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Recognising excellence across the Brazil-Ireland corridor
The first edition of the BICC Business Excellence Awards celebrates the organisations, professionals and initiatives that have done the most to strengthen ties between Brazil and Ireland, across trade, community, and innovation.
Winners will be announced at the BICC Annual Gala & Awards, on 26 November 2026, in Dublin (venue to be confirmed).
Nominations are now closed.
Thank you to everyone who took part in this inaugural edition! We received 234 nominations across six categories, representing approximately 135 businesses, professionals, researchers and organisations contributing to the Brazil–Ireland relationship.
Eligible nominations are now being assessed by the independent judging panels.
TURNING BILATERAL POTENTIAL INTO COMMERCIAL OUTCOMES
ABOUT BICC
The Brazil Ireland Chamber of Commerce (BICC) is an independent, member-led chamber connecting businesses, institutions and people across the Brazil-Ireland corridor. Founded in Dublin in 2023, BICC's mission is to create the access, intelligence and relationships that turn bilateral potential into commercial outcomes.
The BICC Business Excellence Awards are organised by BICC as part of this mission, recognising the organisations, professionals and initiatives that have done the most to strengthen ties between Brazil and Ireland. This is the first edition of the Awards, presented at the BICC Annual Gala & Awards on 26 November 2026.
6
CATEGORIES
Ist
EDITION
26 Nov
GALA NIGHT
THE SIX CATEGORIES
SIX WAYS EXCELLENCE IS RECOGNISED
01
BRAZIL-IRELAND CORRIDOR LEADERSHIP AWARD
Recognises proven business performance from an organisation operating across both the Irish and Brazilian markets. Open to members and non-members alike, provided the organisation is registered and has a real, sustained operation in both countries.
02
COMMUNITY REACH AWARD
Recognises an Irish or multinational organisation that has best connected with the Brazilian community in Ireland, whether as customers, employees or partners.
03
TRUSTED ADVISOR AWARD
Recognises a professional service provider in immigration, legal, tax, accounting or financial services that has excelled in serving, and growing alongside, the Brazilian community in Ireland.
04
BRAZILIAN RISING
STAR AWARD
Recognises a Brazilian-founded business in an early stage of its journey in Ireland, showing clear trajectory and potential rather than scale.
Presented in partnership
with Vitrine..
05
BRAZILIAN ENTERPRISE EXCELLENCE AWARD
Recognises a Brazilian-founded business that has already established and scaled successfully in the Irish market, through expansion, multiple locations, or sustained growth.
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06
RESEARCH & INNOVATION EXCELLENCE AWARD
Recognises outstanding research, innovation, academic contribution and talent development connected to Brazil and Ireland, including individual researchers, research teams, universities, academic institutions and Brazil-Ireland research partnerships.
Delivered in partnership with Brazilian Academics in Ireland (BAI).
HOW IT WORKS
CLEAR RULES, WRITTEN ASSESSMENT, ONE JURY
For full eligibility criteria, evaluation weightings and detailed rules, see the Official Regulations.
KEY DATES
THE ROAD TO THE GALA
7 SEPTEMBER 2026
Call for Nominations opens
11 OCTOBER 2026
Nomination deadline
12 TO 13 OCTOBER
Eligibility screening by BICC
14 OCTOBER TO 13 NOVEMBER
Evaluation by the jury
16 NOVEMBER
Meet the finalists: Rising Star and Enterprise Excellence
16 TO 20 NOVEMBER
Public voting window (Rising Star & Enterprise Excellence only)
26 NOVEMBER 2026
Winners announced at the BICC Annual Gala & Awards
WHO DECIDES
MEET DE JURY
Winners are selected by a curated jury bringing together diplomatic, institutional and professional expertise from across the corridor. For four categories, the jury decides the winner directly. For Brazilian Rising Star and Brazilian Enterprise Excellence, the jury selects three finalists, and the public vote decides the winner.
FIXED JURORS · ALL SIX CATEGORIES
Ambassador of Ireland to Brazil
H.E. Martin Gallagher
Grant Thornton
Peter Vale
To be announced
Juror to be announced soon
CATEGORY JURORS
COMMUNITY REACH
André Acetose Nascimento
IBEC
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Senator Aubrey McCarthy
Seanad Éireann
TRUSTED ADVISOR
André Acetose Nascimento
IBEC
Senator Aubrey McCarthy
Seanad Éireann
BRAZIL IRELAND CORRIDOR LEADERSHIP
Alex Figueiredo
ApexBrasil Europe
Eoghan O'Briain
Enterprise Ireland
Kerry Europe
Marcelo Marques
BRAZILIAN RISING STAR
Juliana Bolger
Vitrine.ie & Vitrine Magazine
Oisín Geoghegan
Local Enterprise Office
Sebrae Paraná
Marcos Aurelio Gonçalves
BRAZILIAN ENTERPRISE EXCELLENCE
Avolon
Felipe Campos
Sebrae Nacional
Paulo Renato
Magazine Luiza; Grupo Mulheres do Brasil
Luiza Helena Trajano
RESEARCH & INNOVATION
Dr. Charles Alves de Castro
Atlantic Technological University (ATU) & Brazilian Academics in Ireland (BAI)
Dr. Danilo Sarti
Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) & Brazilian Academics in Ireland (BAI)
Maynooth University (MU) & Brazilian Academics in Ireland (BAI)
Dr. Erivelton Nepomuceno
Gerald Gallagher
Technological University Dublin (TU)
The Trophy
THE ART BEHIND THE AWARDS
Each BICC Business Excellence Award trophy is being crafted in Dublin by Baron Forge Studio, founded by a Brazilian entrepreneur who has built his creative practice in Ireland.
Through precision craftsmanship and hand-finished materials, Baron Forge Studio creates pieces inspired by culture, heritage and connection — making it a particularly meaningful partner for an award that celebrates the people and organisations strengthening the relationship between Brazil and Ireland.
The trophy itself becomes part of the story: designed and made in Ireland, through a Brazilian perspective, to recognise those building connections between both countries.
MEET THE ARTIST
Pedro Baron
Founder, Baron Forge Studio
Next Steps in the Awards Process
The jury is currently reviewing nominations across all six award categories.
Stay tuned! The three finalists in each of the Brazilian Rising Star Award and Brazilian Enterprise Excellence Award categories will be announced on 16 November, with public voting taking place from 16 to 20 November 2026.
Winners across all six categories will be announced at the BICC Annual Gala & Awards on 26 November 2026.