The shortlist for the prestigious, annual Asian Achievers Awards, which returns after a two year gap due to the pandemic, has been announced and it features business executives, Hollywood actresses and music stars that have found fame across the world. Winners will be announced at the coveted ceremony on Friday 23 September at Grosvenor House, Park Lane, London.
South Asians in the UK today occupy leadership positions across a range of fields, including politics, business and civil society. The Awards aim to recognise the work of such individuals from across the South Asian community. There are ten categories including Art & Culture; Business Person of the Year; Entrepreneur of the Year; and Community Service
Asian Achievers Awards received more than 500 nominations, from which the judges shortlisted four per category, evenly divided between male and female candidates.
This year, eminent women personalities from across the fields have made it into the shortlist. Here are some high profile nominations
- Female power-lifter, Karenjeet Kaur Bains (nominated for Sports Personality of the Year): The first British Sikh female to represent Great Britain in the sport – three-time All England Champion; two-time British Champion; and 2019 Commonwealth Champion. She has defied cultural and gender stereotypes by competing in a male-dominated sport. Uninhibited by South Asian societal perceptions that associate weightlifting with masculinity, Karenjeet believes strong is beautiful
- Krishna Pujara (nominated for Community Service Award): Krishna is the CEO of Enfield Saheli (saheli translates as female friend), a charity empowering women to make informed choices. She is chairperson at several organisations, including Women Economic Forum UK and Women’s Indian Chamber of Commerce & Industry. Krishna makes a huge impact and difference to many women’s lives and has contributed to developing voluntary community organisations in the UK
- Katherine Birbalsingh CBE – ‘Britain’s strictest Head Teacher’ (nominated for Community Service Award): Katharine is Chair of the Social Mobility Commission, and headmistress and co-founder of Michaela Community School in Wembley. She was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 2020. She is also chair of the Government’s Social Mobility Commission, responsible for monitoring and promoting social mobility across the UK
- Millie Chandarana – Blackburn Rovers Ladies Footballer (nominated for Sports Personality of the Year): Millie is a 25 year-old box-to-box midfielder for Blackburn Rovers Ladies. Previously, she spent two years as a professional player in Italy in the Italian Serie A for UPC Tavagnacco and San Marino Academy. The midfielder is one of few British Asian women – or men – who has made it to the top in football
- Captain Harpreet Chandi – British Army Officer, ‘Polar Preet’ (nominated for Uniformed & Civil Service Award): Captain Harpreet Chandi, an army officer and physiotherapist also known as ‘Polar Preet’, has created history by becoming the first woman of colour to complete a solo unsupported trek to the South Pole. She also completed a 156-mile ultramarathon across the Sahara Desert in 2019
- Salma Bi, Cricketer (Nominated for Sports personality of the year) : Salma Bi Captained the first all Asian Futsal team in Bigham and founded the first all Asian women’s cricket team. She became one of the first female Asian umpires in the UK, senior cricket coach and a director of a sports company. In 2020 she was awarded a British Empire Medal
- Alisa Ahmad, Civil Engineer (Nominated for Uniformed and Civil service award): Interested in how engineering is threaded throughout our lives. Alisa became a civil engineer as an Apprentice in 2019, studying for her degree while working on construction sites demonstrates her dedication to the industry. As a female Pakistani wearing a hijab, Alisa is proud of the diversity she brings to the sector and hopes to inspire others.
- Emb Hashmi, Journalist (Nominated for Woman of the year): Emb is an award winning journalist for the BBC News. She is the founder of the Rising Girl charity that educates and empowers young women via the Rise Together programme. Emb was featured in the book Women That Uplift, Inspire, and Empower, shortlisted in Hello Magazines Kindness Inspiration Awards; and recently won a She Award
- Dr Zareen Rohi Ahmed, Founder & CEO, Gift Wellness (Nominated for Community Service award): Dr Ahmed is the founder and CEO of Gift Wellness. She is the Chair of the Halimah Trust, a charity established to fulfil the dreams of her daughter who was tragically murdered in 2007. Also Zareen is a coach with Dent Global, where she has the privilege to help other entrepreneurs to realise their business dreams.
Hafsa Qureshi and Neeta Patel were among the winners in the last edition of the awards in 2019. Hafsa Qureshi, won the award for the Uniformed and Public service category while Neeta Patel, the CEO of Centre For Entrepreneurs, became the Woman of the Year.
The judging panel for this year’s Asian Achievers Awards is reflective of the diversity and experience of the nominations received. It includes Former Deputy Assistant Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, Bas Javid; Former President of the Royal College of General Practitioners, Dr Mayur Lakhani CBE; COO of Monzo Bank, Sujata Bhatia; music producer, Bally Sagoo; Welsh Assembly Member, Natasha Asghar; and Artistic Director of Darbar Festival, Sandeep Virdee OBE.
Pratik Dattani, Managing Director, EPG Says, “The Asian Achievers Awards aim to celebrate Asian excellence across the UK. They harbour a special place in the community, documenting our growth and contribution to life in the country over the last two decades. We have been impressed by the breadth and calibre of nominations from across the country that came in this year which show quite how extensive our positive contribution is across all aspects of British life.”
The awards ceremony will be interspersed with live performances on the night including Brit Award-nominee, Rumer; and star of TV’s Man Like Mobeen, stand-up comedian Tez Ilyas; with Lord Jeffrey Archer conducting the charity auction in support of the chosen Charity Partner, Pardada Pardadi.