Asian Women of Achievement Awards Shortlist and Winners 2021
Asian Women of Achievement Awards
AWA Chairman’s Award
Winner
Ghaida Al-Jaddir
Service Director of Paediatric Surgical Speciality, Chelsea and Westminster NHS Foundation Trust
Ghaida Al-Jaddir
Service Director of Paediatric Surgical Speciality, Chelsea and Westminster NHS Foundation Trust
Ghaida is a dynamo who has reached the pinnacle of British dentistry, coming from war torn Iraq. Her mission is to ensure children get the best start in life with dental and medical care as a basic right. She is the UK’s first consultant in paediatric dentistry who is female, of Arabic origin and born and educated outside the UK.
Winner
Azjargal Ulziitogtokh
Managing Director, MSD Investments
Azjargal Ulziitogtokh
Managing Director, MSD Investments
Financial professional Azjargal has over 15 years of banking experience across multiple geographies in sectors including mining, agribusiness, services, industry, energy and consumer. She is a committed advocate of social development and actively participates in a range of professional organisations working across gender equality, inclusion and green development.
ASIAN WOMEN OF ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS
Arts & Culture
Winner
Anisa Morridadi
Founder, Beatfreeks
Anisa Morridadi
Founder, Beatfreeks
Founder of Beatfreeks, a company offering insight and youth engagement to businesses across the UK so as to create more relevant organisations that embrace diverse ideas and talent, Anisa is passionate about creating opportunities for young people. She also sits on the board of the Clore Leadership Programme, working to increase the diversity of quality leadership in the arts and cultural sector.
Highly Commended
Sangeeta Pillai
Founder, Soul Sutras
Sangeeta Pillai
Founder, Soul Sutras
Podcaster, activist and speaker Sangeeta founded the feminist network, Soul Sutras, tackling taboos in South Asian culture. She’s also the creator of the award-winning Masala Podcast and Masala Monologues workshops and theatre shows, featured on BBC Radio London and in the Observer, Evening Standard and HuffPost.
Aditi Anand
Artistic Director, Migration Museum
Artistic Director, Migration Museum
Aditi Anand
Artistic Director, Migration Museum
Aditi is Head of Creative Content at the Migration Museum, where she curates physical and online exhibitions that explore the ways in which migration in the UK has shaped who we are – as individuals and as a nation. Prior to this role, Aditi designed a multimedia entrepreneurial skills curriculum for over 1,000 government schools in India.
Suzie Lee Arbuthnot
Celebrity Cook
Celebrity Cook
Suzie Lee Arbuthnot
Celebrity Cook
Suzie won the BBC’s Best Home Cook 2020 series and has not looked back. She now has her own show, Home Cook Heroes, and has been widely featured online and in print. She’s on a mission to inspire confidence in all of us to cook from scratch and learn new cooking techniques and skills. Suzie is a chartered accountant and mother of two.
Sunetra Sarker
Actress and Producer
Actress and Producer
Sunetra Sarker
Actress and Producer
Born and raised in Liverpool, Sunetra is an actress and producer, best known for playing Dr Zoe Hanna on Casualty for nine years. A role model and industry voice for diversity, Sunetra has worked on the BAFTA Elevate Programme as a mentor to up-and-coming talent from less privileged backgrounds.
Zeba Talkhani
Author
Author
Zeba Talkhani
Author
Zeba is the author of memoir My Past is a Foreign Country: A Muslim Feminist Finds Herself, named by Hillary Clinton as one of the best books by and about inspiring women. She is also a passionate advocate for marginalised voices in the publishing industry and sits on Bloomsbury's diversity and inclusion committee.
ASIAN WOMEN OF ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS
Business
Winner
Ravleen Beeston
Regional Vice President of Sales, Microsoft Advertising
Ravleen Beeston
Regional Vice President of Sales, Microsoft Advertising
Ravleen is Regional Vice President of Sales at Microsoft Advertising UK. As a thought leader and spokesperson for one of the world’s leading technology companies, she also uses the platform to drive better diversity and inclusion within the company and the wider UK industry of digital media.
