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Last week, Canberra played host to a milestone event for the Belgian-Australian community as the first-ever Belgian-Australian Excellence Awards, organised by Le Courrier Australien, brought together business leaders, entrepreneurs, researchers, creatives and community members to celebrate outstanding achievements and strengthen the ties between Belgium and Australia.

As a proud sponsor of this inaugural edition, Bilateral Solutions was honoured to support an initiative that recognises talent, innovation and leadership while fostering stronger connections between both countries.

For our Founder and Managing Director Martine Joly the evening also represented a natural continuation of a long-standing involvement with the French-Australian Excellence Awards, also organised by Le Courrier Australien and successfully running for several years. Seeing a Belgian-Australian edition come to life was both exciting and meaningful.

Martine Joly welcomed by His Excellency Mr Karl Stouthuysen, Ambassador of Belgium to Australia, upon her arrival at the Embassy of Belgium in Canberra.

A Warm Welcome at the Embassy of Belgium

Hosted at the Embassy of Belgium in Canberra, the evening gathered guests from across the business, academic, diplomatic and entrepreneurial sectors.

Martine was welcomed by Ambassador Stouthuysen and had the opportunity to reconnect with François Vantomme, Founder of the Belgian-Australian Excellence Awards, whose vision helped bring this inaugural edition to life for the Belgian-Australian community.

The event immediately set the tone for an evening focused on celebrating achievement, sharing stories and building meaningful connections across the Belgian-Australian community.

Martine Joly with His Excellency Mr Karl Stouthuysen and François Vantomme at the inaugural Belgian-Australian Excellence Awards.

Contributing as a Sponsor and Jury Member

Beyond sponsoring the event, Bilateral Solutions was proud to play an active role in recognising the finalists and winners.

Martine was invited to join the judging panel alongside representatives from fellow sponsors and supporters of the awards, helping evaluate candidates whose achievements reflected excellence, innovation and contribution to the Belgian-Australian community.

The judging panel brought together a diverse group of leaders and professionals, reflecting the collaborative spirit behind the awards.

Members of the jury and sponsors of the inaugural Belgian-Australian Excellence Awards.

Presenting the Environment & Sustainability Award

Among the six categories recognised during the inaugural Belgian-Australian Excellence Awards, Martine had the honour of presenting the Environment & Sustainability Award to Dr Antonin Demazy de Fortet, recognising his outstanding contribution and commitment to sustainability.

Martine Joly presenting the Environment & Sustainability Award to Dr Antonin Demazy de Fortet.

Following the presentation, Dr Demazy de Fortet addressed the audience and shared reflections on his work and the significance of receiving the award.

Dr Antonin Demazy de Fortet addressing guests after receiving the Environment & Sustainability Award.

A Memorable First Edition

The success of this first edition demonstrates the vibrancy of the Belgian-Australian community and sets a strong foundation for future editions.

We extend our congratulations to all finalists and winners, thank François Vantomme and the Le Courrier Australien team for bringing the awards to life, and acknowledge the support of His Excellency Mr Karl Stouthuysen and the Embassy of Belgium in Australia for hosting this memorable evening.

Celebrating connections and community at the inaugural Belgian-Australian Excellence Awards.

The evening highlighted the strength of the Belgian-Australian community and the value of creating opportunities for people to connect, collaborate and celebrate success together. For Bilateral Solutions, supporting the Belgian-Australian Excellence Awards is a natural extension of our commitment to helping international businesses and professionals build meaningful connections and succeed in Australia.

Photography courtesy of Le Courrier Australien.