Political & public life awards 2017

1-Political-New2017.qxp_A4 Temp 27/02/2017 14:49 Page 1

Celebrating Achievements in Diversity 2017 w w w. a b p l g r o u p. c o m

TM

Winner 2013

Winner 2016

Winner 2010

POLITICAL & PUBLIC Winner 2014

Winner 2016

LIFE AWARDS

Winner 2014

Winner 2012

Winner 2016

Winner 2010

Winner 2016

2-3-4 New.qxp_A4 Temp 27/02/2017 14:22 Page 2

Political&

Public Life Awards

Honouring Service to Public and Political Life

P

articipation in politics, public life and governance is an onerous undertaking and men and women who serve are in constant public gaze, thanks to the ever proliferating media. Transparency and citizens' right to information means that those in public service are held accountable for their deeds and promises made at the hustings. Living in a democracy provides an opportunity for politicians, public servants and citizens to engage in meaningful dialogue and make informed choices. As a result, all those who serve have no choice but to abide by the highest moral principles and embrace personal integrity.

While the tumult and horror of extremism rage on in certain parts of the globe, we in the UK are able to live in relative peace and harmony thanks largely to those who make decisions in the political and public arena.

Some years ago the Committee on Standards in Public Life published an overview of the 'Nolan Principles', which are the basis of the ethical standards expected of public office holders. In it, is identified the 7 Principles of public life - Selflessness, Integrity, Objectivity, Accountability, Openness, Honesty and Leadership. It is principles such as these that help keep our leaders on the straight and narrow and uphold a legacy of good governance that has marked political and public life in the UK. I have long believed that men and women who abide by these principles are worthy of recognition and so in 2006 we instituted the Asian Voice Political and Public Life Awards. Today these awards are held in high regard and serve a worthy purpose.

Every year we receive an overwhelming number of nominations from our readers and the wider community. An independent panel of judges, whose task I must add is far from easy, deliberate and choose the worthy winners who come from diverse backgrounds and persuasions. The winners are revealed at the awards ceremony at the House of Commons.

Organising and executing the awards ceremony brings its own challenges and I must acknowledge the efforts of my colleagues at ABPL Group, led by our CEO, L.George, for doing it so meticulously.

I would like to thank the readers of Asian Voice and Gujarat Samachar, the panel of judges and all those who were involved in making this event possible.

CB Patel Publisher/ Editor Asian Voice & Gujarat Samachar

2

Asian Voice & Gujarat Samachar 2017

2-3-4 New.qxp_A4 Temp 27/02/2017 14:21 Page 3

Political&

Public Life Awards

Guest of Honour

Eleanor Laing MP Deputy Speaker of the House of Commons

E

leanor Laing is the Deputy Speaker of the House of Commons and is the most Senior Officer of the House. She has been the MP for Epping Forest since 1997, and was elected Deputy Speaker in October 2013. A graduate of Edinburgh University, where she was the first woman to be elected President of the Students’ Union, Eleanor worked as a solicitor in Edinburgh.

Before becoming Deputy Speaker, Eleanor was a member of the influential Political and Constitutional Reform Select Committee and Chairman of the 1922 Home and Constitutional Affairs Committee. She has also held a variety of frontbench roles, including as Shadow Minister for Constitutional Affairs, Shadow Minister for Equality, Shadow Secretary of State for Scotland, Shadow Education Minister and Opposition Whip.

Eleanor lives near Epping with her son. She lists her hobbies as theatre, travel and golf.

Asian Voice & Gujarat Samachar 2017

3

3-9 Honoree List.qxp_A4 Temp 27/02/2017 12:57 Page 4

Political&

Public Life Awards

List of the Honorees

Campaigner of the Year

Gina Miller

Gina Miller grew up in British Guiana before moving to England aged 10. She has a degree in marketing, and an MSc in human resource management from the University of London. Miller set up the True and Fair Foundation in 2009 which aims to encourage moral responsibility and philanthropy. Following the EU Referendum, Gina took up a ‘David and Goliath’ battle, when she engaged her own solicitors to take the Government to the Supreme Court to ensure the British Parliament would have a vote before Article 50 can be triggered. After winning this case in a landmark victory accompanied by global news coverage, her achievement will go down in the annals of legal and parliamentary history, in a story worthy of the Oscars

