London: The Prime Minister David Cameron last night attended the GG2 Leadership Awards gala ceremony which also unveiled the GG2 Power List 101 featuring Britain’s most powerful Asians. Speaking at the ceremony, David Cameron recognised the significant contribution made by British Asians and encouraged the younger generation to follow suit and aim high.
“I want the young Muslim girl to see Mishal Husain on TV and think she too can become a top broadcaster, the Pakistani teenager to hear Naughty Boy on the radio and consider a career in music, the budding journalist to read GG2 and Eastern Eye and want to follow in the incredible footsteps of Ramniklal Solanki.†He continued, “All of us here can think of someone who has inspired us to do what we’re doing right now. Well you can be that person to someone else out there, whether it’s speaking in schools, getting involved in charities or tweeting to your followers, and say “if I can do it then so can youâ€.
Cameron also paid tribute to the increasing number of Asian politicians saying “One day I want to hear that title ‘Prime Minister’ followed by a British Asian name.†Although he joked that not for a few more years.
Topping the Powerlist 101 this year was the Rt Hon Sajid Javid MP who takes the top spot from Malala Yousafzai, in the annual listing of the 101 most powerful and influential Asians living in the UK. Compiled by The Asian Media and Marketing Group (AMG), the list features the top 101 most influential Asians in the UK, ranging from all walks of life. Now in its fourth year, the list honours some notable British Asians who hold power and influence not just in Britain, but also globally.
Quite simply, with his seat at the cabinet table, he is the only Asian voice at the heart of the Government’s most senior decision making process. He is responsible for what is effectively a ‘super-ministry’ with wide-ranging responsibilities for: advertising, architecture, arts and culture, broadcasting, creative industries, cultural property, heritage and the historic, environment, gambling and racing, libraries, media ownership and mergers, museums and galleries, the National Lottery, sport, telecommunications and online tourism – or that he is committed to opening the cultural doors for all Britons in the UK. He says: “Culture is more than a privilege. It’s at the core of who we are and how we define ourselves. If you’re not engaged with our cultural life, you’re not engaged with our national life. And in 2014, too many Britons are culturally disenfranchised.â€
The top ten of the Power List alone sees some distinguished names across different sectors including media and entertainment, politics and business. Last year’s number one, Malala Yousafzai moves down from the leading spot in favour of Mr Javid. Interestingly this year’s top 10 features a total of five leading politicians including Labour MPs Keith Vaz and Sadiq Khan at numbers 3 and 7, and Tory MPs Priti Patel and Shailesh Vara at numbers 6 and 9 respectively. Representing the business and finance industry, Lakshmi Mittal and the Hinduja brothers remain within the top 10, alongside One Direction star, Zayn Malik at number 10.
The media, arts and music industry have even stronger representation this year with BBC presenter Mishal Hussain leading the field and Amol Rajan, editor of The Independent climbing an astounding 41 places to number 16 in this year’s list. The list features a total of 30 individuals from the media and entertainment sectors including torchbearers like Meera Syal, Sanjeev Bhaskar, Krishnan Gurumurthy and Jay Sean, but also some interesting new faces including Great British Bake Off star Chetana Makan, Booker Prize nominee Neel Mukherjee and Sky News’s recently appointed Political Editor Faisal Islam.
As well as the music sector increasing its representation, this year’s list sees a total of 17 new entries that clearly shift the balance of power amongst the industry’s stalwarts. These new entries sit alongside well-known faces in the community who have made phenomenal contributions to their areas of expertise. Cricketer Moeen Ali, one of only two sportsmen featured in the list this year enters at number 28, alongside charity campaigners Aneeta Prem and Praful Patel.
Girl Power is alive and kicking this year, with a total of 19 women featured in the list. This year’s women are fairly evenly split between the worlds of politics, campaigning and the media & entertainment industry. Many of the women in the list this year are household names, from BBC Breakfast presenters Naga Munchetty and Jameela Jamil to musician Anoushka Shankar as well as leading campaigners and vocal voices of Shami Chakrabarti and Yasmin Alibhai Brown – this year’s list sees strong, dedicated women standing strong.
