Five-day national program brought together government, business, investment, innovation, culture and sport
across Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria, culminating in the 2026 IABCA Awards Gala at the National
Gallery of Victoria.
The India Australia Business & Community Alliance (IABCA) has concluded its 2026 Australia Immersion Week,
connecting close to 1,000 participants across Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria through five days of
government, business, investment, cultural and sporting engagement.
From Queensland Parliament and the Art Gallery of NSW to the National Gallery of Victoria, the Melbourne
Cricket Ground and Sydney Harbour, the national program connected Australian and Indian leaders across
government, business, trade and investment, academia, innovation, culture and community.
The week commenced at Queensland Parliament, in partnership with Trade and Investment Queensland,
bringing government and industry together around the Queensland–India opportunity. Hon Ros Bates MP, Consul
General Mrs Neetu M. Bhagotia and Peter Varghese AO joined the program examining practical pathways for
trade, investment and business collaboration.
In Sydney, the IABCA Global Leaders Forum at the Art Gallery of NSW brought together senior Australian and
Indian leaders around three strategic highways — People, Place and Partnership — spanning talent and global
connections, culture and sport, green hydrogen, innovation, investment and future industries.
Dr Paul Grimes PSM, CEO of Austrade, led the People conversation, with senior voices from across government,
business and institutions examining how Australia and India can translate strong people-to-people ties into greater
economic opportunity. The Forum also featured the CBA India Opportunity Research & Insights Launch, bringing
new business insight into the wider conversation around engagement with India.
The day then moved from economic dialogue to cultural diplomacy. Maud Page, Deputy Director and Director of
Collections at the Art Gallery of NSW, and former Australian cricketer Lisa Sthalekar joined the Place conversation
exploring how culture, sport and major institutions can build connection, influence and opportunity. The program
transitioned into Avatar: Forms of Vishnu, extending the Australia–India conversation beyond economics and
trade through one of India’s significant cultural and spiritual traditions.
In Melbourne, IABCA guests were welcomed to the National Gallery of Victoria for a private experience of Cartier:
The Exhibition, with Thomas Crye, Managing Director of Cartier Oceania, joining guests as part of an evening
connecting global business, craftsmanship, culture and creative excellence.
More than 300 leaders then gathered for the 2026 IABCA Awards Gala Dinner & Ceremony — the first IABCA
Awards Gala to be held in Victoria and a celebration of close to 90 finalists selected from more than 300
submissions across 30+ industries. IABCA’s post-event reporting confirms the scale of the finalist cohort and
participation across the wider Immersion Week.
Addressing the Gala on behalf of the Australian Government, Hon Julian Hill MP, Assistant Minister for
International Education and Assistant Minister for Citizenship, Customs and Multicultural Affairs, spoke to the
expanding economic relationship and the importance of increasing Australian business engagement and
investment into India.
“The opportunity now is to build on the momentum in the Australia–India relationship by increasing Australian
business engagement and investment across the corridor.” — Hon Julian Hill MP
Representing the Government of India, Deputy High Commissioner Irina Thakur reflected on the role platforms
such as IABCA play in strengthening the bilateral relationship — bringing government, business and communities
together and creating connections that extend beyond formal government-to-government engagement. Her
attendance and role as Deputy High Commissioner are independently reflected in current public sources.
Government House Adelaide
“Platforms such as IABCA strengthen the bilateral relationship by bringing government, business and communities
together and creating connections beyond formal government-to-government engagement.” — Deputy High
Commissioner Irina Thakur
Their remarks reinforced a theme that ran throughout the five-day national program: as the strategic relationship
between Australia and India deepens, converting that momentum into enduring economic, institutional and
people-to-people relationships requires sustained engagement across sectors.
Leadership recognised across the Australia–India relationship
The 2026 IABCA Awards recognised individuals and organisations contributing across business leadership, trade
and investment, innovation, science and research, emerging leadership, community impact and the creative and
sporting economy.
The 2026 recipients included Rajni and Pawan Luthra, Founders of Indian Link Media Group, recipients of the
Lifetime Achievement Honour; Professor Mohan Yellishetty; Addverb Australia; Renew IT & UNSW SMaRT
Centre; Neil Saligrama; Lina Ashar; Rushi Vyas; Alpa Anand Sonigra; CUMI (Australia) Pty Ltd; Winsher Sports –
Australian Home of Football; InQuik Pty Ltd; Orica; Little Growling Café; and DoxAI — reflecting the breadth of
businesses, industries and leaders contributing to the Australia–India relationship.
IABCA extends its congratulations to all 2026 IABCA Award winners, Highly Commended recipients and finalists,
whose achievements reflect the diversity, innovation and leadership represented across the IABCA ecosystem.
Following the Gala, Immersion Week moved from the boardroom and gallery into Australia’s sporting culture
during AFL Grand Final Week. Delegates experienced the Australian Sports Museum at the MCG, the energy of
the AFL Grand Final Parade and the AFL Footy Festival, demonstrating the role sport plays in Australian identity,
culture and connection. IABCA acknowledges the AFL for helping bring delegates into the heart of Grand Final
Week and supporting this distinctly Australian component of the journey.
The five-day national program concluded in Sydney with the AustCham India business delegation, combining a
private Sydney Harbour catamaran experience and Australian BBQ with informal business connection —
providing a distinctly Australian setting in which to consolidate relationships built throughout the week.
Now in its 12th year, IABCA operates as a year-round, non-membership ecosystem connecting government,
business, industry, academia, innovation, culture and community across the Australia–India corridor.
Its network reaches more than 21,000 people and organisations, supported by 7,000+ alumni and partners, while
the 2026 Awards attracted 300+ submissions across 30+ industries.
The 2026 Australia Immersion Week demonstrated the increasing breadth of the Australia–India relationship —
moving beyond a single industry, city or event to create trusted pathways for strategic dialogue, business
engagement, cultural diplomacy and cross-sector collaboration.
Through these connections, IABCA continues to help translate bilateral momentum into meaningful relationships,
new opportunities and sustained impact across the Australia–India corridor.