Highly Commended
Neelam Hanif
Area Manager, Enterprise Rent-A-Car
Neelam Hanif
Area Manager, Enterprise Rent-A-Car
Neelam rose quickly through the ranks to become an area manager at Enterprise Rent-a-Car, where she inspires and leads her employees with passion and a strong work ethic. In 2017, she was recognised as one of Enterprise’s Top 10 Females. She is also a mentor for the UK-based social enterprise empowering girls, Girls Out Loud.
Highly Commended
Eunice Zhu
Director, Head of Derivatives Counterparty Risk (XVA) Trading, SMBC Nikko Capital Markets
Eunice Zhu
Director, Head of Derivatives Counterparty Risk (XVA) Trading, SMBC Nikko Capital Markets
Eunice is an award-winning derivatives specialist and trader, with proven success leading the counterparty risks (XVA) trading desk buildout, portfolio management and strategic project management. As a passionate advocate for gender and racial diversity, Eunice has been instrumental in creating and leading several women’s networks, including
Women in Banking & Finance, a Lean In circle.
Roli Agrawal
Chief of Staff to Global CEO, NTT
Chief of Staff to Global CEO, NTT
Roli Agrawal
Chief of Staff to Global CEO, NTT
Roli has enjoyed a learning-and-experience rich career spanning over 20 years, working for corporates, consulting firms such as Mckinsey & Company and Bain & Company, and start-ups. In her current role, she drives priority projects, designs and runs a fit-for-purpose business cadence that powers accountability and performance, and provides support for critical decisions.
Aditi Kibe-Heal
Marketing Director, Unilever
Marketing Director, Unilever
Aditi Kibe-Heal
Marketing Director, Unilever
Aditi is a senior leader within Unilever's hair care business. She has launched three corporate start-ups; pioneered an eCommerce sales and marketing change programme, and was part of the founding team at digital agency, Deloitte Digital. She’s a mentor and role model to digital talent at Unilever.
Abigail Tan
CEO, St Giles Hotels and Founder, Hotels with Heart Charitable Initiative
CEO, St Giles Hotels and Founder, Hotels with Heart Charitable Initiative
Abigail Tan
CEO, St Giles Hotels and Founder, Hotels with Heart Charitable Initiative
Abigail began her career in hospitality at the age of 24 with St Giles Hotels. In 2018 she became CEO for the UK, Europe and US. Her passion lies in working with teams to develop positive initiatives that make an impact on individuals and communities, as well as creating a hotel group that has a unique story and that can play in the global field for generations to come.
ASIAN WOMEN OF ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS
Technology & Digital
Winner
Nidhi Kalra
Director, EY Consulting
Nidhi Kalra
Director, EY Consulting
A leader in EY’s Financial Services team, Nidhi delivers digital finance transformations for clients to achieve strategic outcomes. Transformations include enterprise applications and cloud adoption and the leveraging of technologies like robotics, AI and analytics. She is passionate about inclusive workspaces and nurturing the next generation of female talent.
Highly Commended
Bingqian Gao
Senior Director of Global Advanced Analytics, Aktana
Bingqian Gao
Senior Director of Global Advanced Analytics, Aktana
Bingqian is Senior Director of Global Advanced Analytics at Aktana, where she leads the advanced analytics and AI/ML capability. She was the first female Certified Alteryx Expert, her initiative won the Lord Mayor’s Dragon Award 2021, and she was nominated for the 50 Most Influential Women in UK Tech.
Dr Freeha Azmat
Associate Professor, University of Warwick
Associate Professor, University of Warwick
Dr Freeha Azmat
Associate Professor, University of Warwick
At Warwick University, Freeha works on engineering education research projects worth £3 million. These projects focus on, firstly, identifying the facets that can attract young students to engineering to close the UK skills gap and, secondly, investigating innovative methods for teaching the engineers of tomorrow.
Charul Gupta
Senior Product Manager, Transport for London
Senior Product Manager, Transport for London
Charul Gupta
Senior Product Manager, Transport for London
Charul is Senior Product Manager at Transport for London. She leads on the Technology and Data products for all the Surface Transport Services (such as Buses, DLR, Trams, Dial-a-Ride, Emirates Air Line, River Services, Victoria Coach Station) to address the transport needs of London. She is passionate about diversity at the workplace and is co-founder of Women in Tech community at TfL.
