ASIAN WOMEN OF ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS 2004 FINALISTS
(22 April 2004)

The Asian Women of Achievement Awards applaud and celebrate the commitment, dedication and determination of Asian women to their professional and personal achievements within the commercial, professional, artistic and humanitarian sectors. Now in their fifth year, the Awards were set up by Pinky Lilani and Munir Samji to recognise all levels of achievement made by Asian women in the UK.

Award categories

There are nine Award categories that reflect the diverse lives of Asian women achievers: The Arts & Culture Award, The Public Sector Award, The Social & Humanitarian Award, Business Woman of the Year - Corporate, Entrepreneur of the Year, Media Professional of the Year, Professional of the Year, Young Achiever of the Year and The Chairman's Award. To recognise the wealth of talent amongst women in the Asian community a new award category has been created for the Asian Women of Achievement Awards 2004 - The Public Sector Award.

Award Patrons

The Awards enjoy the patronage of Cherie Booth QC and Her Highness Begum Inaara Aga Khan, as well as receiving continued support from leaders of all political parties. "The fact that we can celebrate the achievements of so many different Asian women from all sectors of society, celebrating their differences and achievements, is absolutely fantastic" Cherie Booth QC, Asian Women of Achievement Awards Ceremony 2003

'The Asian Women of Achievement Awards is a catalyst organisation empowering others. It's nice to have Asians recognised in their achievements for other things than making curry, and I feel honoured on behalf of our children whose needs and achievements are often left unrecognised' Camila Batmanghelidjh, founder, The Kids Company - Winner of The Social & Humanitarian Award 2003

'It's about being a role model and being visible so that women are encouraged to do well' Gurinder Chadha, film director - winner of The Chairman's Award 2003.

'I am extremely proud to have won the AWA award for Corporate Business Woman 2003. The competition was tough and the process taught me a great deal about myself and really highlighted what I had achieved during my career. I believe that it is important to raise the profile of Asian women & recognise the contribution that they make in both the business/corporate arena as well as the humanitarian fields.' Nabila Sadiq, MD, Joslin Rowe - Business Woman of the Year - Corporate 2003.

This year 42 finalists have been selected across eight different Award categories.

The Arts & Culture Award

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

• Chila Burman, London - Artist
• Seeta Indrani, London - Actress
• Rose Issa, London Independent curator, producer and writer
• Punam Ramchurn, Manchester- Comms Manager, Contact Theatre
• Shelley Silas, 45, London - Playwriter

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.

• Satya Kartara, Aldershot - Director of Diversity and Inclusion, Royal Mail Group
• Erem Kassim-Lakha, 34, London - Director of Strategy, Spirit Group
• Jyoti Munsiff, London - Senior Legal Advisor and Company Secretary, Shell
• Nishma Patel, 30, London - Sales Director, Teletext
• Dr Rashna Writer, Chesham, Bucks - Head of Global Risk, Merchant International Group

Entrepreneur of the Year Award

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

• Annette D'Abreo, Bournemouth - Ceuta Healthcare
• Ruby Hammer, 42, London - Ruby & Millie cosmetics
• Karuna Stood, 43, Biggin Hill, Kent - Stationery Direct Ltd
• Shobha Tailor, Luton - Shobha's Catering Ltd
• Shaheen Unis, Edinburgh - Mrs Unis' Spicy Foods

Media Professional of the Year Award

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

• Anita Bhalla, Birmingham - Head of Political & Community Affairs for the BBC English Regions
• Robina Dam, London - Editor of Shoo Magazine
• Shiulie Ghosh, 36, Middlesex - News Correspondent and newscaster, ITV News
• Zaiba Malik, 35, London - Current Affairs Reporter, Channel Four
• Sanjida O'Connell, 33, London - Novelist, Non-Fiction Book Writer, Science Journalist, Television Documentary Producer/Director

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.

• Yasmin Diamon, 35, London - Head of Corporate Communications, Department of Educations & Skills (DfES)
• Doctor Yasmin J Drabu, London - Medical Executive Director, North Middlesex University Hospital Trust
• Professor Shadia Habbal, Aberystwyth - Professor of Solar-Terrestrial Physics, University of Wales
• Doctor Kamila Hawthorne, 42, Cardiff - Clinical Lecturer, Department of General Practice, University of Wales
• Moni Mannings, 41, London - Head of Corporate & Senior Partner, Olswang law firm
• Professor Rasmita Rava, 44, Liverpool - Professor, Department of Chemistry and Director, Surface Science Research Centre, University of Liverpool

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.

• Anita Bharucha, 31, Belfast - Head of the Rights and International Relations Division of the Northern Ireland Office (NIO)
• Naaz Coker, 55, Kent - Chair of the British Refugee Council and the St George's Healthcare NHS Trust
• Sharmila Gandhi, Bradford - Chief Executive, Bradford Vision
• Mandana Hendessi, Oxfordshire - Comissioner, Women's National Commission
• Shahwar Sadeque, Surrey - Trustee of the Immigration Advisory Service and The Windsor Leadership Trust
• Professor Pooran Wynarczyk, Newcastle - Director, Small Enterprise Research Unit (SERU), Newcastle University

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.

• Dr Bayan Alavaji, Surrey - Human rights campaigner and refugee doctor
• Harminder Batra, Middlesex - Self Help Group Co-ordinator
• Farzana Kauser, Lancashire - Domestic violence campaigner
• Veena Loomba, Northwood - Educational Charity Trustee
• Gurmit Kaur, Nottingham - Sergeant, Nottinghamshire Police

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.

• Divya Gupta, 28, Buckinghamshire - Accenture Lead for Conversion Reconciliations at Pfizer
• Mishal Husain, 30, London - News Presenter, BBC World
• Taran Kaur (aka Hardkaur), 24, Birmingham/London - MC
• Farah Naz, 27, London - MD of EX1 Cosmetics
• Neelam Verjee, 24, London - Business Reporter, The Times

The Judges

This year's judging panel boasted a number of distinguished and respected representatives from industry and commerce, media and the non-profit sector including Anshu Jain, head of global markets, Deutsche Bank AG London; David Bell, director, Pearsons; David Notts, consultant, Chelsea & Westminster Hospital; Emma Broadbent, barrister; Julie Mellor, chair, Equal Opportunities Commission; Kieran Pointer, partner, Pricewaterhouse Coopers; Lisa Aziz, news presenter, Sky News; Meena Pathak OBE, director, Patak Spices; Nabila Sadiq, managing director, Joslin Rowe recruitment and winner of AWA 2003 Businesswoman of the Year - Corporate; Sir Nicholas Young, chief executive, British Red Cross; Patricia Rozario, opera singer; Richard Greenhalgh, chairman, Unilever UK; Patrick French, author; Stephen Irwin QC and Toni Letts OBE, chief executive Croydon YMCA.

The Awards ceremony will take place on Thursday 27th May 2004 at the London Hilton on Park Lane. Tickets to the Awards Ceremony are available from the Asian Women of Achievement Awards office on 020 7828 0999 or via the Awards' website www.awaawards.com

WANT TO KNOW MORE?

Click here to read about AWA 2003 winners.
Click here to read about the AWA 2003 shortlist.
Click here to read about AWA 2002 winners.
Click here to read about the AWA 2002 shortlist.
Click here to read about AWA 2001 winners.
Click here to read to about the AWA 2001 shortlist.

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