Director of hit film 'Bend it Like Beckham', Gurinder Chadha, was honoured on Thursday 8th May 2003 when she was awarded the Chairman's Award at the Asian Women of Achievement Awards. In the presence of patron Cherie Booth QC, Ministers Patricia Hewitt and Tessa Jowell, MP Teresa May, Her Highness Begum Inaara Aga Khan, His Royal Highness Crown Prince Alexander and a veritable "Who's Who" of the Asian world, the fourth Awards ceremony recognised eight individuals for their accomplishments at a Gala Dinner in London.

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.

Presented by actress Nina Wadia, the Awards seek to identify the real stars for their commitment, dedication and determination in pursuit of professional and personal achievements within the commercial, professional, artistic and humanitarian sectors. This year 37 finalists were selected across seven different Award categories.

Controversial playwright Tanika Gupta won the Arts & Culture Award, Nabila Sadiq, Managing Director of Joslin Rowe recruited the top slot in the Business Woman of the Year category, Zaneb Khan of the London Training Agency was named Entrepreneur of the Year. Roohi Hasan, little known outside of newsrooms was selected as the Media Professional of the year for her role as the News Editor for ITN/Channel 5 News. Eminent consultant, Professor Faraneh Vargha-Khadem was selected as the Professional of the Year for her role in Cognitive Neuroscience. 26-year old lawyer, Preeya Khoorbhoor was chosen as the Young Achiever of the Year and Camila Batmanghelidjh was chosen to receive the Social & Humanitarian Award for her work with vulnerable children through Kids Company and 'The Arches' youth centre project.

Last year's winner of the Entrepreneur of the Year Award, Geetie Singh, Founder of organic Gastropubs Singh Boulton, said "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".

THE WINNERS

ARTS & CULTURE AWARD
For women flourishing in the world of performing arts, management of the arts and creative writing. Presented by Tessa Jowell.

	TANIKA GUPTA
	As a child, Tanika performed Tagore dance dramas with her parents' troup 'The Tagoreans' across Europe. She worked as a community worker and in an Asian women's refuge for several years after graduating from Oxford University. She began writing drama in the early 90s with a screenplay for the BBC's Black Screen, two short films and several episodes of the TV adaptation of A Suitable Boy. Her work for radio has been nominated for a number of awards including the Prix Futura and the Sony Radio Awards. In 2000 she was given the John Whiting Award by the Arts Council of Great Britain. Tanika has also worked as a scriptwriter for Eastenders, Grange Hill and The Bill. She was writer-in-residence at the Soho Theatre (1996-98) and penned the award-winning The Waiting Room for the National in 2000.
	JUDGES COMMENT: "She has done so much so quickly and is a worth winner of the Arts & Culture Award" Judy Grahame, Chief Executive, M & C Saatchi Arts.
	FINALISTS: Fareda Khan, Gurinder Chadha, Pushpinder Chowdhury & Harvinder Nath, Dr Sarita Malik.

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.
Presented by Theresa May MP.

	NABILA SADIQ
	Nabila's career path started when she joined John Lewis as a graduate trainee where her calm management style, hard work ethic, sound business acumen and ability to get the best out of employees resulted in a fast track three years. She left retail for the world of recruitment as a consultant with Badenoch & Clark, and then joined Shepherd Little as an Associate Director. In 1997 she became part of the Joslin Rowe management team and was made managing director in December 2000. She has become one of the most senior Asian women in recruitment and one of the most recognised names within the highly competitive financial temporary market place. Nabila is responsible for a business s with a multi-million pound turnover, in an industry that has historically been dominated by males at board level.
	JUDGES COMMENT: I was impressed by Nabila's clear understanding of the market in which she operates and how to be successful in it. At Joslin Rowe she has played a key role in building value in the business she has built and manages", Angela Lane. Director 3i.
	FINALISTS: Iram Shah, Nipun Gupta, Rina Barua.

ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR AWARD
For a woman who has taken the risk and has successfully set up and is running her own business.
Presented by Patricia Hewitt MP.

	ZANEB KHAN
	Zaneb set up the London Training Agency (LTA) in 1995 to provide a full range of Adult Education courses in the community from basic to higher level and especially for those who have not benefited from or had access to any education provision before. Since its inception the company has grown from 200 learners in the first year to 2000 learners presently enrolled on community training programmes. Courses, ranging from ESOL (English Speakers of Other Languages) to Information Technology, lead to national open college certificates recognised by employers and further education establishments. Zaneb has made a significant contribution to the cause of Asian women's educational advancement and has achieved an original combination of private enterprise and public responsibility.
	JUDGES COMMENT: "Zaneb is extremely focused. She knows exactly which direction she is going in and has a real desire to build her business. She is the driving force behind the London Training Agency - a very strong business model- and her strategy is both clear and ambitious". Stuart Rock, Editorial Director, Caspian Publishing.
	FINALISTS: Dipa Sudra, Emma Alliance, Honey Kalaria, Shehzad Husain, Shernaz Engineer.

THE MEDIA PROFESSIONAL OF THE YEAR AWARD
Unique individuals working in the areas of broadcast, print or electronic media. Presented by Meera Syal MBE.

