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The Asian Women of Achievement Awards applaud and celebrate the commitment, dedication and determination of Asian women from all over the country and from all walks of life. The awards were set up by Pinky Lilani and Munir Samji to recognise all levels of achievement made by Asian women in the UK - whether professional or personal - within the commercial, professional, artistic and humanitarian sectors.

A star-studded awards ceremony will take place on Wednesday 23 May 2007 at the London Hilton on Park Lane. The shortlist for the Asian Women of Achievement Awards 2007 is:

AWA 2007 SHORTLIST

THE ARTS & CULTURE AWARD

For women flourishing in the world of performing arts, management of the arts and creative writing.

Tara Kamangar, pianist, 24, London
Mira Kaushik OBE, director of the Akademi South Asian Dance UK, London
Sonia Sabri, dancer, Moseley
Anurekha Ghosh, dancer and founder of the Anurekha Ghosh Dance Company, Edgbaston
Reena Tailor, artistic director of Bollywood Dreams Dance Academy, Solihull

YOUNG ACHIEVER OF THE YEAR AWARD

Any woman under 30 who has done something incredible, inspirational or is simply the best at what she does.

Kiran Bali JP, magistrate, community worker and Hindu representative, Huddersfield, 28
Noreen Mirza, Entrepreneur, bespoke jewellery and accessories designer, Richmond London, 25
Arti Poddar, operations director at leading care home provider, Lambhill Court Ltd, Glasgow, 23
Kiran Matharu, professional golfer, Leeds Yorkshire, 17
Ushrat Sultana, MP's parliamentary manager and justice of the peace, London, 26
Nita Shah, businesswoman, founder and director of Shahrp PR Consultancy, London Barnet, 29

MEDIA PROFESSIONAL OF THE YEAR AWARD

Unique individuals working in the areas of broadcast, print or electronic media.

Vijay Sharma, head of BBC Asian Network, London
Lucky Dhillon, radio and TV presenter and businesswoman, Hayes, Middlesex
Riz Lateef, BBC London News presenter, London
Wersha Bharadwa, journalist, 27, Solihull
Manali Lukha, Met Office, Richmond
Sharmila Nebhrajani, chief operating officer, Media and Technology Division, BBC, London

PROFESSIONAL OF THE YEAR AWARD

For women who have trained and qualified in their chosen professional practice and have become a leading practitioner - setting an example to other women and having their contribution acknowledged by their peers.

Dr Helen Lee, founder of the Diagnostics Development Unit at the University of Cambridge, Cambridge
Prof Nazlin Karmali Howell, professor of Food Biochemistry at the University of Surrey, Surrey
Prof Zenobia Nadirshaw, head of psychology at Kensington & Chelsea Primary Care Trust, London
Yasmin Qureshi, lawyer, London
Dr. Haseena Lockhat, consultant child clinical psychologist and leading figure on healthcare issues relating to female genital mutilation, Barnt Green, Worcestershire

ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR AWARD

For a woman who has taken the risk and has successfully set up and is running her own business.

Sital Punja, managing director of Sari (UK) Ltd, Ruislip, Middlesex
Sharon Kaur, director, Sahara Homes, Barking, London
Mani Kohli, founder of fashion label Khubsoorat, Woodford Green, Essex
Safia Minney, founder and CEO of People Tree, Fair Trade Fashion, London

BUSINESS WOMAN OF THE YEAR - CORPORATE AWARD

For an individual thriving in corporate Britain who has made, and is making, a significant contribution to the success of their organisation.

Zarin Patel, Group Finance Director for the BBC, London
Farrah Qureshi, director of diversity at Norman Broadbent's Global Diversity Practice, Leeds
Romana Abdin, group corporate affairs director, Simplyhealth Group, Andover
Karen Seto, executive director in equities, Lehman Brothers, London
Zahra Kassim-Lakha, global director of retail and business development, Jaeger-LeCoultre, Kingston-Upon-Thames
Superna Sethi, MD Manhattan Properties, Ealing

THE PUBLIC SECTOR AWARD

For women who have achieved success within senior executive and non-executive roles in the civil service, quangos, universities and national institutions.

Sunaina Mann, 44, principal of North East Surrey College of Technology (NESCOT)
Manjula Sood, Leicester East councillor, Leicester
Perminder Dhillon, senior consultant with Third Vision Consultancy and life coach, Carmarthen, Wales
Dr. Geetha Nagasubramanian, consultant community gynaecologist, Orpington
Priti Patel, 34, corporate relations director and Conservative party member, Welling, Kent

THE SOCIAL & HUMANITARIAN AWARD

For special women involved in social and humanitarian work, whether they are individuals working for non-profit organisations or the corporate world contributing to the voluntary sector.

Masayo Kidani, Red Cross volunteer and founder of Momiji, Windsor, 70
Dr Ujwala Samant, director of Learning for Life (LfL) charity, London
Nasima Khan, director of the Asian Women Lone Parents Association (AWLPA), London
Seema Malhotra, senior manager in the Government and Public Sector practice at PricewaterhouseCoopers, Brentford, Middlesex, 34
Simi Chowdhry, director of Awaz Utaoh, Bristol
Charmaine Jayetilleke, MBE, founder and president of the Sri Lanka Christian Association (SLCA), Hayes, Middlesex

AWA 2007 JUDGES

Sir Nicholas Young, chief executive of the British Red Cross chairs the judging panel for the 2007 Asian Women of Achievement Awards. This year's panel boasts a number of distinguished and respected representatives from industry and commerce including:

Cora McLaren, area director, Lloyds TSB Commercial Banking
Debbie Hewitt, managing director, RAC
Emma Arbuthnot, district judge
Elizabeth Coffey, managing director and founder, Big Dog Consulting Ltd
Hanif Lalani, group finance director, BT Group
Ian Chivers, managing director, Merrill Lynch
Jane Anderson, consultant and honorary senior lecturer
Maggie Rose, CEO, MROI
Mark Carroll, director, race, faiths and cohesion, Department of Communities and Local Government
Mike Jatania, CEO, Lornamead Group
Peninah Thomson, partner, Praesta Partners LLP
Peter Jones, chairman, Tote Bookmakers
Richard Moore, head of fixed income currencies & commodities Europe, Middle East & Africa, Citigroup
Sarah Churchman, director, Diversity & Inclusion, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Sarah Deaves, chief executive, Coutts & Co
Sim Scavazza, former brand director of Miss Selfridge

A star-studded awards ceremony will take place on Wednesday 23 May 2007 at the London Hilton on Park Lane. Tickets to the awards ceremony are available from the Asian Women of Achievement Awards office on 020 7368 7123 or via the awards' website www.awaawards.com.

WANT TO KNOW MORE?

Click here to read about Pinky Lilani, founder of the AWA Awards.
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 2004 winners
Click here for the AWA Awards 2004 picture gallery.
Click here to read about the AWA Awards 2004 shortlist
Click here to read about AWA Awards 2003 winners.
Click here to read about the AWA Awards 2003 shortlist.
Click here to read about AWA Awards 2002 winners.
Click here to read about the AWA Awards 2002 shortlist.
Click here to read about AWA Awards 2001 winners.
Click here to read to about the AWA Awards 2001 shortlist.

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