Redhotcurry - News. Pinky's Spice Magic

Pinky Lilani, founder of the Asian Women Of Achievement Awards, is very much like the women whom she seeks to promote. A skilled networker, entrepreneur, mentor and consultant, she exudes warmth and positive energy. Characteristics which have helped her grow the Awards in prestige over the last six years. The 2005 shortlist, announced today, honour Asian women from all walks of life in the areas of Arts & Culture, Media, Public Sector and Business. The enviable judging panel, high profile sponsors and media support combined with a slick event management team have helped the Asian Women of Achievement Awards create an unrivalled platform for the talents of Asian women in the UK.

Author of the best-selling cookbook 'Spice Magic', launched in 2001, Pinky acts a consultant and holds culinary demonstrations. She also organises motivational corporate seminars so that City high-flyers can learn bonding skills whilst cooking curry.

But it wasn't always so. When Pinky came to England in 1977 as a new bride of a Mumbai businessman, she couldn't cook! Twenty eight years later, she acts as a food consultant to major supermarkets and food manufacturers, lists the Prime Minister's wife as a friend and runs the highly successful Asian Women of Achievement Awards that have Her Highness Begum Inaara Aga Khan and Cherie Booth QC as patrons. Pinky is a mentor with the Prince's Youth Business Trust, a member of the Asia House special projects committee, the Mayor of Croydon's charity committee and the European Women of Achievement Awards. She has also recently set up the Women's Interfaith Network with Gilda Levy to encourage communication and understanding between women of different faiths.

There seem to be no limits on Pinky's skills, creativity and imagination, although she attributes her success to tenacity, perseverance and "making the impossible, possible!". She was listed in the October 2002 Good Housekeeping Magazine 'Portraits of Power' as one of the eight exceptional women of achievement in Britain and has appeared on TV shows including 'Open House with Gloria Hunniford' and 'Good Food Live'.

When asked about her secret to success, she is characteristically open "I do everything from the heart" she says. A committed Muslim, Pinky's philosophy is also about giving something back to the community. "Everywhere in my life I try to return something to the community in which I live. We should all live our lives sharing them with others". The AWA Awards feature a special 'Social & Humanitarian' category for just this reason.

The Awards also celebrate entrepreneurial zeal, youth, arts and media and contribution to the Public Sector. "Asian women have been portrayed for too long sitting in the kitchen, making onion bhajias. That's not true anymore. They are working very hard in many fields and we need to show this" states Pinky.

This year's Asian Women on Achievement Awards take place at the London Hilton Hotel on Thursday 26 May 2005. Click here to reserve places.

ABOUT PINKY LILANI

A committed Muslim, Pinky was born in Calcutta and came to Britain in 1977 after a three-week whirlwind romance in Mumbai, where she was introduced to and married her businessman husband. Wanting to be self-employed and yet have the flexibility to run a family (she has two adult sons), she started a consultancy in the Indian food industry teaching companies to produce more authentic products by telling them stories about India and its culture. Run from her home and spurred on by her expertise, the reputation of her business has spread by word of mouth.

Click here to visit Pinky Lilani's 'Spice Magic' website.

WANT TO KNOW MORE?

Click here for the AWA Awards 2005 finalists.
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 finalists
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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