Tough contest spells quality entrants

The focus now is on IBA Awards Presentation

Quality and success are the characteristic features of the entries to the Indian Newslink Indian Business Awards (IBA) 2009, according to the panel of judges, which is independent of this newspaper.

At press time, the panel were busy selecting finalists and winners in each category.

This year, there are ten award categories, in addition to the Supreme Business of the Year Award (see box below).

Ignition Partner Limited Executive Director Chad Wilkie is leading the panel as its Convenor.

The finalists and winners will be announced at the IBA 2009 Awards Night Gala Black Tie Dinner tomorrow (November 16) at the Stamford Plaza Hotel in Auckland City, at which John Campbell of TV3 and Campbell Live fame will be the Master of Ceremonies.

Prime Minister John Key, Opposition Leader Phil Goff, Waitakere and Manukau City Mayors Bob Harvey and Len Brown will be among the guests of honour.

Waitakere City and Waitakere Enterprise are the principal supporters of IBA 2009 and were the source of encouragement and patronage in launching the Awards scheme (IBA 2008) last year.

Commercial banks and major companies of the private sector have booked tables to entertain their business associates, colleagues and staff at the function.

With about 425 guests expected, the event is not only a sell-out but also an important occasion for the Indian business community in New Zealand. Participants and guests from Hamilton, Tauranga, Wellington and Christchurch are among those attending the Awards Night Dinner.

Major Transformation

The lounge area of the Stamford Plaza Hotel, where the Awards Night will be held, will undergo a metamorphosis to accommodate a specially constructed stage, television screens and other equipment.

Associate Sales & Marketing Manager Sunny Kaushal said it would be a new experience for the management and staff of the hotel.

“We will transform the lobby into a spectacular showcase and for the first time ever have a sit-down, table-served dinner for more than 400 guests. Apart from my team, several other departments including those of Food & Beverage, Executive Chef, and Property have been working for months planning and fine-tuning the programme. We will leave nothing to chance,” he said.

Mr Kaushal said Indian Newslink held its first Indian Business Awards in November 2008, following the success of which the Hotel was delighted to sponsor the Best Innovation Business Award this year.

“It is important to recognise and reward successful Indian businesses and Stamford Plaza has always been keen to support such initiatives,” he said.

General Manager Peter Gee will present the Award to the winner at the ceremony.

Quality Entertainment

Quality entertainment will form an interesting and invigorating backdrop to the ceremony, including classical and contemporary dances (by Ratna Nagalakshmi Venkat), a fashion show and live entertainment, in each of which performers are from the resident Indian community.

Anshu Rattan, Dagny Rocha, Denisha Ramanandi, Jumana Shakeer, Kiran Dhaliwal, Rupasha Bhattacharya, Sabrina Farouk, Sangeeta Selvaraj, Shreya Gejji, Suchitra Venkat and Varsha Donthi Reddy are among the models participating in the fashion show, produced by Reshabh D Productions and sponsored by Auckland based retail company Roop Darshan.

Indiana Publications (NZ) Limited, publisher of Indian Newslink, Indian Newslink Fastfind Indian Business Directory and owners of IBA is the event manager.

The company has culled local talent to provide live entertainment throughout the evening. The group includes Joseph Alexander (Alex), Joscel Alexander, Hemant Thaker and Shivam Padayachi.

Joseph Alexander (Alex) is well known to the Western audiences as a performer with electronic drums at a number of business, community and social events but has become an important part of the musical orchestra performing at Indian shows over the past three years.

Influenced and inspired by ‘drummer icons’ such as American session and studio drummer Steve Gadd, Jazz Fusion drummer Dave Weckl and groups such as UB 40, Dire Straits, Eagles, Clearance Clearwater Revival (CCR), Syro Gyra and Deep Purple, he has been a source of endearment to a cross-section of the people.

Alex has appeared in the New Zealand production of ‘Grease.’

He has also performed in several bands including ‘Rewind’ (NZ) ‘Crimson Rage’ (India) and is currently associated with ‘Velocity,’ playing electronic drums.

Joscel Alexander is a chip off the old block, and like his father, follows Weckl, in addition to Steve Smith, Mike Johnston, Dennis Chambers and Thomas Land.

An AUT University student pursuing a course in Hospitality Management, Joscel is adept at acoustic drums.

Almost all organisers of Indian shows first ascertain the availability of Hemant Thaker, before they even confirm booking the venue; for, over the years, this young keyboard player has become an integral part of every orchestra.

Well versed in Bollywood numbers, Hemant adapts easily to any circumstance and hence is considered an amicable artiste.

He has a number of albums to his credit, composed for several organisations and associations in the community.

Base guitarists are often considered trendy, living in a world of their own; conforming to which is Shivam Padayachi. His role at ‘Desi Fever,’ a popular local band is pronounced and music lovers recognise and applaud his talent at all shows.

Shivam is a registered electrical inspector, adding yet another string to his qualifications and capabilities.