Sharmila Natarajan
Senior Developer, Royal Mail
Senior Developer, Royal Mail
Sharmila Natarajan
Senior Developer, Royal Mail
Sharmila is a senior developer working with Royal Mail. Her role involves developing software for the parcel-based services within the Royal Mail Group, and her day-to-day activities are to provide creative solutions for the IT related challenges faced by the business.
Arka Raina
Design Consultant, IBM
Design Consultant, IBM
Arka Raina
Design Consultant, IBM
IBM Consultant Arka designs and delivers inclusive client products and services. She also volunteers with the IBM Call For Code Racial Justice Challenge to create an open-source solution to address systemic racism; teaches female university students to code via Code First Girls, and mentors designers at ADPList.org.
ASIAN WOMEN OF ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS
Entrepreneur
Winner
Pam Banwait FCIPD
Founder and Managing Director, Banwait Group Holdings
Pam Banwait FCIPD
Founder and Managing Director, Banwait Group Holdings
Pam is the founder and managing director of Banwait Group Holdings, a business she has transformed from a single care home provider into an award-winning, regional multi-care home business. Pam has an extensive background in human resources and is a Chartered Fellow of the CIPD, often called upon to share insights with entrepreneurs and business leaders.
Highly Commended
Tina Chen
Founder & Chief Tea Officer, HumaniTea (Mighty Drinks)
Tina Chen
Founder & Chief Tea Officer, HumaniTea (Mighty Drinks)
Inspired by the bubble tea concept and British tea-drinking culture, Tina made a career switch from IT to the tea business, founding HumaniTea. Set on offering a healthier alternative to ice tea and coffee lattes, and inspiring the practice of mindfulness, HumaniTea is plant-based and is now stocked throughout the UK.
Fehmina Ahmed
COO, Smart Cells International
COO, Smart Cells International
Fehmina Ahmed
COO, Smart Cells International
Fehmina was the first Asian graduate in NatWest’s Economics Department and the only female in the Asia-Pacific team. She is currently COO of Smart Cells, the UK’s first private cord blood stem cell bank, where supporting women and understanding their needs is critical. She also leads mentoring sessions and is active in women’s leadership groups.
Siddhi Mittal
Co-Founder, YHANGRY
Co-Founder, YHANGRY
Siddhi Mittal
Co-Founder, YHANGRY
Siddhi has a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science from Columbia University and is also a CFA charterholder. Constantly buzzing with energy, she is a professional Bollywood dancer, and the Co-founder of YHANGRY, a tech platform democratising access to private chefs at home.
Sally Maier-Yip
Founder and Managing Director, 11K Consulting
Founder and Managing Director, 11K Consulting
Sally Maier-Yip
Founder and Managing Director, 11K Consulting
Sally has been described as bamboo: “Asian. Growing. Resilient.” In six years, she has built the UK's leading China luxury PR and communication agency, taking her client base from zero to 40, including some of the world's most prestigious interior design, architecture, property development, and luxury retail companies. Prior to this role, Sally enjoyed a successful career in PR in Hong Kong, Singapore and London.
Carrie Waley
CEO, Mandarin Consulting
CEO, Mandarin Consulting
Carrie Waley
CEO, Mandarin Consulting
Carrie worked as a China consultant for a number of investment banks prior to starting Mandarin Consulting, a leading global cross-cultural career coaching business that has helped thousands of Chinese graduates. Carrie is a Freeman of the City of London and a Founding Freeman of the Guild of Entrepreneurs.
ASIAN WOMEN OF ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS
Professions
Winner
Sultana Tafadar
Barrister, No.5 Chambers
Sultana Tafadar
Barrister, No.5 Chambers
Sultana is a human rights, international law and criminal justice barrister. She has acted in over 25 high profile terrorism and national security cases, and serves individuals, NGOs and state parties on matters of international law.
Ghaida Al-Jaddir
Service Director of Paediatric Surgical Speciality, Chelsea and Westminster NHS Foundation Trust
Service Director of Paediatric Surgical Speciality, Chelsea and Westminster NHS Foundation Trust
Ghaida Al-Jaddir
Service Director of Paediatric Surgical Speciality, Chelsea and Westminster NHS Foundation Trust
Ghaida is a dynamo who has reached the pinnacle of British dentistry, coming from war torn Iraq. Her mission is to ensure children get the best start in life with dental and medical care as a basic right. She is the UK’s first consultant in paediatric dentistry who is female, of Arabic origin and born and educated outside the UK.