Minister of the Year

Rory Stewart MP OBE

Rory Stewart OBE is Minister of State at the Department for International Development, and has served as MP for Penrith and The Border since being first elected in 2010. Prior to this he was an infantry officer in the British Army and served in the UK Diplomatic Service. He has been awarded the Order of the British Empire, the Gold Medal of the Royal Scottish Geographical Society, the Ondaatje Prize of the Royal Society of Literature, the Spirit of Scotland Award, the Radio France Award, the Prize del Camino del Cid, a Scottish BAFTA and honorary doctorates from Stirling University and the American University of Paris. He is honoured today as the Minister who has travelled the world and been the face of the British government in some of the poorest parts of the world, responsible for the delivery of hundreds of millions of pounds in aid to countries like Yemen, Somalia and Syria.

Sports Personality of the Year

Claudio Ranieri

Following a managerial career in which he has managed 14 teams across a period of 29 years and five different countries, Claudio Ranieri is loved by fans across the footballing world. Ranieri’s career began with Roma in 1973, before transferring to Cantanzaro in 1974, where he stayed for the majority of his playing career. As a manager, Claudio has taken charge of Inter Milan, Roma, Juventus, Monaco, Athelitico Madrid, Monaco and Greek National Team. He won the Premier League Manager of the Year, FIFA Coach of the Year and LMA Manager of the Year after taking 5000-1 outsiders Leicester City Football Club to win the Premier league in one of the greatest sporting upsets of all time. His place in the Pantheon of world football managers is the stuff of legend and is of truly historical significance.

Shadow Minister of the Year

Rt Hon Diane Abbott MP

In 1987 Diane Abbott made history by becoming the first black woman ever elected to the British Parliament. Diane was born in London in 1953. In 2008 Diane was awarded the Spectator/Threadneedle Speech of the Year Award and a Human Rights Award from Liberty. Diane has served on a number of parliamentary committees on social and international issues, and was elected with an imporved majority of over 24,000 in May 2015. As the first black woman ever appointed as Shadow Home Secretary, Diane made an immediate impact across Westminster and has been at the forefront of some of the major events concerning Britain’s future, tenaciously holding the government to account on policing, immigration and Brexit.

4

Asian Voice & Gujarat Samachar 2017

4-8 Honoree List.qxp_A4 Temp 27/02/2017 14:42 Page 5

List of the Honorees

Political&

Public Life Awards

Public Service Award

Mark Rowley QPM, Assistant Commissioner

Mark Rowley has been the Assistant Commissioner for Specialist Operations in the Metropolitan Police since June 2014. He leads the Counter Terrorism Policing Network in the UK and represents CT Policing in its engagement with Government on operational and policy issues associated with tackling terrorism, espionage and proliferation. He is also responsible for Protection, Security and Counter Terrorism/Domestic Extremism in London. Now in his 30th year a public servant, which included the appointment as Chief Constable for Surrey in 2008, he has had a remarkable uniformed and detective career, and was awarded the Queen’s Police Medal in 2011. As the UK-lead for counterterrorism, Mark is the reason we can sleep soundly at night.

Actor of the Year

Dev Patel

Dev Patel is an Oscar-nominated actor known for roles in films like ‘Slumdog Millionaire,’ ‘The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel’ and ‘Lion’. London-born Patel had very little acting experience when he was chosen to play the lead role in the feature film Slumdog Millionaire, which went on to achieve worldwide critical success, including an Oscar nomination for Best Picture. Patel's only prior acting experience was the role of Anwar in the British television series Skins. Patel was nominated for a BAFTA for his debut in Slumdog Millionaire. He also won a British Independent Film Award as Most Promising Newcomer and a Broadcast Film Critics Award for Best Young Actor/Actress under 21. Most recently, he starred in the critically acclaimed biopic The Man Who Knew Infinity, and the true story drama Lion alongside Nicole Kidman and Rooney Mara. For his work in Lion, he earned numerous nominations for ‘Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role’, including his first nomination from the Academy Awards and Golden Globe Awards.

International Diversity Award

Mary Ellen Powers

Mary Ellen Powers is the Partner-in-Charge of Jones Day Europe, overseeing ten offices and almost 600 lawyers. She was the first woman to be appointed to the firm’s Partnership Committee and has served on it for a decade. Mary Ellen joined Jones Day after graduating from the University Of Virginia School Of Law in 1980.

