4:04pm Thursday 7th May 2009
By Asian Image reporter
Women from the North of England have been shortlisted for the prestigious Asian Women of Achievement award.
The Lloyds TSB sponsored awards were set up to identify Asian women making a significant contribution to British life, across the media, business, arts, politics and voluntary sector.
Yasmin Qureshi - a leading barrister practising from Kenworthy’s Chambers in Manchester - has been shortlisted for the Professional of the Year Award.
Yasmin is also the Labour Parliamentary Candidate for Bolton South-East. She was human rights adviser to former Mayor Ken Livingstone and also set up the judicial system for the United Nations mission in Kosovo.
Preston-born Veera Johnson - CEO of ProcServe, an electronic procurement solutions and services company - has been shortlisted for the Business Woman of the Year Award. Over the last 10 years Veera has shaped and led the delivery of the government’s eProcurement strategy.
Dr Mah Hussain-gambles - founder of skincare brand Saaf Pure Skincare - has been shortlisted for the Entrepreneur of the Year Award. After 15 years in academia, Dr Mah launched the first ever range of luxury eco-ethical beauty products that are both organic and Halal certified, from her home in Leeds. The brand is now sold internationally.
Sheffield-born Christina Vaughan – founder of one of the world’s leading stock photography company, Image Source – has also been shortlisted. Since launching the business to the international market in 2000, the company now trades through over 200 photo agencies in over 80 countries.
Bradford-based Nasreen Karim – founder and managing director of Platinum Partnership Solicitors – has also been shortlisted for the Entrepreneur of the Year Award, having set up the firm only four years after qualifying as a solicitor.
A judging panel, chaired by Sir Nicholas Young, chief executive of the British Red Cross, met Yasmin and Veera on April 20 in London along with other shortlisted candidates.
This year’s shortlist includes several prominent figures from the Asian community, including Seetha Kumar, head of BBC Online, Hong Kong born choreographer and producer Carolyn Choa - wife of the late Oscar-winning film-maker Anthony Minghella, and Ahlya Fateh, managing editor of Tatler.
The Asian Women of Achievement Awards, whose patron is Cherie Blair, will be announced during a ceremony at the London Hilton on May 20.
Dave Allanson, Area Director at Lloyds TSB Corporate Markets in the North West, said: “There is a huge reserve of talent, passion and insight within the Asian business community in the North West which the UK economy needs to fully harness.
"Through our locally based teams, we're listening to many Asian run companies every day and finding new ways of supporting this important and diverse component of the local business landscape, through our products and services and local community networking."
Founder of the awards, Pinky Lilani OBE, said: “Over the past 10 years the awards have become a real barometer of social change. The standard of this year’s nominations has been incredible, with the shortlist demonstrating the wealth of talent in the Asian community that we are keen to support and promote.”
The Asian Women of Achievement Awards are hosted by Real Business magazine, in association with Lloyds TSB.
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