Halima Bhayat
Director of digital learning, head of computing, head of faculty and senior leader of STEAM and international schools, Ursuline High School Wimbledon
Director of digital learning, head of computing, head of faculty and senior leader of STEAM and international schools, Ursuline High School Wimbledon
Halima Bhayat
Director of digital learning, head of computing, head of faculty and senior leader of STEAM and international schools, Ursuline High School Wimbledon
As the charismatic and dedicated head of computer science, Halima helps her students understand the world of possibilities offered by the subject, and is responsible for a dramatic increase in those studying for GCSE. She also helps run an interfaith coding project where schools with different and diverse communities come together to code and collaborate.
Chu Ting Ng
Senior Associate, Reed Smith
Senior Associate, Reed Smith
Chu Ting Ng
Senior Associate, Reed Smith
Chu is an associate in Reed Smith’s Financial Industry Group. She has helped drive the rapid growth of the fund finance team from an initial three specialists to over 20 associates, a team that is now regarded as a leading practice in the industry. As an advocate for diverse recruitment, Chu actively supports the firm’s diversity, equity and inclusion efforts.
Lin Yue
Executive Director, Goldman Sachs Asset Management
Executive Director, Goldman Sachs Asset Management
Lin Yue
Executive Director, Goldman Sachs Asset Management
Lin is a senior executive at Goldman Sachs Asset Management, responsible for growing and managing key relationships across UK institutional investors. A champion for diversity, she has helped elevate women and ethnic minorities in the workplace, delivering innovations at the intersection of diversity, culture and psychology within business. She is also a multi-award-winning thought leader and keynote speaker.
ASIAN WOMEN OF ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS
Media
Winner
Dr Shini Somara
Science & Tech Producer and Reporter
Dr Shini Somara
Science & Tech Producer and Reporter
After working in mechanical engineering and fluid dynamics, Shini found purpose in encouraging people to pursue STEM. Now a published author, podcaster, broadcaster and mentor, Shini translates the complex into relatable and fun content. Through science and technology content on TV and digital platforms, she has reached millions of people around the world.
Highly Commended
Nalini Sivathasan
Video Journalist, BBC Asian Network
Nalini Sivathasan
Video Journalist, BBC Asian Network
Nalini is an award-winning journalist at BBC Asian Network. Her work challenges stereotypes around minority communities and has had impact across the BBC and beyond. During the pandemic, her work literally saved lives – providing vital public service journalism to communities who are often ignored by mainstream media.
Minreet Kaur
Freelance Broadcast Journalist
Freelance Broadcast Journalist
Minreet Kaur
Freelance Broadcast Journalist
Minreet is an award-winning journalist with a passion for telling the stories we don’t get to hear, including those covering under-reported BAME communities. She has worked across the BBC, ITV, HuffPost, Al Jazeera and more. Her acclaimed “Skipping Sikh” story won her BBC’s Report of the Year in 2020. Minreet is also a marketing professional and a henna artist.
Dhruti Shah
Journalist and Author, BBC
Journalist and Author, BBC
Dhruti Shah
Journalist and Author, BBC
Dhruti is an award-winning journalist with 13 years of experience at the BBC. She is also a bestselling author and was named one of 40 Digital Women to Watch in 2021.
Beyond the BBC, she is involved in ensuring the younger generation and people from ethnic minority backgrounds have confidence to move forward in the industry. She is an Ochberg Fellow at the Dart Centre for Journalism and Trauma and a Rotary International Peace Fellow.
Nipa Shah
Senior Global Brand Director, Unilever
Senior Global Brand Director, Unilever
Nipa Shah
Senior Global Brand Director, Unilever
Nipa has a proven track record of driving innovation and growth for brands including Cadbury and Unilever. Her passion for purpose-led business sparks campaigns that drive social impact and generates industry initiatives focused on advertising as a force for good and a beacon of inclusion.
