In a groundbreaking achievement on the global business stage, Mark Surgenor, President of the Council for Business with Britain (CBB) in Sri Lanka (2023–2025), has been named the winner of the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) International President’s Award 2026.
Out of a competitive international network of more than 75 British Chambers of Commerce and Business Councils worldwide, this recognition marks a monumental milestone as the first time ever that Sri Lanka has received this prestigious award.
The annual Chamber Awards celebrate the individuals and organizations that strengthen the global Chamber Network and drive international commerce. Mark was specifically honored for modernizing the CBB during his two-year presidency (2023–2025), successfully transforming it from a traditional networking group into a high-value platform for commercial insight, trade access, and strategic connections.
His tenure included hosting high-impact forums, engaging with over 200 member organizations, and founding CBB NextGen – a structured platform empowering the next generation of business leaders and entrepreneurs.
Photograph taken by Philip J.A Benton on 14 October 2026.
