2009 shortlist


Asian Women of Achievement Awards Winners & shortlist 2009
The achievements of 10 Asian women were recognised at the tenth anniversary of the Awards attended by Their Royal Highnesses The Princes of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall. Judges of the Asian Women of Achievement Awards, chaired by British Red Cross chief executive Sir Nicholas Young, said this year’s winners were some of the most impressive and inspiring individuals ever to be honoured in the programme’s 10-year history.
Asian Women of Achievement Awards
Arts & Culture
Winner
Kishani Jayasinghe
opera singer
Sri Lankan born Kishani was the first South Asian soprano to sing at the Royal Opera House (ROH) Covent Garden and Buckingham Palace. She won international vocal competitions in Spain, Holland and Turkey, Her accolades include: former ROH young artist; associate and former licentiate of RAM; and Zonta Woman of Achievement.
Carolyn Choa
Dancer, Choreographer, Director and Producer
Jaishree Misra
Author
Kamile Shamsie
Author
Roxane Zand
Director for Middle East & Gulf, Sotherby’s
Asian Women of Achievement Awards
Business
Winner
Veera Johnson
CEO, Procserve
Veera is CEO of Procserve. She is a global thought leader in provision of electronic procurement solutions and services. The central theme of her career over the past ten years has been to harness the power of technology to improve efficiency and help save private and public-sector organisations time and money.
Kim Dawson (nee To)
Nasrin Janmohamed
Swati Mitra
Vin Murria
Nupur Singh
Asian Women of Achievement Awards
Entrepreneur
Winner
Christina Vaughan
founder, Image Source
Christina’s Asian roots are fundamental to her being today. Since launching Image Source to the international market in September 2000, Christina has worked tirelessly to build a strong worlwide brand presence for the company. She was the first non-American to be voted onto the Picture Agency Counsel of American board in 2003 and serves as its vice-president. She has been shortlisted to be the new president of the European Economic Interest Group, CEPIC.
Hajira Ahmad & Sadia Siddiqui
Dr Mah Hussain-Gambles
Kavita Jnagal & Rani Uppelle
Nasreen Karim
Asian Women of Achievement Awards
Media Professional
Winner
Riz Lateef
anchor, BBC London News
Riz is the anchor of the BBC’s news in London. She became one of the key figures in the coverage of the 2008 mayoral elections going head to head with Ken Livingstone and Boris Johnson- and was subsequently named one of London’s 1,000 most influential people by the Evening Standard.
Reena SenGupta
Salma Zulfiqar
Seetha Kumar
Hasina Momtaz
Ahlya Fateh
Asian Women of Achievement Awards
Professional
Winner
Dr Sunita Verma
dentist, Sparkle Dental Boutique
Dr Sunita is a leading cosmetic dentist. In her mission to help people achieve the physical and psychological benefits of a beautiful, healthy smile, Sunita set up Sparkle Dental Boutique, a multi award -winning private practice in west London. Now firmly established as a premier private practice in the UK, Sparkle Dental Boutique has revolutionised patient care and is positively changing public perceptions of visiting the dentist.
Professor Nish Chaturvedi
Yasmin Qureshi
Geeta Khehar
Dr Illina Singh
Dr Sunita Verma
Asian Women of Achievement Awards
Public Sector
Winner
Vicki Treadell
deputy high commissioner, Mumbai
Vicki is a diplomat with 30 years’ experience in policy and service delivery roles, with overseas assignments in Pakistan, Malaysia and now India as British deputy high commissioner to Mumbai. Vicki was born in Malaysia and made a member of the Royal Victorian Order (MVO) in 1989.
Dr Anwara Ali
Dr Farrukh Shah
Manjula Sood
Jan Rayat
Asian Women of Achievement Awards
Social & Humanitarian
Winner
Shaista Gohir
MBE, director, Muslim Women’s Network UK & Muslim Voice UK
Shaista is the director of the Muslim Women’s Network Uk and Muslim Voice UK. As a member of the National Muslim Women’s Advisory Group, she also advises government. She is a media commentator and speaks at events nationally and internationally. She was awarded an MBE in 2008.
Dr Tashmin Khamis
Adeela Shafi
Shereen Williams
Hannana Siddiqui
Asian Women of Achievement Awards
Young Achiever
Joint winner
Rehana Azib
barrister
Rehana is 29 and a practising barrister in London. She studied law at Oxford University and is a scholar of the Inner Temple. Rehana has also done extensive mental health charity work, particularly with Asian women. Rehana’s parents originate from Pakistan.
Joint winner
DJ Neev Ranu
Kiss FM
Neev’s radio show on Kiss 100 attracts 607,000 listeners. Her show has been nominated twice for the Asian Music Awards and her produced show for Rishi Rich Project was nominated for a prestigious Sony Music Award.
Melody Hossaini
Kam Mattu
Sonali Shah
Rajini Vaidyanathan
Asian Women of Achievement Awards
AWA Chairman’s
Winner
Vin Murria
CEO, Advanced Computer Software
Vin is a partner at Elderstreet Investments, and was chief executive officer of Computer Software Group, which she took private in May 2007 and sold to Hellman Friedman in a $1billion transaction. She holds a number of senior roles, including CEO at Advanced Computer Software and chair at BSG and Innovise. She is a trustee of the Fredricks Foundation and founder of PS Foundation, a charity that supports the education of children in India.