Australia India Focus 201007

7/29/2019 Australia India Focus 201007

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INDIAN MINISTER FOR HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT VISITS AUSTRALIA

MINISTER SMITH VISITS INDIA MINISTER CREANS VISIT TO INDIA

SOUNDS FROM THE PAST WILLIAM BARTON MINISTER CREAN OPENS

AUSTRADE OFFICE VISIT TO AUSTRALIA BY MR SUMAN DUBEY AUSTRALIA -

INDIA COOPERATION IN EYE CARE LILLE FRO FOUNDATION NEW PROJECTS

FOR THE AUSTRALIA-INDIA STRATEGIC RESEARCH FUND MINDSCAPES BY

VINOD SHARMA TRADITIONAL HEALTHCARE AIC AUSTRALIAN STUDIES

FELLOWSHIP WINNERS ANNOUNCED INAUGURAL AUSTRALIA-INDIA COUNCIL

YOUNG MEDIA FELLOWSHIPS ADVANCE EMERGING LEADERS INDIA SUMMIT

AUSTRALIA-INDIA FOCUSPublished by the Australia-India Council & the Australia India Business Council

JULY 2010


2/15AUSTRALIA-INDIA FOCUS | 2JULY 2010

AUSTRALIA-INDIA FOCUS

THE HONOURABLE KAPIL SIBAL, Indian Minister forHuman Resource Development, was in Australia in Aprilvisiting Perth, Melbourne and Sydney. The visit presented asignificant opportunity for Australia and India to strengthentheir bilateral education relationship and build on commitmentsthat had been made over the past year.

As part of his official visit, Minister Sibal met with the thenDeputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard, Minister for Foreign AffairsStephen Smith, the Western Australian Deputy Premier KimHames, Victorian Premier John Brumby, Victorian Minister forEducation Bronwyn Pike, NSW Premier Kristina Keneally, senior

officials from key education and training stakeholders andmember of the Indian community and student representatives.

On 8 April in Melbourne, Minister Gillard and Minister Sibalsigned a Joint Statement on Education Cooperation. The JointStatement expands the existing exchange program betweenAustralia and India to include greater cooperation across alleducation sectors. The Joint Statement includes thedevelopment of a new India-Australia Education Council, thefirst bi-national body of its kind to be established between Indiaand another country.

Other initiatives agreed to under the Joint Statement include:

To facilitate the organisation of an India-Australia Inter-University Convention of Vice-Chancellors and Academia tointeract on issues of mutual concern among academics

To facilitate the initiation of a Joint Faculty DevelopmentProgram through regular exchange of faculty for mutuallearning in areas of teaching, research, curriculum anddevelopment, and

To develop a Memorandum of Cooperation between Indiaand Australia on monitoring standards and regulationsapplicable to the operations and activities of educationagents and the movement and well-being of internationalstudents.

Minister Sibal confirmed Indias interest in creating its own

National Qualifications Framework based on the AustralianQualifications Framework and was also interested inAustralias funding model for early childhood programs,including preschool and child care education.

Minister Sibal gave the inaugural lecture at the AustraliaIndia Institute and spoke to various other groups throughout hisvisit on knowledge transfer, global workforce mobility and thefuture of international education. Minister Sibal said thatIndias unique position as the worlds youngest economy willmean that it has the potential to provide skilled workers to theworld. He stated that there are many opportunities for Australia

to invest in education and training in India and to capitalise ontheir newly skilled workforce. The Government of India has seta target of skilling 500 million people by 2022.

INDIAN MINISTER FOR HUMAN RESOURCE

DEVELOPMENT VISITS AUSTRALIA

Minister Sibal with the then Deputy Prime Minister Gillard




MINISTER SMITHVISITS INDIA

THE AUSTRALIAN MINISTER for Foreign Affairs, the HonStephen Smith MP, undertook his third official visit to Indiain March 2010. His program included meetings with theIndian Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, the Minister forExternal Affairs, S M Krishna, the Minister for OverseasIndian Affairs, Mr Vayalar Ravi, the Minister for HomeAffairs, P Chidambaram, Indias new National SecurityAdvisor, Shiv Shankar Menon, the Minister of Environmentand Forests, Jairam Ramesh, and the Minister of Commerceand Industry, Anand Sharma.

