The event brought together institutions, entrepreneurs and leaders of the Italo-Australian community at Tartufo restaurant.
Among the guest speakers, Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner highlighted the central role of the Italian community in the city’s economic and social development, stressing the importance of an urban vision built on modern infrastructure, sustainable mobility and the revitalisation of suburban areas.
The presence of the Italian Consul for Queensland and the Northern Territory, Luna Angelini Marinucci, and Defence Attaché Marco Bertoli at the Italian Embassy in Canberra, further underlined the significance of economic and cultural diplomacy in relations between Italy and Australia.
Also in attendance were State MP Grace Grace, Serge Voloschenko, Rosie Vecchio and Maria Cupo, representing key civil and community institutions in Queensland.
Particularly noteworthy was the participation of members of the Order of the Star of Italy and the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic, alongside long-standing figures of the Italian community such as Santo Santoro, Giovanni Antonaglia, Gilberto Maggiolo and Tony Bosso.
A special moment of the event was the presentation of Life Membership of ICCI QLD&NT to Ian Humphreys, former Honorary Solicitor of the Chamber and judge of the Business Excellence Awards.
During the lunch, ICCI QLD&NT President Allan Pidgeon opened the Business Excellence Awards 2025 ceremony, dedicated to the memory of three prominent members of the Italo-Australian community: Guido Canale, Carlo Crocetti and Tony Reggi.
Among the award recipients, Giuseppe Toscano of Merlo Coffee received the Employee of the Year Award for his leadership, professional ethics and consistent commitment to excellence, ensuring precision, efficiency and a positive workplace culture.
Mark Tacca, manager of Swiss-Belhotel Woolloongabba, accepted the Manager of the Year Award on behalf of Raymond Faulkner, while Sawfish received a commendation for technological innovation applied to small and medium enterprises.
The Business of the Year Award was presented to Fiorino & Associates, recognised for professional excellence, strong engagement with the Italian community and contribution to promoting Italo-Australian legal and business culture.
The event concluded with the raffle draws, lucky door prizes and a networking session that allowed participants to build new connections and celebrate the vitality of the local business community.
The day once again confirmed the role of ICCI QLD&NT as a key platform bringing together business, institutions and community, strengthening for more than thirty years the bridge between Queensland, the Northern Territory and Italy.
