indian businesses engaged in almost all economic, commercial and industrial activities, ranging from manufacturing, wholesaling and retailing to providing software solutions and professional solutions. Many of them are large and medium sized corporates with international presence and offices in several countries of Europe, Middle East as well as India and the US.
The Best Large Business Award was instituted to recognise a successful large business with 26 or more full time employees.
East Tamaki Health Care, sponsor of this year’s Best Large Business Award, was the focus of attention at the IBA 2009 Awards Night. As well as winning the ‘Supreme Business of the Year Award,’ the company picked up the ‘Best Business Innovation Award’ and the ‘Best Professional Business Services Award,’ besides being a Finalist in the ‘Best Large Business’ Category.
The judges said East Tamaki Health Care is a customer focused health service, driven by the needs of the customers.
“The company has developed an innovative model for carrying out geographic and customer segmentation to identify areas of demand for their services.
“East Tamaki Health Care’s strategy to train its own nurses and the learning environment for its professional personnel allows the company to grow successfully through engaged and focused personnel.
“Systems developed at East Tamaki Health Care are now being used by other New Zealand medical organisations and there is interest from overseas.”
We will feature profiles of IBA 2010 sponsors in our ensuing editions, apart from promoting them on Radio Tarana.
Our Panel of Judges
Chad Wilkie, Executive Director, Ignition Partner Limited (Convenor)
Adrian Dixon, Business Consultant
Chip Dawson, Managing Director, International Business Management Ltd
Dr Claire McGowan, Managing Director, Commercialisation Advisers Ltd
David Hawkins, Associate Professor, Unitec School of Design
Nevil Gibson, Editor-in-Chief, The National Business Review
Steve Corbett, Chief Executive, e-Centre Ltd, Massey University
Tim Livingstone, Senior Partner, UHY Haines Norton, Chartered Accountants
Tony Bacon, Sector and Partner Manager, Vodafone NZ
Vijaya Vaidyanath, Chief Executive, Waitakere City Council
Our Sponsors & Awards
The National Bank of New Zealand (Title Sponsor)
Best Small Business and Supreme Business of the Year
East Tamaki Healthcare: Best Large Business
Stamford Plaza Hotel: Best Business Innovation
Patton Limited: Best Young Entrepreneur of the Year
Millennium Group: Best Restaurant Business
Kalamazoo Group: Best Professional Services Business
GOPIO: Best Exporter to India Business
Radio Tarana: Best Marketing Excellence
TV 3 (Media Works Ltd): Best Businesswoman of the Year
Sponsorship available for other categories. Write to editor@indiannewslink.co.nz