Minister Smith assured the Indian Prime Minister and allhis interlocutors that the Australian Government was takingthe issue of Indian student safety seriously. Prime MinisterSingh said he appreciated the Australian Government'sefforts to address this issue.

Minister Smith also discussed recent changes toAustralias skilled migration program and the measures thatthe Australian Government is taking to support internationalstudents adversely affected by the closure of Australianeducational institutions.

Accompanied by Indias Minister for Human Resource

Development, Kapil Sibal.Minister Smith also cheered on the Australian team at

Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium, during the Australia India match during the Hockey World Cup. The Australianand Indian teams designated the game as a FriendshipMatch, and played for the inaugural Ajit Pal CharlesworthTrophy, named after two of the hockey greats of India andAustralia, Ajit Pal Singh and Ric Charlesworth. Bothchampion players were at the match.

Minister Smith with Minister Krishna in New Delhi(Photo by Graham Crouch)

ON 28 MAY 2010, the Australian High Commissioner to India,Peter Varghese, announced the winners of the 2010 Australia-India Council (AIC) Australian Studies Fellowships. A total offive fellowships were awarded, two in the senior category (foruniversity faculty) and three in the junior (for research scholars).

Australias multiculturalism and cultural coexistence wereunderlying themes among successful applicants this year.Professor Priyankar Upadhyaya of Banaras Hindu University(BHU) will work on the challenge of managing diversity, MsLovepreen Kaur from Max Healthcare plans to research theexperience of Indian students in Australia.

The AIC fellowships provide an excellent opportunity forawardees to extend their knowledge of Australia andAustralian Studies, and to develop collaborations with scholarsin Australia. The fellowships are part of the AIC AustralianStudies program to promote academic linkages.

Since the introduction of the fellowships in 2003, 17 seniorand 18 junior fellows have undertaken the 6 10 week visitto Australia, spending time at participating universities. Manyof the awardees have continued their strong interest inAustralia, and several have become champions of Australian

studies at their home institutions.

The successful awardees and their research topics are:

Professor Priyankar Upadhyaya, Malaviya Centre for Peace,Banaras Hindu University: Managing Diversities Peacefully:Learning Experiences from Multicultural Cities in India &Australia

Dr Nidhi Singh, Department of English, University ofRajasthan at Jaipur: Making Connections: South-AsianImmigrants Search for Cultural Coexistence

Mr Arindam Das, Heritage Institute of Technology, Kolkata:Indo-Australian Dialogue: Indian Diasporic presence and

the rethinking of culture, economy and politics Dr Parmod Kumar, Dept. of English, IGNOU: Writings from the

Fringe: A comparative study of Australian Aboriginal and IndianAborigines (dalits) through their autobiographies, memoirs et al

Ms Lovepreen Kaur, Department of Mental Health, Max HealthCare: Perceptions of safety and the acculturation experienceamong Indian students in Australia: A pilot study of NorthIndian and Punjabi Students in Melbourne and Sydney

In its seventh year of operation, the fellowships program isbeing managed by a consortium of Australian Universities onbehalf of the AIC. The consortium is led by Monash University,and includes the Australian National University, the University

of New South Wales, the University of Queensland and theUniversity of South Australia.

2010 AIC AUSTRALIAN

STUDIES FELLOWSHIPWINNERS ANNOUNCED




In May 2010, Australias then Minister for Trade, the HonSimon Crean MP, visited India for the third time since takingoffice in 2007, undertaking a program which included Delhi,Mumbai and Hyderabad.

During his visit, Mr Crean and his Indian counterpartMinister of Commerce and Industry, Anand Sharma, welcomedthe conclusion of the Australia-India Free Trade Agreement(FTA) Joint Feasibility Study. The Study recommends negotiationof a comprehensive bilateral FTA that includes trade in goods,trade in services, investment and other trade and investment

facilitation and cooperation measures, as a single undertaking.

Ministers Crean and Sharma endorsed the feasibility studyrecommendation, noting that both sides would need to undertakefurther internal processes before negotiations could be launched.

Independent modelling conducted for the study by the Centrefor International Economics indicates that an Australia-IndiaFTA could result in a net increase in Australias GDP by up toUS$32 billion (A$45.5 billion) and Indias GDP by up toUS$34 billion (A$48.3 billion) over a period of 20 years.

India is Australias fastest-growing major two-way trading

partner. Two-way trade grew 55 per cent to nearly $22 billion

in 2008-09.