ASIAN WOMEN OF ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS
Public Service
Winner
Dr Nikki Kanani
Medical Doctor for Primary Care, NHS England and NHS Improvement
Dr Nikki Kanani
Medical Doctor for Primary Care, NHS England and NHS Improvement
In 2018 Nikki became the first woman to be appointed Medical Director for Primary Care at NHS England and NHS Improvement, one of the most central roles overseeing general practice, dentistry, community pharmacy and optometry. She is passionate about improving service provision and population wellbeing as well as highly engaged clinical and patient leadership.
Highly Commended
Fatima Zaman
Managing Director, Serenity UK Care
Fatima Zaman
Managing Director, Serenity UK Care
Fatima owns and manages four care homes for women diagnosed with mental disorders and focuses on their recovery and rehabilitation. She is an exceptionally experienced professional who has an outstanding record helping vulnerable members of society rebuild their lives. Fatima is an Ambassador for the Pakistan Alliance for Girls Education.
Raffia Arshad
Barrister and Deputy District Judge, St Mary’s Family Law Chambers
Barrister and Deputy District Judge, St Mary’s Family Law Chambers
Raffia Arshad
Barrister and Deputy District Judge, St Mary’s Family Law Chambers
Raffia is the UK’s first hijab-wearing deputy district judge and sits on the Midlands Circuit. As an experienced family law barrister, she specialises in cases covering matrimonial finance, forced marriage and female genital mutilation. Her book Islamic Family Law is used by legal professionals worldwide.
Rajveen Kaur Takhar
Head of Strategic Communications, UK Government
Head of Strategic Communications, UK Government
Rajveen Kaur Takhar
Head of Strategic Communications, UK Government
Rajveen communications work at the FCO has won her multiple awards, including the Director’s Award for her work on the 2019 Hong Kong protests and special recognition awards from Alex Aiken. She also wrote the National Security Secretariat’s first-ever culture and ethos statement promoting workplace diversity and inclusion.
Professor Robina Shah MBE DL
Dr Consultant Chartered Psychologist & Senior Lecturer, University of Manchester Medical School
Dr Consultant Chartered Psychologist & Senior Lecturer, University of Manchester Medical School
Professor Robina Shah MBE DL
Dr Consultant Chartered Psychologist & Senior Lecturer, University of Manchester Medical School
Chartered Consultant Psychologist Robina Shah heads up Manchester University’s Centre for Patient Experience. She is President of the Medicine and Society Council at the Royal Society of Medicine; a Fellow of the Royal College of General Practitioners; a Justice of the Peace; Deputy Lieutenant, and the UK’s first female British-Pakistani High Sheriff (Manchester).
ASIAN WOMEN OF ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS
Real Estate, Infrastructure & Construction
Winner
Kay Burnaby
Director of Acquisitions and Partnering, Homes England
Kay Burnaby
Director of Acquisitions and Partnering, Homes England
Kay is a highly respected land buyer in the residential market. She worked her way up from the grass roots of PLC housebuilders and is now spearheading the government's land buying programme for new homes in the South East. She is passionate about succession planning and talent management.
Karen Ching
Assistant Director, Real Assets Advisory, Financial Advisory, Deloitte
Assistant Director, Real Assets Advisory, Financial Advisory, Deloitte
Karen Ching
Assistant Director, Real Assets Advisory, Financial Advisory, Deloitte
Karen has more than 21 years of experience in the successful delivery of major capital projects and infrastructure. She is passionate about mentoring and coaching to empower others – especially BAME surveyors – to reach their full potential, and she actively promotes diversity and gender equality.
Dr Barnali Ghosh, FICE
Technical Director, Mott MacDonald
Technical Director, Mott MacDonald
Dr Barnali Ghosh, FICE
Technical Director, Mott MacDonald
Barnali is a technical director at Mott MacDonald; a Royal Academy Visiting Professor at Cambridge, and a Fellow of the Institution of Civil Engineers. Barnali is an expert in seismic resilience and safety, and strives to ensure the principles of earthquake geotechnical engineering are applied across the globe. She is also passionate about increasing diversity in engineering.
Poonam Parmar
Planning Manager, Mace Group
Planning Manager, Mace Group
Poonam Parmar
Planning Manager, Mace Group
Ambitious and charitable, Poonam works in construction as a planner. She successfully set up Mace’s first Ethnic Diversity and Inclusion Network, which now boasts over 360 members. During the pandemic, Poonam set up an initiative to translate the government guidelines for diaspora communities to help them stay safe.
