COMPETITION HEATS UP FOR AWA AWARDS 2003
(15 April 2003)

Competition for the 4th Asian Women of Achievement Awards heats up as leading Asian women like director Gurinder Chadha ('Bend it Like Beckham'), playwright Tanika Gupta and dance tutor Honey Kalaria "slug it out" with a range of female talent from the commercial, professional, artistic and humanitarian sectors. "Asian women in Britain are making profound and lasting contributions to our society", said Cherie Booth QC, Patron of the Awards.

"Their achievements should be recognised and rewarded. These Awards play a vital part in doing just that" she added. The winners will be announced at a glittering awards ceremony on May 8th 2003 in London. This year 37 finalists have been selected across seven different Award categories:

ARTS & CULTURE AWARD

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

• Dr Sarita Malik, Head of Asian Arts Development at Watermans
• Fareda Khan, Deputy Director of Shisha, the international agency for contemporary South Asian crafts and visual arts
• Gurinder Chadha, director of box office hit Bend It Like Beckham
• Pushpinder Chowdhury and Harvinder Nath, creators and directors of the annual Asian Women's Film Festival
• Tanika Gupta, an accomplished playwright and author

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.

• Iram Shah, Group Marketing Director for BP International plc
• Nabila Sadiq, Managing Director of Joslin Rowe Temporaries Ltd
• Nipun Gupta, a Senior Associate Lawyer at White & Case
• Rina Nameirakpam Barua, Vice President Legal of media group B4U

ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR AWARD

"I think it's very important to have role models for ethnic minorities and for women - for people who are struggling to get ahead in this society. There have been endless role models for men and we need some for women and for Asian women". Geetie Singh, winner of the 2002 Entrepreneur of the Year Award. For a woman who has taken the risk and has successfully set up and is running her own business.

• Dipa Sudra, founder and owner of The Body Temple beauty business
• Emma Alliance, fashion designer and manufacturer
• Honey Kalaria, top modern Indian dance expert and founder of Diva Entertainments
• Shehzad Husain, one of the most experienced food consultants in the UK
• Shernaz Engineer, managing director of Verity Appointments
• Zaneb Khan, a skills facilitator and founder of the London Training Agency

MEDIA PROFESSIONAL OF THE YEAR AWARD

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

• Anjana Ahuja, science feature writer at The Times
• Farah Nayeri, economic news writer at Bloomberg TV
• Geeta Gupta and Jas Shetra, producers of the Mega Mela show
• Nasanine Moshiri, a reporter with BBC Radio 1 Newsbeat
• Roohi Hasan, News Editor at ITN/C5 News

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 Alba de Souza, an education economist and planner
• Leela Kapila OBE, Consultant Paediatric Surgeon to the University and City Hospitals in Nottingham
• Professor Faraneh Vargha-Khadem, Consultant in Neuropsychology at Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children
• Ziba Mir-Hosseini, a leading authority on Islamic law and a social anthropologist

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.

• Camila Batmanghelidjh, founder and executive director of Kids Company
• Dadi Janki, a spiritual leader of the Brahma Kumaris World Spiritual University
• Indira Patel, a volunteer and international spokesperson on Asian women issues
• Nureen Babar, founder of cleft palate charity Child Care International
• Rital Patel, Director of The Belgrave Baheno Women's Organisation
• Shahwar Sadeque, trustee of the Immigration Advisory Service and The Windsor Leadership Trust

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.

• Aiysha Malik, responsible for Global Diversity at Deutsche Bank
• Isa Guha, England Women's Squad cricketer
• Leili Morshed, an honours fashion student turned designer
• Preeya Khoorbhoor, the first Asian female partner in legal firm Cattermoles
• Priya Nair-Radhakrishnan, a Citigroup Credit Derivatives Structuring Vice President

ABOUT THE ASIAN WOMEN OF ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS

Now in their fourth year, the Awards founded in 1999 were set up by Pinky Lilani and Munir Samji to recognise all levels of achievement made by Asian women in the UK. They acknowledge and celebrate the individual efforts of Asian women from all over the country and from all walks of life - reflecting the wealth of talent amongst women in the Asian community, most of which goes unrecognised and is not in the public arena.

"At the heart of these Awards are some extraordinary women, who have set themselves apart with their strong sense of purpose and commitment to the language of excellence, often in the face of insurmountable obstacles. They are about spirited, determined women who want to make a difference". Pinky Lilani, Chairman of the Asian Women of Achievement Awards.

AWARD CATEGORIES

The Arts & Culture 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.

THE JUDGES

The judging of the Asian Women of Achievement Awards took place on 24th March 2003. The judging panel, headed up by Chairman Baroness Helena Kennedy QC included Angela Lane, director, 3i; Anshu Jain, head of global markets, Deutsche Bank AG London; Professor Azim Nanji, director, Institute of Ismaili Studies; Professor Brian Gazzard, consultant physician, Chelsea & Westminster Hospital; Sir Gulam Noon, chairman, Noon Products; Jonathan Grun, editor, Press Association; John Ormerod, senior partner, Deloitte & Touche; Judith Grahame, chief executive, M & R Saatchi Arts; Baroness Margaret Jay; Marjorie Wallace, chief executive, SANE; Sir Nicholas Montagu, chairman, Inland Revenue; Sir Nicholas Young, chief executive, Red Cross; Sarah Sands, deputy editor, Daily Telegraph; and Stuart Rock, editorial director, Caspian Publishing.

PATRONS & PARTNERS

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.

Principal sponsors include BDO Stoy Hayward, Jaguar Cars and NatWest Business Banking with Deutsche Bank as an associate sponsor. The Awards are presented by Real Business magazine part of organisers' Caspian Publishing portfolio of leading business titles.

THE AWARDS CEREMONY ** LAST CHANCE FOR TICKETS **

Winners of the Asian Women of Achievement Awards are revealed at a star-studded Awards ceremony that has historically attracted many well-known, high profile guests including Clive Anderson, Imran and Jemima Khan, Lisa Aziz, Lord and Lady Paul, Lord and Lady Lloyd Webber, Martin Bashir, Meera Syal MBE and Shakira Caine. This year's presentation ceremony will take place on Thursday 8th May 2003 at the London Hilton on Park Lane and will be hosted by comedienne and actress Nina Wadia.

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

Click here for AWA 2002 winners.
Click here for AWA 2001 winners.

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