In 2010, India became Australia's third largest export

market, up from 7th in 2007. Australias exports to India have

increased by an annual average of over 25 per cent over the

past five years, making India our fastest-growing major export

market. Mr Crean said.

He stated that the Governments top trade priority remains

concluding a comprehensive, balanced outcome in the DohaRound of WTO negotiations, but that an FTA with India can

complement the multilateral trading system.

The complementarities between our economies point

towards a closer trade and economic partnership. Australia is

a key supplier of resources and energy for Indias future

growth. But there remains untapped potential in services,

agriculture, manufactures and renewable and clean energy

technology, Mr Crean said.

MINISTER CREANS VISIT TO INDIA MARKS

THE CONCLUSION OF THE FTA STUDY

William Barton, one of Australia's finest traditionaldidgeridoo players, had the audience spellbound with hisrecreation of the dreamtime at the Sacred Arts Festival inDelhi on 7 March. In addition, he performed at a range ofinstitutions in India from 28 February to 15 March 2010 atthe invitation of the Australia-IndiaCouncil (AIC).

William astonished the audiencesby singing and playing thedidgeridoo and the guitarsimultaneously. The audienceparticipated with full enthusiasm inhis dramatic narration of dream timestories.

His performance at the MajorDhyanchand Stadium in Delhi duringthe World Cup AustraliaIndiaHockey match was muchappreciated. While in Delhi, he alsoperformed at the Salam Balak Trust,

Jawaharlal Nehru and the IndiraGandhi National Open Universities.

William also enthralled audiences in Chennai and Vellorein South India. He performed at a range of institutionsincluding a boys orphanage, the Sri Narayani VidyalayaSchool in Vellore and an evening concert organised byAustrade in Chennai.

SOUNDS FROM THE PAST WILLIAM BARTON

William Barton performing to school children in Delhi.




VISIT TO AUSTRALIA BY MR SUMAN DUBEY

The Hon Peter Garrett MP and Mr Dubey

L-R: Aminur Rahman, Consul General for South India & Trade Commissioner; Peter Linford, Senior Trade & InvestmentCommissioner South Asia, Austrade; Peter Varghese, Australian High Commissioner to India; Minister Crean;Ramakrishna Dastrala, Post Manager and Business Development Manager, Austrade Hyderabad; and SangeethaKrishnamoorthy, Business Development Manager, Austrade Hyderabad.

MINISTER CREAN OPENS AUSTRADE OFFICEIN INDIA'S FASTEST GROWING CITY

During a recent visit to India, the then Australian Ministerfor Trade, Simon Crean, officially opened Austrades newlyestablished office in Hyderabad Indias fastest growingcity. Hyderabad is the capital of Andhra Pradesh and is themajor meeting point for Northern and Southern India.

Hyderabad is a hub for the information technologyindustry and is the biotechnology and pharmaceuticalcapital of India. Hyderabad is also home to the worldslargest film studio.

Sectors in which there are opportunities for Australian

businesses include ICT, construction, biotech, infrastructure,

building and construction, entertainment, education

(particularly vocational training), aviation, pharma, agri-

business, retail, health and medical, mining and metallurgy,

franchising and technology transfer related opportunities.

For more information, contact Ramakrishna

Dastrala

In May 2010, the Australia-India Council was honoured to hostthe first visit to Australia by Mr Suman Dubey, Secretary to theIndira Gandhi Memorial Trust and Publisher/Editor of the WallStreet Journal (India fascimile edition). Mr Dubey has had a longand distinguished career as a journalist in print and television,and now oversees management of the Indira Gandhi MemorialMuseum in Delhi. He undertook programs in Melbourne,Canberra and Sydney, focusing on best practice in the outreachprograms of Australian cultural institutions. Mr Dubey also met

the Hon Peter Garrett MP, Minister for Environment Protection,Heritage and the Arts, to discuss possible collaborations betweenAustralia and India in the cultural heritage field.




IN APRIL 2010, a groundbreaking decision by a delegation ofIndian and international optometry representatives has led tofirm support for the development of eye care servicesthroughout India.

The delegation met to agree on a pathway for the furtherdevelopment of optometry as an independent profession andto substantially increase optometric human resources.

An estimated 456 million of Indias 1.12 billion peoplerequire vision correction. The staggering cost in lostproductivity from uncorrected refractive error (the need for aneye examination and pair of glasses) is estimated at $23

billion per annum.