Anusha Shah FICE
Director-Resilient Cities, Arcadis & Vice President-Institution of Civil Engineers
Director-Resilient Cities, Arcadis & Vice President-Institution of Civil Engineers
Anusha Shah FICE
Director-Resilient Cities, Arcadis & Vice President-Institution of Civil Engineers
Anusha Shah has worked for over a decade to bring change to the infrastructure industry, embedding sustainability, climate resilience and diversity and inclusion in policies, contracts and practices. She is Director of Resilient Cities at Arcadis, Fellow and Vice President of the Institution of Civil Engineers and Visiting Professor at King's College London.
Su (Sujata) Sharma
Consultant Solicitor- Legal Adviser, Skanska UK plc and Part Time Judge
Consultant Solicitor- Legal Adviser, Skanska UK plc and Part Time Judge
Su (Sujata) Sharma
Consultant Solicitor- Legal Adviser, Skanska UK plc and Part Time Judge
Sujata was the sole Skanska lawyer on high profile projects that shaped London’s skyline, including The Gherkin and Heron Tower Scalpel. She is also a part-time judge, Joint Contracts Tribunal (JCT) draughter, adviser to Build UK, visiting lecturer, provider of pro bono advice and mother of four.
ASIAN WOMEN OF ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS
Science
Winner
Dr Mahasweta Saha
Senior Scientist, Plymouth Marine Laboratory
Dr Mahasweta Saha
Senior Scientist, Plymouth Marine Laboratory
Mahasweta is a talented scientist emerging as a world leader in marine chemical ecology. Her research uncovers how chemical messages govern interactions between marine organisms, and it advances our understanding of marine ecosystems and informs solutions to global challenges such as climate change and food insecurity.
Highly Commended
Prof Jugnoo Rahi
Professor of Ophthalmic Epidemiology and Honorary Consultant Ophthalmologist, GOS Institute of Child Health UCL, Institute of Ophthalmology UCL and Great Ormond Street Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Prof Jugnoo Rahi
Professor of Ophthalmic Epidemiology and Honorary Consultant Ophthalmologist, GOS Institute of Child Health UCL, Institute of Ophthalmology UCL and Great Ormond Street Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Jugnoo is a clinician scientist with an international reputation for innovative research on childhood visual disability. Her unusually broad scientific portfolio addresses both the causes and consequences of blindness, and it has provided key insights to shape clinical care and policies, improving the lives of visually-impaired children globally.
Dr Carina Carla Kern
Research Fellow, Institute of Healthy Ageing & Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment, University College London
Research Fellow, Institute of Healthy Ageing & Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment, University College London
Dr Carina Carla Kern
Research Fellow, Institute of Healthy Ageing & Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment, University College London
Carina is a research fellow at the Institute of Healthy Ageing, University College London, where she is passionate about identifying and treating ageing disease. In addition, she is President of the London Evolutionary Research Network, Scientific Chair of CleanTech Challenge and Co-founder of Discover2Dream, an initiative aimed at giving students exposure to young professionals with whom they can relate.
Mittal Kothari
Global Head of Strategy & Business Development, Envopap
Global Head of Strategy & Business Development, Envopap
Mittal Kothari
Global Head of Strategy & Business Development, Envopap
Mittal is on a mission to accelerate the transition towards a sustainable future with innovation and technology. She has worked in sustainability for over 12 years, and is currently Global Head of Strategy & Business Development at envoPAP, a start-up that produces paper from eco-friendly and sustainable sources.
Dr Rajvee Punatar
Principal Laboratory Research Scientist, The Francis Crick Institute
Principal Laboratory Research Scientist, The Francis Crick Institute
Dr Rajvee Punatar
Principal Laboratory Research Scientist, The Francis Crick Institute
Rajvee is a principal research scientist at London’s prestigious Francis Crick Institute and has worked in the field of cancer research for 20 years. Her research on the DNA repair process could lead to more effective cancer therapies. Currently, she combines her public profile and scientific background to tackle COVID-19 misinformation and vaccine hesitancy within the Jain and wider Gujarati community.
