Inspirational Asian women to be recognised at awards

THE search has begun for the most inspirational Asian women in Britain. The Asian Women of Achievement Awards showcase British Asian women across a range of different industries – from sport to media to the FTSE 100.

The awards, now in their 14th year, were founded and are chaired by India-born author and entrepreneur Pinky Lilani.

Last year’s ceremony  was attended by awards patron Cherie Blair, Home Secretary Theresa May and HRH Princess Badiya bint El Hassan of Jordan.

Winners included Sangita Myska, news correspondent, BBC News, who was named Asian Woman of Achievement in Media for her courageous career as a news and current affairs reporter.

She was joined by Salma Bi, executive director, Warwickshire County Cricket Club. She was the first ever recipient of an Asian Woman of Achievement award in Sport and is the first and only Muslim woman ever to play for Worcestershire County Cricket Club. She is now employed by the England Cricket Board as a cricket coach and is passionate about supporting other women and people with disabilities involved in the sport.

Also recognised were Indhu Rubasingham, artistic director, The Tricycle Theatre, and  Sung-joo Kim, CEO and chair of fashion business MCM Holdings and the SungJoo Group.

The panel of judges for this year’s competition is chaired by Sir Nicholas Young, chief executive of the British Red Cross. His fellow judges comprise: Emma Arbuthnot, Deputy Chief Magistrate of England and Wales; Lady Catherine Manning, novelist; Avril Martingdale, partner, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer; Ruby   McGregor-Smith, CEO, MITIE Group; Farah Ramzan Golant, CEO, ALL3MEDIA; Jean Sharp, chief taxation officer, Aviva; Marie Sigsworth, group corporate responsibility director, Aviva; Air Marshal Sir David Walker, KCVO OBE, Master of the Royal Household; Sanjev Warna-kula-suriya, partner, Slaughter and May; and Keith Williams, CEO, British Airways.

Pinky Lilani said: “The Asian Women of Achievement awards are the most vivid showcase of the growing richness and diversity of our country.”

The closing date for nominations is March 13 and the awards ceremony takes place on May 15 at the London Hilton Park Lane.

Nominations are open at http://awa.realbusiness.co.uk/