The Australian delegation was led by Professor Brien Holden,CEO of the International Centre for Eyecare Education (ICEE) andthe Brien Holden Vision Institute. Professor Holden commented,The reality is that to provide the necessary vision care to thepopulation, India needs 115,000 optometrists. Professor Holdenadded that the successful development of optometry in Indiawould make a major and very public contribution to the healthand welfare of the people of the country.

A staunch advocate for quality education, Professor Holdensaid, Australia can assist in this process by sharing lessons

learned from the academic, professional and legislativepathway that we have followed over the last 80 years tobecome an effective health care profession. Optometry inAustralia is now a very well defined profession and makes asignificant contribution to the countrys welfare.

The meeting concluded with the signing of the DelhiDeclaration, which was endorsed by the Indian OptometricAssociation, the Association of Schools and Colleges ofOptometry (ASCO), World Council of Optometry, LV PrasadEye Institute (LVPEI), Brien Holden Vision Institute and ICEE.

Whilst in India, Professor Holden also visited Dehradun todiscuss the possibility of establishing a tertiary eye care centrein the Indian state of Uttarakhand. Professor Holden, Dr NagRao, Chairman and CEO of LVPEI and Vinod Daniel, Chairmanof AusHeritage, met with Dr Ramesh Pokhriyal, the ChiefMinister and Minister for Health for Uttarakhand, and seniorgovernment representatives to explore options for establishing

the centre.

Dr Rao said that by adopting the successful LVPEI eye carepyramid model, a blueprint for comprehensive eye carecoverage to all communities, the centre will train optometrists,ophthalmologists and support staff to be employed in the centreand in vision centres to be established in the surrounding ruralareas.

He added, Once established, the centre will make availablequality eye care services for people in the state of Uttarakhand,

both in the capital Dehradun and in neighbouring districts. The

provision of district vision centres will also provide employmentand education in the field of eye care to the young ruralpopulation of the state.

The initiative was supported by the Australia-India Council.

AUSTRALIA - INDIA COOPERATION IN EYE CARE

Vinod Daniel (left), Brien Holden (4th from left) and Dr Rao (5th from left) with representatives from the Uttarakhand StateGovernment in Dehradun.




IN 2008, Tamara Cannon, a former corporate lawyer based inSydney, sent an email to a group of friends telling them aboutPema, a little girl she had just met off the beaten track while ona climbing trip in the Trans-Himalayan region of Ladakh, India.

Pema was living in extreme poverty. She was also cold andhungry. Her family could not afford fuel for heating during thebrutal winter months. Nor could they afford to send her toschool. This little girls future was very grim.

Tamara decided to sponsor Pema and pay for her to go toboarding school, the only way she could get an education in

the isolated region where she lives. Asmall outlay covered her tuition, uniform,books, healthcare and board.

Moved by how easy it was to have areal impact, Tamara asked her friendswhether they would be willing to helpother children like Pema. The responsewas so overwhelming that the decisionto start up a charity was made, and theLille Fro Foundation was born.

Lille Fro Foundation works at thegrassroots. With the poorest of the poor.

With families and communities who aredifficult to reach and hard to helpbecause of their geographical isolationor the conditions in which they live. Thefocus is on education and training.

Today, the Foundation has 60 boysand girls sponsored. Their goal is tohave 100 children in school by the endof the year, and have 500 enrolled by2015.

In October 2009, after months of talkswith the Indian government, Tamara was

granted permission to enter a restrictedpart of India - home to some of theworld's poorest nomadic communities.Tamara is reputed to be the firstforeigner to have visited many of theisolated communities living in thissealed-off region.

Lille Fro has now established aCommunity Fund to extend skills trainingand learning initiatives to improve theeveryday lives for families living inremote villages. Working alongside

local leaders, Lille Fro aims to increasethe communitys access to a sustainablelivelihood, education, social servicesand health care.

Lille Fro has completed two community greenhouses as partof a pilot program to train families like Pema's how to grownutritious fresh food year round. The goal is to have 5greenhouses completed by the end of 2010.

To find out more, please visitwww.lillefrofoundation.org

LILLE FRO FOUNDATION

Translator Konchok Gyaltsen with Tamara Cannon in the Hanle Valley, Ladakh




THE SCIENCE RELATIONSHIP received a significant boostwith the announcement that the Australian and Indiangovernments will fund seventeen new joint research projects inareas including agricultural research, nanotechnology andvaccine development. Australias contribution of $5.1 millionacross the three-year life of the projects will be matched byIndia.

