20th March 2012

The shortlist for the 2012 Asian Women of Achievement Awards was announced today with leading entrepreneurs, public servants, sporting champions and media personalities in the line up for one of the coveted awards. Founded and chaired by author and entrepreneur Pinky Lilani OBE, the Asian Women of Achievement Awards champion the contribution made by Asian women across British business, sports, public, cultural, community and political life. For the first time, the awards will also include a new “Asian Women of Achievement Community Award” and “Asian Woman of Achievement in Sport” to celebrate the impending London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Over their 13-year history, the Awards have recognised, and provided a platform for Asian female pioneers – such as comedy actress Nina Wadia; Kamal Basran, founder of the UK’s leading ethnic food supplier, The Authentic Food Company; civil rights activist Shami Chakrabarti; and the first Asian woman to lead a FTSE 250 business, Ruby McGregor-Smith.

The judging panel, chaired by Sir Nicholas Young, chief executive of British Red Cross, will meet over the coming weeks to decide winners for each of the 11 categories, with the winners announced at a ceremony on 16 May 2012 at the London Hilton Park Lane. Last year’s ceremony was attended by a number of high profile guests including Home Secretary Theresa May, HRH Princess Badiya bint El Hassan, Miriam Gonzalez-Durantez, James Caan, BBC news presenter Riz Lateef and The Rt Hon Tessa Jowell.

Pinky Lilani said: “The shortlisting judges were truly amazed by the quality of the individuals entering the awards this year – each with an inspiring story of determination, courage and resilience. These awards not only enable us to celebrate the successes and achievements of Britain’s most exceptional Asian women, but they also give us the opportunity to recognise the next generation waiting in the wings.

This year’s 55-strong shortlist for all categories is as follows:

AWA in Arts & Culture

• Shoto Banerji, textiles designer
• Uzma Hasan, producer
• Amber Khokhar, artist, Amber Khokhar Art & Design
• Zain Masud, assistant fair director, Art Dubai
• Indhu Rubasingham, artistic director, The Tricycle Theatre
• Gauri Sharma Tripathi, Kathak artist

AWA in Business

• Shiela Ajimal, managing director & associate general counsel, J.P. Morgan
• Nosheena Mobarik, joint chief executive, M Computer Technologies
• Zaida Patel, solicitor, Equitas Law
• Jagdeep Rai, corporate director, Barclays Bank
• Vicky Shu, lead project engineer, Shell UK

AWA – Entrepreneur

• Farida Gibbs, CEO & partner, GibbsS3
• SungJoo Kim, chairperson & CEO, SungJoo Group and MCM Holdings AG
• Kavita Oberoi, managing director, Oberoi Consulting
• Vanita Parti, founder, Blink Brow Bar
• Kala Patel, managing director, Kiddicare
• Kiran Sharma, owner & managing director, KIKIT Entertainment

AWA in the Media

• Zarghuna Kargar, journalist, BBC World Service
• Sangita Myska, news correspondent, BBC News
• Tasnim Nazeer, freelance journalist, writer and author, Business Media Group and Global Islamic Finance Magazine
• Monisha Saldanha, head of brand extensions, Guardian News & Media
• Rozina Sini, news presenter, BBC Asian Network
• Xinran Xue, author

AWA in the Professions

• Tasmina Ahmed-Sheikh, solicitor, Hamilton Burns W.S. Solicitors
• Shreelata Datta, senior registrar, NHS and director, British Medical Association
• Dr Shivani Patel, consultant Orthodontist, Elleven
• Kamal Rahman, partner, Mishcon de Reya
• Henna Riaz, managing partner, 360 Audit
• Rukhsana Yaqoob, independent freelance educational consultant

AWA in Public Service

• Rachel Abraham, associate director of education, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust
• Ranjana Bell, executive director, rba Equality and Diversity
• Siobhan Benita, London Mayoral Candidate, Independent
• Sayyeda Khan, HR professional, HM Revenue and Customs
• Li Quan, founder & director, Save China's Tigers
• Mei Sim Lai, principal, LaiPeters & Co