	ROOHI HASAN
	Roohi was one of the original line-up of staff selected by the ITN team for the launch of Channel Five News in 1997. She started as Newsdesk Assistant but her talent was quickly spotted and she has been consistently promoted through the ranks. As News Editor, Roohi is a member of the senior Editorial Team, responsible for setting the news agenda at the start of each day. She combines a thorough knowledge of international and domestic news with an understanding of all the technical and journalistic aspects of television work. Over a period of six years she has quietly and effectively steered a multi-million pound news gathering operation and is a highly-respected and popular TV professional. Roohi exemplifies how talent, hard work, dedication and flair can lead to great things. Channel Five News won three Awards for innovation and journalism in its first year and was credited with breaking the mould of British television news - Roohi played a significant part in that achievement.
	JUDGES COMMENT: "Roohi is a great role model and a great journalist who has made a success of a demanding career in television and won the admiration, respect and affection of her colleagues", Jonathan Grun, Editor - Press Association.
	FINALISTS: Anjana Ahuja, Farah Nayeri, Geeta Gupta & Jas Shetra, Nasanine Moshiri.

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. Presented by Cherie Booth QC.

	PROFESSOR FARANEH VARGHA KHADEM
	Faraneh is Professor of Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience and Head of the Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience Unit at the Institute of Child Health, University College London as well as Consultant in Neuropsychology at Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children. Her research and clinical work, carried out over 20 years, is directed towards understanding the cognitive and behavioural deficits of brain-injured children as well as inherited disorders of speech and language and childhood amnesia. She recently published ground-breaking research that showed how damage inflicted on a specific area of a child's brain can lead to serious anti-social behaviour in puberty and adulthood. In addition to lecturing around the world, she is also a medical/legal expert on amnesia and the consequences of head injury on cognitive outcome in children and adults.
	JUDGES COMMENT: "Professor Faraneh Vargha-Khadem's achievements are truly outstanding both in the field of science and in the field of understanding the importance of mental health to child development". Professor Brian Gazzard, Consultant Physician, Chelsea & Westminster Hospital.
	FINALISTS: Dr Alba de Souza, Leela Kapila, Dr Ziba Mir-Hosseini

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.
Presented by Her Highness Begum Inaara Aga Khan.

	CAMILA BATMANGHELIDJH
	Camila's life aim has been to act as a catalyst for setting up support services for vulnerable children. She founded Kids Company in December 1995, hoping to reach not only vulnerable children in schools but also those excluded and on the margins of society. She persuaded Railtrack to donate six railway arches in Camberwell beneath which there is now a thriving youth centre 'The Arches' that reaches out to some 600 children who self refer for human warmth, housing support, education, food and creative activities. The children have given the project a 95-100% satisfaction rating. In addition to The Arches, the staff of Kids Company (56 full-time and 20 part-time) and some 80 volunteers support 3,000-4,000 children a year across 15 inner city schools in London. Camila's resilience has seen Kids Company through its years of development, and for the last three she has had to raise over £2 million each year to ensure the survival of the organisation. Prior to Kids Company, Camila set up The Place to Be which offered psychotherapy and counselling to children in schools. It is now a national project and serves in excess of 20,000 children a year. Camila used her mortgage repayments to set it up.
	JUDGES COMMENT: "Camila has played a major role in helping disadvantaged children, knowing that there is no quick fix and that it is often difficult to tell if you are making a difference. She has founded, sustained and driven a charity forward by her own determination and efforts. Her commitment to the well being of vulnerable children is unwavering" Sir Nicholas Young, Chief Executive, British Red Cross.
	FINALISTS: Dadi Janki, Indira Patel OBE, Nureen Babar, Rita Patel, Shahwar Sadeque.

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.
Presented by His Royal Highness Crown Prince Alexander.

	PREEYA KHOORBHOOR
	Preeya, 26, started her legal training contract with Cattermoles solicitors, an established firm that has been practising in Welling, Kent for over 80 years. Since she qualified two years ago she has been responsible for running the Matrimonial Department and has tripled its client base and revenue making it one of the leading departments of its kind in the area. She was made a partner at just 25, underlining the fact that she is an excellent solicitor, displaying maturity and an understanding of the law and management of a law firm beyond her years. Her client care skills and overall professionalism have been applauded by fellow lawyers and seasoned barristers alike.
	Judges Comments: "Preeya is an outstanding young lawyer who demonstrates tremendous understanding and empathy with her clients. She is open and honest and the deeply held principles tinged with sound realism, that underline her enthusiasm for her work, are apparent at all time", Sir Nicholas Montagu, Chairman - Inland Revenue.
	Finalists: Aiysha Malik, Isa Guha, Leili Morshed, Priya Nair Radhakrishnan

THE CHAIRMAN'S AWARD
A special Award presented by the Chairman to one outstanding woman of achievement. Presented by Baroness Helena Kennedy QC.

	GURINDER CHADHA
	Gurinder began her career as a news reporter for BBC Radio and went on to direct award-winning documentaries for the British Film Institute, BBC and Channel 4. In 1990 she set up her own production company, Umbi Films, and had her first film debut in 1993 with Bhaji on the Beach. After Bhaji she directed a two-part drama for the BBC and continued to work on documentaries. She was invited to join the Sundance Institute's Writer's Lab with a project which resulted in her second feature film, What's Cooking, which won her the award for Best British Director in the London Film Critics' Circle 2001 Awards. Bend It Like Beckham in 2002 has been her most successful film to date - a smash hit grossing over £11m at the UK box office, the most ever for a British financed and British distributed film. She was groundbreaking ten years ago, as the first British Asian woman to direct a feature film, and with Beckham she has achieved a level of commercial and critical success that would be remarkable for any British director of any gender, age or cultural origin.
	JUDGES COMMENT: "Gurinder is incredibly talented not only in making films but in selecting the subjects for them. In the process of developing herself she has produced highly success films. Her work universally transcends the Asian boundary and she has reached a summit on both a technical and creative level". Pinky Lilani, Chairman - Asian Women of Achievement Awards.

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.

Click here for more pictures from the Gala Dinner Ceremony.
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.

Click here to visit the Asian Women of Achievement website.

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