The support will be delivered through the Australia-India

Strategic Research Fund (AISRF), a platform for bilateralcollaboration in science jointly managed and funded by bothgovernments. The AISRF has been since its inception in 2006Australias largest fund dedicated to bilateral collaboration inscience with any country.

The most recent round of the competitive grant schemes thefourth remained highly competitive, with 160 applicationsreceived. The successful projects draw in world-class scientistsfrom some of the top universities and research institutes in bothcountries working on research in areas including:

Astrophysics The technology underpinning Australiasbid to co-host the Square Kilometre Array, a radio-telescopevastly more powerful than existing instruments

Biofuels Techniques to produce low-cost, high-efficiencybiogas and to better utilise algae to sequester carbon andproduce biofuel

Agricultural science Engineering disease resistance inwheat and rice and improving crop productivity in dry or

saline environments

Information technology Bringing the benefits of socialmedia to remote and rural areas with poor or no internetconnectivity

Nanotechnology Using nanotechnology to reduce thecost of a key component of fuel cells.

Further information on the AISRF and a fulllist of the successful projects is available athttp://grants.innovation.gov.au/AISRF/Pages/Home.aspx.

NEW PROJECTS FOR THE AUSTRALIA-INDIA

STRATEGIC RESEARCH FUND

Researchers at the University of Melbourne and Kolkatas Jadavpur University are working on techniques to convert lactose, a

waste product of the dairy industry, into valuable prebiotics. Their research is supported by a grant awarded in an earlierround of the Australia-India Strategic Research Fund.




VINOD SHARMA(b. Mumbai, India 1954), has been in love

with landscapes for the past four decades. Whilst pursuing an

international academic arts career (with some Bollywood

movie making on the side) Sharma has created a sophisticated

following for his extraordinary landscape painting, being seen

for the first time in Australia at the Gadfly Gallery in Perth from

6 August.

To me, my work is abstraction, says this affable artist who

will be in Perth for the opening of his first exhibition in

Australia. Im not painting a tree like a photograph, or eventrying to reproduce it. It is a matter of perspective.

It is this perception which sets him apart and impels him to

explore new vistas and traverse that extra mile, for he doesnt

even photograph landscapes, but experiences them and then

creates the textures that his mind sees and his heart

remembers.

With printmaking, painting and the movie industry as part of

his professional background, Sharma brings many diverse

qualities to his arts practice.

The exhibition is on display 6 - 29 August. It is free & open to

the public.

Gadfly Gallery, 131 B Waratah Ave Dalkeith WA

6009, www.gadflygallery.com

MINDSCAPES BY VINOD SHARMA




TRADITIONAL HEALTHCARE (TH) is an Australian-basednon-for-profit charitable organisation made up ofacupuncturists, architects, IT technicians, documentarymakers, teachers, and eco communicators who have a visionof creating sustainable healthcare facilities in under-privileged communities. TH endeavours to empowercommunities with the technologies and education to take anactive role in running and maintaining these clinics.

In December 2007, two Traditional Chinese medicalpractitioners from Australia travelled to the remote village of

Pundag in the state of West Bengal. The two practiced in avery basic clinic with 10 rickety wooden beds. After a month,the manager of the clinic, Bisthwanth Sing, organised anacupuncture camp in his home village of Datam, over 100kmfrom the Pundag clinic and any healthcare facility. Uponarrival, there was a large gathering of villagers around thetemporary clinic. The acupuncturists treated over 200 peopleeach within two days, but patients kept arriving, sometravelling for three days by foot. The acupuncturists realisedthe dire need for a permanent health care facility in the area,which led to the idea of Traditional Healthcare.

Arriving back in Australia the acupuncturists organised a

team of people to create plans to build a sustainable clinic inthe Datam village. After months of fundraising, in late 2009,TH sent a team over to treat from the temporary clinic, buildsupport contacts in the surrounding area, survey the land anddraw up the initial building designs. The designs encompassan education hall, accommodation for the volunteers andemployees, a large communal kitchen, a clinic with room for12 beds, an emergency room with two beds with the abilityto be used as a birthing room, and a dispensary for the herbsand homeopathic medicines.

Traditional Healthcares ultimate aim is to establishinfrastructure in the community which it can sustain

independently.