ASIAN WOMEN OF ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS
Social & Humanitarian
Winner
Dr Sunita Toor
Head of Human Rights and Social Justice, Helena Kennedy Centre for International Justice, Sheffield Hallam University
Dr Sunita Toor
Head of Human Rights and Social Justice, Helena Kennedy Centre for International Justice, Sheffield Hallam University
Sunita is Head of Human Rights at the Helena Kennedy Centre for International Justice at Sheffield Hallam University’s Department of Law and Criminology. An academic and activist, she is passionate about combating gender-based violence; advancing the rights of women and children; and championing equality, equity, diversity and inclusion.
Anisha Johal
Skills Advisor & English Tutor, University of Derby
Skills Advisor & English Tutor, University of Derby
Anisha Johal
Skills Advisor & English Tutor, University of Derby
Anisha is a master’s graduate from Nottingham University and the UK’s Top 10 Impactful Social Action Undergraduate of the Year 2019. In addition to her positions with the University of Derby, Anisha features on BBC Radio (often speaking about her academic research into South Asian cultures and educating listeners); creates content for Punjab 2000 and is a Vakhri Punjabans Bhangra/Gidha dancer.
Manraj Kaur Sanghera
Secondary School Teacher, Advocate Children’s Charity
Secondary School Teacher, Advocate Children’s Charity
Manraj Kaur Sanghera
Secondary School Teacher, Advocate Children’s Charity
Manraj has worked in education for 23 years, dedicating her work to improving the lives of children. The birth of her three premature children and the death of her son has led her to work with numerous children's charities to raise awareness and funds; to date she has raised over £300K.
Dinaz Stafford
Film Maker & Social Activist
Film Maker & Social Activist
Dinaz Stafford
Film Maker & Social Activist
International social activist and film-maker Dinaz has worked on critically acclaimed films around the world, with conservation and diversity her current focus. She also helped create Salaam Baalak Trust, a social organisation that provides care and protection to street children in India, and works with Sosolya Undugu Family Academy in Kampala.
PC Sakira Khatun Suzia
Police Constable, Metropolitan Police Service
Police Constable, Metropolitan Police Service
PC Sakira Khatun Suzia
Police Constable, Metropolitan Police Service
Sakira’s bravery has been recognised with numerous awards, including two Commissioner’s Awards (the Met’s highest awards), namely, the Bravery Award for the London Riots 2011 and Security Escort Runner for the Olympic Relay 2012. As a celebrated member of the British Bangladeshi community, Sakira uses her unique position to tackle discrimination within the service and serves as a bridge between the police and the community.
Azjargal Ulziitogtokh
Managing Director, MSD Investment
Managing Director, MSD Investment
Azjargal Ulziitogtokh
Managing Director, MSD Investment
Financial professional Azjargal has over 15 years of banking experience across multiple geographies in sectors including mining, agribusiness, services, industry, energy and consumer. She is a committed advocate of social development and actively participates in a range of professional organisations working across gender equality, inclusion and green development.
ASIAN WOMEN OF ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS
Young Achiever
Winner
Dr Devina Maru
Portfolio GP Speciality Registrar, Royal College of General Practitioners and National Clinical Champion for Deafness and Hearing Loss
Dr Devina Maru
Portfolio GP Speciality Registrar, Royal College of General Practitioners and National Clinical Champion for Deafness and Hearing Loss
Devina is a GP trainee whose passion for empowering patients with hearing impairments led to her appointment as the UK National Royal College of General Practitioners Clinical Champion for Deafness and Hearing Loss. She has led on national projects and initiatives to help create an inclusive society.
Highly Commended
Josephine Liang
Co-Founder and CEO, Caulibox
Josephine Liang
Co-Founder and CEO, Caulibox
Josephine is a food sustainability campaigner and co-founder of CauliBox, an award-winning tech startup that provides digitally-enabled reusable food packaging solutions to businesses (and connects them with customers). She was awarded a Women in Food Award by the Mayor of London in 2019 and was named in the Forbes 30 Under 30 Europe Class of 2021.
