News – BISA

🌟 Celebrating Excellence at the BISA Annual Awards Dinner 🌟

The 2024 Business Ireland South Africa Annual Awards dinner was a resounding success. With 180 members and guests attending the gala dinner at The President Hotel we truly had a wonderful evening. With keynote speakers James Vos Mayoral Committee Member for Economic Growth and Ambassador Austin Gormley, Irish song and dance, superb food and wines and rugby Ireland v Argentina to finish off the night.

Congratulations to Business of the year Ardagh Group, businessman of the year Liam Tomlin, businesswoman of the year Francesca Beighton, SMME of the year MAINLINE CIVIL ENGINEERING, the very first HALL of FAME recipient IVOR QUEALLY from QK Group SA and Ireland.

Sports celebs included SA/IRl Internationals AJ Venter Freddie McLennan and Sacha Feinberg – Mngomezulu all of whom correctly predicted an Irish win. Special thanks to Kieno Kammies for our double MC act, our BISA ‘staff’, our special guests, and to all our members for their amazing support. Finally thanks to our Team Ireland members, Embassy of Ireland in South Africa, Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland, and Niamh Ahern for music and tech support.

What a fantastic evening at the recent Business Ireland South Africa (BISA) Annual Awards Dinner! Held at the beautiful President Hotel in Cape Town, the event brought together over 180 guests, including esteemed dignitaries and leaders from Ireland and South Africa, to honour individuals and businesses strengthening the ties between our nations.

The night was a testament to innovation, leadership, and collaboration – and it was our pleasure to celebrate this year’s incredible award winners:

🏆 BISA Business of the Year: Ardagh Glass Packaging
Recognized for its commitment to sustainability and innovation in glass packaging, Ardagh sets the standard for quality and eco-friendly manufacturing across Africa.

🏆 Businesswoman of the Year: Fran Beighton
Fran’s visionary leadership at The Daily Maverick has driven transformative growth, increasing membership by 10,000 in 2024 alone and enabling the newsroom to thrive while keeping their journalism free for all.

🏆 Businessman of the Year: Liam Tomlin
Liam’s Chefs Warehouse group has revolutionized Cape Town’s dining scene, while his dedication to education and charitable initiatives like the Mark Mbotya Internship Programme inspires us all.

🏆 SMME of the Year: Mainline Civil Engineering
Mainline’s expertise in pipeline construction and tunneling earned this award, showcasing how innovative engineering solutions can drive sustainable development in South Africa.

🏅 Hall of Fame Inductee: Ivor Queally
A true visionary, Ivor has elevated QK Meats to global prominence, setting a benchmark for excellence in the meat processing industry.

It was a privilege to share the evening with such inspiring individuals and businesses. Congratulations to all our nominees and winners – you are building bridges, fostering growth, and leaving a lasting legacy across Ireland and South Africa.