Three volunteers travelled to Datam in March to begin theconstruction of the buildings, and will return in September tocontinue the work.

Traditional Healthcare is looking for philanthropic groups,

sponsors, new members and volunteers to help raise

awareness and funds.

If you would like to take part in Traditional

Healthcares activities, please contactthe office on +61 3 96545499, view the

website www.th.org.au or send an email

to [email protected]

TRADITIONAL HEALTHCARE

TH founder, Tom Connor, treating a patient in Datam.




The Australia-India Council was proud toestablish a new program in 2009-10 aimedat providing outstanding young Indianjournalists with a chance to advance theircareers and expand their knowledge ofAustralia. The two inaugural winners of theAIC Young Media Fellowships wereannounced in New Delhi in January, and bothhave now completed their Australian visits.

The winners of the 2010 Fellowships were:

Mr Syed Nazakat Hussain, The Week newsmagazine. Mr Hussain researched issuessurrounding the Australia-India bilateralrelationship, including the StrategicPartnership between the two countries MrHussain interviewed the then AustralianPrime Minister, the Hon Kevin Rudd MP,about these issues during his visit.

Ms Anahita Mukherji, The Times of India. Ms Mukherjis

research focused on a range of topics relating to highereducation in Australia, including tertiary education andvocational education and training.

Announcing the winners, the Australian High Commissioner

to India, Mr Peter Varghese, said, The Fellowships attracted alarge number of quality and deserving applications with

relevant and interesting topics of research. We are particularly

pleased that journalists from most of the countrys

leading media outlets applied for the program.

The shortlist has been a challenging yet fruitful

process for the selection panel.

The Chair of the Australia-India Council andformer Australian High Commissioner to India, Mr

John McCarthy AO, was also present at theannouncement ceremony. Mr McCarthy said,

Australia is a vibrant and open country, and theCouncil wanted to ensure that outstanding youngIndian journalists were given an in-depthopportunity to learn more about our society,people and culture.

The Fellowships awarded the two young Indianmedia professionals grants of AUD $10,000(approx. 4 lakh rupees) to enable them to spendup to six weeks in Australia researching stories oftheir choice.

The Fellows were assisted in their Australianjourneys by the Australia-India Council Board and

Secretariat, and by a range of eminent Australianmedia personalities who provided expert adviceand assistance.

INAUGURAL AUSTRALIA-INDIA COUNCIL

YOUNG MEDIA FELLOWSHIPS

Anahita Mukherji with Asia Education Foundation Director, MaureenWelch, in Melbourne

Syed Nazakat Hussain with Mr Rudd in Canberra




ADVANCE EMERGINGLEADERS INDIA SUMMIT

THE HON. SIMON CREAN MP, officially opened the

Advance Emerging Leaders India Summit at a reception hosted

by the Australian High Commissioner to India, Peter Varghese.

The Summit brought together more than 120 leaders from

India, Australia and around the world to explore the future of

the Australian-Indian relationship. Focussing on four key

themes (education, innovation, environment and urbanisation)

the Summit delegates participated in a series of intensive and

interactive roundtable discussions and gained insights into the

relationship's history and future from experts including Tarun

Das, Neville Roach, George Eby Mathew, Rory Medcalf, Bruce

Hawker, Indrani Bagchi, Pramit Pal Chaudhuri and Neelam

Deo, among many others.

The recommendations from the roundtable discussions will

be presented to the Australian Prime Minister and help to

shape the direction of this important relationship.




At the Australia India Business Council Annual General Meeting held in Brisbane on 10 June the following AIBC members wereelected to the National Executive Committee for a two year term.

AIBC ELECTS NEW NATIONAL

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

National Chairman Mr Trevor OHoyTrevor O'Hoy is a distinguished and highly respected businessman. He was until recently the Presidentand CEO of Fosters having previously been Managing Director of Carlton & United Breweries. He iscurrently a director of a number of companies and organizations, including the RACV and CricketAustralia.

In 2005, Trevor was voted as BRW Magazines most admired new CEO and is also the recipient of theDistinguished Alumni Award at Monash University.

National Vice Chairman Mr Ravi BhatiaRavi Bhatia is the CEO and founder of Primus Australia, one of the largest telecommunications companiesin Australia. He is also the Chairman of Terria Access Seekers Association, an industry association of leadingtelecommunications companies in Australia and a Director of Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman.

