Sky City prepares for high profile event

High-ranking officials of the Government, political and business leaders and professionals will get together at the Indian Newslink Indian Business Awards (IBA) Presentation Ceremony at a Gala Black Tie Dinner scheduled to be held on Monday, November 19, 2012 at Sky City Convention Centre.

Deputy Prime Minister Bill English, Former West Bengal Governor Gopalkrishna Gandhi (grandson of Mahatma Gandhi and C Rajagopalachari, the first Governor General of Independent India), Leader of the Opposition David Shearer, Indian High Commissioner Avanindra Kumar Pandey, Auckland Mayor Len Brown, BNZ Chairman John Waller and BNZ Partners Director Anthony Healy will be among the Guests of Honour at the event.

Ministers of the Crown, leaders of political parties, former ministers, Members of Parliament and leading businesses, consultants, entrepreneurs of small, medium and large enterprises will be among the guests at the event.

Awards & Entertainment

The management of the Sky City Convention Centre and a number of other organisations are coordinating efforts to ensure the success of the Awards Night, which will witness the announcement of finalists in 12 different categories. Winners in each category and the winner of the ‘Supreme Business of the Year’ Award will be presented with trophies at the Ceremony.

The event will commence with cocktails and networking at the Promenade and Marlborough Rooms, which will also feature an exhibition of products and services of our Sponsors.

Among the entertainers are Ratna Venkat (Indian Classical Dances) and Viraf, Afrin & Arzan Todywalla, Mumta & Yogesh Gounder, Arual Deng, Carol Hemopo, Lerato Masiyane and Sonam Sharma of V4U Entertainments Limited.

A five-member band, comprising Joseph Alexander (Electronic Drums & Octopad), Joscel Alexander (Acoustic Drums), James Fromont (Lead Guitar), Everard Fernandes (Bass Guitar) and Hemant Thaker (Keyboards) will entertain guests throughout the evening.

Expanding benefits

Sunny Kaushal, Associate Director of Sales & Marketing at Stamford Plaza Hotel, which hosted the Awards Ceremony the first three years, said that organisations participating in IBA as entrants see the larger picture and the inherent benefits.

“Besides celebration of success, finalists and winners send a positive message to customers and attract new business, raising their profile.

“The entry process enables them to analyse their performance, understand market realities and plan for their future,” he said.

Mr Kaushal said that finalists and winners also have a positive effect on staff morale, motivation and retention.

“Everyone is a winner, as the Awards Ceremony provides a major opportunity for businesses to network, renew and make new contacts,” he said.

“IBA has achieved the distinction of being one of the strongest brands in New Zealand. As a well-planned and executed project, it was become truly an institution born to succeed,” Mr Kaushal said.

Title Sponsor

Mr Waller said that he was looking forward to the event this year.

“BNZ is happy and proud to be the Title Sponsor again this year and I was pleased to see so many businesses in the Indian community doing well,” he said.

Auckland Central Business District based BNZ Partners Managing Partner Lyndon Settle and Senior Partner Ansuya Naidoo said that the Bank was extremely happy to be associated with IBA 2012 as the Title Sponsor, Sponsor of the ‘Best Large Business’ Category and ‘Supreme Business of the Year’ Award.

“We look forward to the Awards Night,” they said.

Raja Venkatesh of BNZ Partners Quay Park in Auckland City has been actively involved in our workshops conducted in May, June, July and August this year to motivate potential participants to file quality entries.

He said that the workshops were useful for participants, to not only understand the Awards process but also consider innovation as a part of their growth process.

“Business Awards encourage companies to review their performance from different perspectives, affording them a unique opportunity to benchmark themselves against others, get honest feedback on what is working and what aspects of the business require improvement,” he said.

He said the panel of judges are among highly successful and credible businesses.

“Therefore, their evaluation of businesses including growth, profitability and career development of staff is invaluable,” he said.