[SatNews] To be honored at the upcoming World Teleport Association's Awards for Excellence luncheon — at the upcoming Satellite 2011 — is the newly named Teleport Executive of the Year.

The honoree is Adrian Ballantine, the founder and president of Australian-based NewSat Ltd. His skills as a successful entrepreneur, including ventures with Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, have found a home in the teleport community, according to WTA. His ardent belief in quality service has made NewSat, founded in 1987 as a software venture, one of the most respected satellite service companies in Australia since 2002. The company has a global client base in eight vertical sectors. Under Mr. Ballintine’s leadership, NewSat has acquired the Australian teleport assets of NEWSKIES in Perth and Adelaide. In 2009, NewSat declared that it plans to launch the nation’s first non-government, non-foreign owned geostationary satellites. Jabiru-1 and 2 are scheduled for launch in 2014. In January of this year, Mr. Ballintine’s company acquired seven orbital slots from Kyprosat.

The Teleport Executive of the Year award is presented to an individual for demonstrated entrepreneurship, leadership and innovation in the development or operation of a teleport-based business. In honoring Mr. Ballintine, WTA noted the 99 percent retention rate that NewSat was able to ensure as a result of its customer-focused vision in 2010. NewSat’s eye on quality also resulted in 100 percent teleport uptime in 2010. “Adrian Ballintine’s intense focus on everything he undertakes has made him a force to be reckoned with. Whether negotiating for orbital slots or teleport facilities, he works until he succeeds,” said Louis Zacharilla, WTA Director of Development, who is master of ceremonies for the award ceremony. “He continues to march this aggressive company forward in its quest to become an integrated global satellite operator. NewSat is no longer simply a local teleport. It has secured major contracts in targeted markets, including government, mining and media. Adrian’s determination to not simply gain customers, but to win them over stands out. The NewSat team, under Adrian’s leadership, maintains tight control over the quality and price of each and every service offering it brings to market."

During this year’s Teleport Awards for Excellence luncheon ceremony, sponsored by SES, WTA will also honor its Independent Teleport of the Year, Teleport Technology of the Year and present its first Corporate Social Responsibility Award. The luncheon begins at noon on the 15th of March and is free to WTA members who register, and for a small charge to non-members.