WINNERS OF THE GG2 LEADERSHIP AWARDS
Alongside the presentation of the Power List, the GG2 Leadership Awards were presented to leading members of the Asian community who have made a considerable contribution to their respective fields.
The GG2 Hammer Award, which is given to individuals who have broken through the glass ceiling, was handed to Amol Rajan, the first ever Asian editor of a national newspaper.
Born into modest circumstances his parents, as migrants, were certainly put a high price on a good education. A high-flyer at his London state school, Amol made it to Cambridge University and a career in the media beckoned. His passion for writing, commentary and acute analysis didn’t go unnoticed – after an early foray into television, he switched to The Independent. In June last year his life changed as he also became the youngest editor of a broadsheet title.
In May of this year the nation grieved for a talented and passionate young man who was killed in the line of duty, fighting for his country. Flt Lt Rakesh Chauhan was posthumously awarded the GG2 Pride of Britain Award. The GG2 Inspire Award was given to Parmi
Dheensa, Executive Director of Include Me Too – a charity that works to improve the lives of disabled young people within the Asian community.
Dr Rami Ranger, an entrepreneur and tireless community champion was honoured with the GG2 Man of the Year Award, while the award for Woman of the Year was handed Dame Asha Khemka, chief executive of West Notts College for her outstanding work and commitment to improving and providing a fair education for all.
Both the GG2 Power List and GG2 Leadership Awards aim to highlight and showcase ethnic talent and leadership within the UK. The gala ceremony attracted a diverse and powerful audience of high achievers, who showed their support for ethnic achievement in the UK.
Kalpesh Solanki, Group Managing Editor of the AMG Power List, says: “The GG2 Leadership Awards recognise & celebrate achievement of exceptional individuals who have excelled and broken through barriers. Their triumph through adversity makes them remarkable people who deserve to be recognised.â€
The Top 10 in this year’s Asian Power 101 List are:
Sajid Javid MP
Malala Yousafzai
Keith Vaz MP
Lakshmi Mittal
GP & SP Hinduja
Priti Patel MP
Sadiq Khan MP
Rakesh Kapoor
Shailesh Vara MP
Zayn Malik
The winners of the GG2 Leadership Awards are as follows:
1. Spirit in the Community Award sponsored by Royal Navy
Winner: Aneeta Prem, Human Rights Campaigner, Founder & President of Freedom
2. GG2 World Food Award sponsored by Waitrose
Winner: Chef Tony Singh, Olorosa
3. GG2 Young Journalist of the Year sponsored by Daily Mail
Winner: Pesala Bandara, reporter and Partner News Dog Media
4. GG2 Achievement through Adversity sponsored by Auden Mckenzie
Winner: Ashish Goyal, Portfolio Manager, Blue Crest Capital
5. GG2 Professional of the Year Award sponsored by Bank of Baroda
Winner: Bhik Kotecha, Doctor – consultant Otorhinolaryngologist
6. GG2 Media & Creative Arts Award sponsored by Hearst Magazines UK
Winner: Nihal Arthanayake, Radio & TV Presenter BBC
7. GG2 Entrepreneur of the Year sponsored by Sun and Sand
Winner: Mahmud Kamani, Co-Founder and Joint CEO boohoo.com
8. GG2 Inspire Award sponsored by ASDA
Winner: Parmi Dheensa, Executive Director, Include Me TOO
9. GG2 Pride of Britain Award sponsored by Sun Mark
Winner: Intelligence Officer, Flt Lt Rakesh Chauhan, RAF (posthumous)
10. GG2 Woman of the Year sponsored by HSBC
Winner: Dame Asha Khemka, Chief Executive, West Nottinghamshire College Group
10. GG2 Man of the Year sponsored by Karali
Winner: Dr Rami Ranger, Founder & CEO Sun Mark Group
11. GG2 Hammer Award sponsored by Asian Media & Marketing Group
Winner: Amol Rajan, Editor Independent