Ravi has previously held senior management positions in US, India, Europe and the Middle East. Hisinternational experience spanning over three decades has covered technology, international business, trade,and public policy and he is a graduate of IIT, New Delhi.

National Treasurer Mr Mohit SharmaMohit Sharma is a Director of Mindfields Consulting in Sydney and Director of Mindfields Capital AdvisoryLtd based in Mumbai. Mohit has extensive experience in strategy, M&A, corporate finance, Outsourcingadvisory and risk management solutions with Deloitte, PricewaterhouseCoopers and Ernst & Young in Sydney.Mohit has been involved in prominent cross border acquisitions by Indian companies in Australia.

Mohit has been founding member of the Australia India Business Council serving on the NSW Chapter before

taking up role as National Treasurer.

Immediate Past Chairman Mr Brian Hayes QCBrian Hayes is a distinguished international environmental legislation consultant based in Adelaide, South Australia. He is been an activeparticipant in the development of trade and investment between Australia and India over many years.

Brian held the role of Chairman of the AIBC from June 2006 to June 2010.




After many years of dedicated service, Brian Hayes and HarishRao decided to step down from the respective roles ofChairman and Vice Chairman of the Australia India BusinessCouncil at the recent AGM.

Brian and Harish have been the backbone of the NationalExecutive Committee over many years through their strong

leadership and commitment to developing trade andinvestment relationships between Australia and India. Bothgentlemen have been active leaders and participants at thenumerous AIBC forums throughout their tenure and Brian andHarish have fulfilled their roles with enthusiasm, passion and adeep knowledge of Australian, Indian commercial and culturalmatters.

The AIBC would like to sincerely thank Brian and Harish fortheir outstanding service to the Council and the Australian andIndia Business Communities. The Council wishes Brian andHarish prosperity and success in their future endeavours.

AIBC ACKNOWLEDGES THE

SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTION OFBRIAN HAYES QC AND HARISH RAO

Brian Hayes accepting the award for Ambassador of the yearfrom Brian Cunningham, Chief Executive, Department of Tradeand Economic Development, South Australia in 2008

Harish Rao at the Australia India Address in Melbourne,August 2009

L to R: Brian Hayes, QC Chairman of AIBC, Harish Rao, Deputy

Chairman AIBC, Hon Kamal Nath, Hon Simon Crean at theJoint Ministerial Commission / Joint Business Council (JMC /JBC) meeting in Melbourne, May 2008


15/15


The Australia-India Focus newsletter is an occasional publication of the Australia-India Council and the Australia India BusinessCouncil. Australia-India Focus aims to inform our readers on the range of cultural and business activities occurring betweenAustralia and India. The views expressed within this publication do not necessarily reflect those of the Australia-India Councilor the Australia India Business Council. Articles may be reproduced freely with acknowledgement.

Subscription to Australia-India Focus is free. To receive Australia-India Focus by email, simply supplyyour contact details to: [email protected]

Australia-India Focus is also available from the Australia India Business Councils website atwww.aibc.org.au and the website of the Australia-India Council at www.dfat.gov.au/aic

The Australia-India Council (AIC) was established in1992 in response to a recommendation by the SenateStanding Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence andTrade, following an inquiry into Australia's relationswith India.

The Council initiates or supports a range of activitiesdesigned to promote a greater awareness of Australiain India and a greater awareness of India in Australia,including visits and exchanges between the two

countries, development of institutional links, andsupport of studies in each country of the other. TheCouncil offers support, in the form of funding, forprojects likely to contribute to the development of therelationship, within the context of AIC objectives andguidelines.

For more information, visitwww.dfat.gov.au/aic

Or contact: The Executive Director, AICPO Box 5363 Kingston ACT 2604Telephone +61 2 6261 3833

Email: [email protected]


The AIBC is a national NGO and is recognised by theAustralian government as the peak body for promotingbusiness links between Australia and India. The AIBCfirst point of contact by government and businessrepresentatives from both countries seeking access toindustry, business and government leaders of bothcountries.

The Council runs business events in major capitals ofAustralia and runs trade delegations to India.

For more information, visit www.aibc.org.au

Or contact: National Secretariat AIBC99 Bay St Brighton Vic 3186Telephone: +61 3 8534 5070Fax: +61 3 8534 5140

Email: [email protected]

Australia India Focus 201007

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