Aalia Ahmed
Indirect Tax Manager, KPMG
Indirect Tax Manager, KPMG
Aalia Ahmed
Indirect Tax Manager, KPMG
Aalia graduated top of her class in her degree programme and has since pursued a successful career in professional services. She is also Co-chair of KPMG’s Muslim Network, committed to several charitable initiatives and writes her own inspiring poetry, which she hopes to publish.
Ruby Dhal
Bestselling Author, Speaker & Content Creator
Bestselling Author, Speaker & Content Creator
Ruby Dhal
Bestselling Author, Speaker & Content Creator
London-based Ruby is a bestselling author in genres of poetry, prose and self-help. Boasting an online readership of nearly half a million, Ruby's words on healing are appreciated by readers all over the world. Ruby is also an ambassador for Binti Period, a charity providing sanitary products to girls and the mental health charity, Be Free Campaign.
Sarah Teja
Senior Analyst, Accenture UK
Senior Analyst, Accenture UK
Sarah Teja
Senior Analyst, Accenture UK
After obtaining her MSc Strategic Marketing degree at Imperial College, Sarah joined Accenture UKI’s graduate scheme, where she is building her expertise in marketing services and strategy. She is part of the core Deal Team, who recently won a landmark end-to-end marketing contract with a well-known automotive company.
Tanya Thourani
Digital Consultant, Capco
Digital Consultant, Capco
Tanya Thourani
Digital Consultant, Capco
A software engineer turned digital consultant, with over five years of experience in financial services, Tanya has swiftly progressed from new entrant to recognised leader. She prides herself on defying stereotypes and, outside her day job, is well known and respected as a D&I champion, toastmaster and fintech advisor.
ASIAN WOMEN OF ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS
Sport
Winner
Ikra Ali
Football Development Officer, Athletico Football Club
Ikra Ali
Football Development Officer, Athletico Football Club
Ikra had a successful career in football before setting up a team for women from BAME backgrounds and creating an environment where women of all ages and from all walks of life can play football without judgement. She is a role model for females in sport, especially as she seeks to break down barriers.
Highly Commended
Faye Easton
Head Coach, The London Stags RFC
Faye Easton
Head Coach, The London Stags RFC
Faye is Head Coach of The London Stags, an inclusive rugby club based in South London. She has been instrumental in helping develop and grow the club into one that provides a safe, inclusive and welcoming environment for individuals of all sexual orientations, identities and expressions to learn and play rugby. The club currently has over 100 members.
Amazin LeThi
Athlete, LGBTQ Advocate, Global Sports Ambassador, Keynote Speaker
Athlete, LGBTQ Advocate, Global Sports Ambassador, Keynote Speaker
Amazin LeThi
Athlete, LGBTQ Advocate, Global Sports Ambassador, Keynote Speaker
Amazin is a global LGBTQ advocate, keynote speaker, athlete and cultural change leader. She is the world’s first LGBTQ British Asian and first LGBTQ Asian athlete to hold six sports ambassador roles across many countries. Her story of homelessness to becoming one of the most visible and influential LGBTQ advocates in the world featured in the White House Act to Change campaign.
Emily Chong
Triathlon Coach
Triathlon Coach
Emily Chong
Triathlon Coach
Coach and international athlete Emily has competed in triathlon, swimming, running, cycling and lacrosse. The first-ever Asian female finisher at the Austria eXtreme Triathlon, she has also competed at the Triathlon World Championships. In all her roles, as a coach, therapist, biomechanist and athlete, her aim is to help others stay healthy and achieve their goals.
Monica Shafaq
Non-Executive Director, Professional Footballers Association Charity; Kidderminister Harriers Football Club: West Bromwich Albion Women and Birmingham County Football Association
Non-Executive Director, Professional Footballers Association Charity; Kidderminister Harriers Football Club: West Bromwich Albion Women and Birmingham County Football Association
Monica Shafaq
Non-Executive Director, Professional Footballers Association Charity; Kidderminister Harriers Football Club: West Bromwich Albion Women and Birmingham County Football Association
Acclaimed CEO Monica is a BAME 50 Under 50 Entrepreneur, Behind the Scenes award-winner for equality and mental health work in football, Honorary Member of the Leaders Council of Great Britain and Northern Ireland for ethical charity leadership, and the first female of colour on the Professional Football Association’s Charity Board. Monica seeks to make football an inclusive and empowering sport for all.