The Social & Humanitarian Award

• Rena Amin, head of medicine management, Greenwich PCT
• Ummul Choudhury, trustee and director, Bidna Capoeira
• Jillian Haslam, director, Help Yourself Associates
• Nisha Paul, trustee, Magic Bus UK
• Sabiha Rumani Malik, founder and president, Sanghata Global
• Leila Walker, Programme Manager, Tony Blair Faith Foundation

AWA Young Achiever

• Reena Bagga, operational governor, Her Majesty's Prison Service
• Jia-Yan Gu, researcher, BT Group
• Neha Jain, executive director, Goldman Sachs
• Jaz Rabadia, energy manager, Sainsbury's Supermarkets
• Tulip Siddiq, councillor, London Borough of Camden
• Lisha Xie, subsurface & wells project manager, Shell UK

AWA in Sport

• Salma Bi, executive director, Warwickshire County Cricket
• Ashpal Kaur Bhogal, England Hockey
• Anne Keothavong, Tennis Player
• Urvasi Naidoo, CEO, International Federation of Netball Associations
• Saira Tabasum, amateur boxer and boxing coach, Bradford College & Police Boxing Academy

Community

• Cisco
• Shell
• Sporting Equals
• UBS AG

The 2012 Category Judges include:

• Chairman of the AWA judging panel: Sir Nicholas Young, chief executive, British Red Cross
• India Gary Martin, managing director, investment banking technology and operations, J.P. Morgan
• Anita Harper, EMEA co-head diversity and inclusion, Credit Suisse
• David Harrison, vice president, Visa Commercial, Visa Europe
• Peter Ibbetson, chairman, small business, RBS
• Andy Leach, managing director, Sodexo
• Lady Catherine Manning
• Ruby McGregor-Smith CBE, CEO, MITIE Group
• Helena Morrissey CBE, CEO, Newton Investment Management
• Margareta Pagano, columnist, The Independent and The Independent on Sunday
• Ruby Parmar, partner, PwC
• Charles Redfield, chief merchandising officer, Asda
• Matthew Rock, communications director, Caspian Media
• Andrew White, dean of executive education, Saïd Business School
• Julia Weston, fellowship manager, Winston Churchill Memorial Trust
• Keith Williams, CEO, British Airways

For information on how to enter the awards visit :awa.realbusiness.co.uk/

AWA Winners

Click here to read about Pinky Lilani, founder of the AWA Awards.
Click here for the AWA Awards 2011 party.
Click here for the AWA Awards 2011 winners.
Click here for the AWA Awards 2011 shortlist.
Click here for the Global Empowerment Award 2010 presented at AWA.
Click here for the AWA Awards 2010 winners.
Click here for the AWA Awards 2010 shortlist.
Click here for the Global Empowerment Award 2009 presented at AWA.
Click here for the AWA Awards 2009 winners.
Click here for the AWA Awards 2009 shortlist.
Click here for the AWA Awards 2009 picture gallery.
Click here for the AWA Awards 2008 winners.
Click here for the AWA Awards 2008 shortlist.
Click here for the AWA Awards 2008 picture gallery.
Click here for the AWA Awards 2007 winners.
Click here for the AWA Awards 2007 shortlist.
Click here for the AWA Awards 2007 picture gallery.
Click here for the AWA Awards 2006 winners.
Click here for the AWA Awards 2006 shortlist.
Click here for the AWA Awards 2005 winners.
Click here for the AWA Awards 2005 shortlist.
Click here for the AWA Awards 2005 picture gallery.
Click here for the AWA Awards 2004 winners
Click here for the AWA Awards 2004 picture gallery.
Click here for the AWA Awards 2004 shortlist
Click here for the AWA Awards 2003 winners.
Click here for the AWA Awards 2003 shortlist.
Click here for the AWA Awards 2002 winners.
Click here for the AWA Awards 2002 shortlist.
Click here for the AWA Awards 2001 winners.
Click here for the AWA Awards 2001 shortlist.

Top