Australia India Business Council (AIBC) Women in Business (WIB) Chapter, a national initiative of AIBC, the peak body facilitating bi-lateral trade and investment between the two nations, has highlighted opportunities and bilateral women leaders during the month of International Women’s Day with a full calendar of bilateral-focussed initiatives across the country.
AIBC WIB National Chair and immediate past AIBC National Chair Ms Sheba Nandkeolyar said: “The series of International Women’s Day events aimed to drive the vision of AIBC WIB ‘50-50’ and encourage equal gender representation of all businesses in the bilateral India-Australia space. AIBC WIB’s purpose is to drive bilateral trade relationships between Australia and India, with a prime focus on trade and investment between businesses run by women as well as create momentum for Women in Business to gain an equal footing in all that they do, including inspiring the next generation.”
Commenting on the strategy behind the series of events, Ms Nandkeolyar explained that the Australia-India Economic Strategy to 2035 highlighted sports as one of the sectors for facilitating the bilateral business relationship. “Australia has traditionally been a leader in the sports arena. The most recent development being Australia’s upcoming hosting of the Women’s ICC World Cup T20. Ms Christine Holman, Board Member of the T20 World Cup was invited to lead the NSW and Victoria sessions. Panellists in all states represented the length and breadth of sectors which were highlighted in the IES2035 such as education, resources & METS, agribusiness, tourism, energy, health, infrastructure, financial services, sports, science and innovation.”
New South Wales
AIBC WIB NSW, in conjunction with Consul General of India—Sydney, hosted a panel event which focused on sectoral opportunities and thanked Acting Consul General of India Sydney Mr Chandru Appar and his team for their support and his inspirational words highlighting the Government of India’s commitment to women’s economic empowerment. Christine Holman presented the ICC World Cup T20 opportunity for Australia at the event.
Christine was joined by other esteemed panellists from various sectors: Preeti Bajaj, CEO, Clipsal Solar (A SCHNEIDER Electric Venture); Pallavi Sinha, Lawyer & Academic, AIBC NSW Vice President, and AIBC WIB NSW Co-Chair (recently nominated for an Upper House ticket by the Liberal Party); Sonia Gandhi, Director, Gandhi Creations, AIBC NSW WIB co-Chair and AIBC NSW Management Committee Member; Tania Rhodes-Taylor, Vice Principal—External Relations, University of Sydney; and Anubha Varma, Vice President and Head of Trade Finance, Deutsche Bank Australia & New Zealand. Sheba Nandkeolyar moderated the session and invited panellists to share their experiences, challenges and possible solutions to reach the leadership roles they enjoy today.
Victoria
AIBC WIB VIC in association with the Consulate General of India Melbourne hosted a successful event with a keynote from Christine Holman, Board Member of the T20 World Cup. AIBC WIB VIC thanked Mr Rakesh Malhotra, Consul General of India Melbourne and his team for their support in making the sector-focussed event a success and for his insightful speech on the commitment of India to gender balance.
Anoushka Gungadin, co-Chair of AIBC WIB VIC and Vice President of AIBC Victoria, spoke about unlocking women’s potential to achieve gender balance and was joined by panel speakers: Dr Karen Barker, Executive Manager and Senior Adviser Engagement, Australia India Institute, Chancellery, Provost, The University of Melbourne; Obu Ramaraj, Author and Director, Smart Money Solutions; and Julia Page, Managing Director & Chief Executive, Veski. Molina Asthana, co-Chair of AIBC WIB VIC and Principal at Swarup Asthana Lawyers and Business Advisors moderated the session.
Queensland
AIBC WIB QLD’s sectoral opportunities-focussed event commenced after AIBC WIB QLD was inaugurated by Chief Guest Ms Archana Singh, Honorary Consul of India in Queensland and included dialogue with Hon. Consul as well as other high-profile speakers. AIBC thanked Ms Singh for highlighting India’s focus on gender equality.
Speakers included Ms Tamanna Monem, AIBC WIB Qld Chair, Lead—Industry Development, Ipswich Council; Prof Beth Woods, Director General—Department of Agriculture & Fisheries, Queensland Government; Dr Dimity Dornan, Executive Director & Founder, Hear and Say; Dr Tanya Unni, Director, Amtan Medical, Taanam Group Pty Ltd, Skin Lab & Beauty Clinics, Amtan Health and Australian Skin Lab; Michele Berkhout, Director, Corporate Solutions, TAFE Queensland, South West; and Prof Neena Mitter, Centre Director—Centre for Horticultural Science, University of Queensland.
During all three AIBC WIB events, AIBC thanked AIBC National Platinum Partners, McCullough Robertson Lawyers and Deloitte; National Gold Partners AustralianSuper and nib; and AIBC WIB QLD thanked Queensland Event Partner Women of Westpac Group.
Following on from the three successful AIBC WIB events, Ms Nandkeolyar revealed AIBC’s partnership with The Growth Faculty for Ms Indra Nooyi and learn from her business experience as a very successful woman business leader from the Indian diaspora. Newly appointed as an Amazon Board Member, Ms Nooyi is praised for her strategic thinking and was responsible for growing PepsiCo’s revenues from $35 billion to $63.5 billion during her 12-year tenure as CEO. Ms Nooyi has recently been appointed to the ICC Board as the organisation’s first independent female director.
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