Manchester lawyer Shazda Ahmed has been shortlisted at the Forward Ladies Women In Business Awards (WIBA).

Shazda Ahmed is head of Monarch Solicitors, a new commercial law firm. Shazda said she was thrilled to be shortlisted for the Property Industry Business Woman and keen to assist women in business, particularly in the North West.

Mother of two boys and a baby girl, Shazda said, “By setting up a quality practice in a male dominated industry, I have promoted women in the property industry, leading by example, supporting female students by providing internships and teaching property law.

"I shall be holding our first Real Estate Investors Business Forum in the summer, to highlight to property developers and investors, the potential opportunities that are arising in the North West from inward investment from the East Asia and particularly from China".

Michelle Headen, managing director of Elland Road Financial Solutions and sponsor of the Property Business Woman of the Year category, said, “As a firm of all female financial planners who are heavily involved in arranging finance for clients in both the commercial property and residential property market we felt that it made sense to acknowledge the achievement of other professional women working really hard within the property sector.

"We are proud to be women working in this market place and we want to support other women who are doing the same thing.”

Forward Ladies Managing Director Griselda Togobo, who recently acquired the organisation, said: “I was very impressed by the standard of entries and the breadth and scale of the work that the business women in our region are undertaking.

"These are extremely talented and capable women - pioneers and innovators in their chosen professions. Their hard work must be recognised so they can become credible and inspirational role models for future generations.”

Winners will be announced at the awards ceremony on 27 March at the Britannia Hotel, Manchester.