She has played a key role in ensuring that diverse lawyers get opportunities to develop into leaders in client engagements and within the firm. Mary Ellen was recognized as ‘’Star of the Bar’’ by the Women’s Bar Association and received the Law Firm Economic Empowerment Award at the Transformative Leadership Awards in 2010. She has also served on the District of Columbia Bar Pro Bono Committee and is a director of the mutual insurance company ALAS. She has broken the glass ceiling for diversity, not just in the USA, but worldwide.

Philanthropists of the Year

Bhiku Patel and Dr Vijay Patel

The story of Waymade pharmaceuticals is a fascinating one. Success in business apart, the Patel brothers have been actively hugely involved in philanthropy for over three decades. The Shanta Foundation, named after their mother, Shantaben, provides health, shelter and education through both selffunded and jointly-funded projects with partners such as the Lions Club, Devdaya and Anoopam Mission. The Foundation is currently raising funds for a 112 bed Critical Care Unit at The Shree Krishna Hospital, in Gujarat. In October 2014. The Shanta Foundation held a Gala Dinner, raising £412, 441 for the Mitra Rehabilitation School, which is run by the Anoopam Mission. The Waymade School of Ophthalmic Studies in Gujarat specialises in the prevention of childhood blindness. The Waymade College of Education in Gujurat provides students with graduate and post graduate degrees in English.

Last year Waymade contributed £1 million to De Montfort University, Leicester, where Vijay studied pharmacy.

Asian Voice & Gujarat Samachar 2017

5

3-9 Honoree List.qxp_A4 Temp 27/02/2017 12:58 Page 6

Political&

Public Life Awards

List of the Honorees

Political Book of the Year

Sir Craig Oliver

Sir Craig Stewart Oliver is a British news editor, producer and media executive.

Previously, he was Controller of English news output for BBC Global News. He began his media career in 1992 as a reporter for STV and joined the BBC in 2006, where he became editor of BBC One's Ten O'Clock News. In February 2011 he was appointed Director of Communications at 10 Downing Street, becoming the Prime Minister’s chief political and press advisor, one of the most powerful positions in Whitehall. Oliver received a Knighthood in the 2016 Resignation Honours. His book, Unleashing Demons: The inside Story of Brexit, has become the classic, seminal account of one of the most important periods in modern British political history, as the man who had a ringside seat at the political storm that was the 2016 referendum.

Conservative Backbencher of the Year

David Morris MP

David Morris was first elected as MP for Morecambe and Lunedale in May 2010 and was re-elected in 2015 with an increased majority of 4,590. An assiduous constituency MP, he has secured the building of a ÂŁ124.5 Million infrastructure project, a new nuclear build, and delivered an NHS Same Day Service in his constituency in recent years. He has served as PPS to the Secretary of State for Wales since June 2014, and is the firrst ever selfemployment ambassador to the Government. He represents one of the most diverse constituencies in the UK, and he has been widely lauded for his support for the BAME community after the death of 23 migrant workers picking cockles in Morecombe Bay.

Lifetime Achievement Award

H. S. Rao, The Press Trust of India

H.S.Rao has been a journalist with the Press Trust of India (PTI) and the premier news agency of India for nearly five decades. He served in Mumbai, Bengaluru, Kolkata and New Delhi before being posted in London as Bureau Chief of the PTI in 1999. Mr Rao has travelled the world with Presidents and Prime Ministers. Mr Rao broke the news of the assassination of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi to the world in 1984 and he was also one of the two Journalists to visit the Golden Temple in Amritsar with President Zail Singh three days after the Blue Star operation. He is regarded as the doyen of Indian journalists in Britain, having given a lifetime of service to journalism and the truth.

Northern Ireland MP of the Year

Jim Shannon MP

Jim Shannon is the Memberof Parliament for Stranford. He has served in a number of political positions in Northern Ireland and the United Kingdom since being first elected to Ards Borough Council in 1985, serving as a member of the Northern Ireland Forum for Political Dialogue in 1996 and being elected to the Northern Ireland Assembly representing Strangford. Jim was elected to the House of Commons in 2010, receiving nearly 15,000 votes. Jim is widely respected by MPs across all political parties, and is an extremely active Member of Parliament, having spoken in 353 debates and receiving answers to 752 written questions in the last year.

6

Asian Voice & Gujarat Samachar 2017

3-9 Honoree List.qxp_A4 Temp 27/02/2017 12:59 Page 7

List of the Honorees

Political&

Public Life Awards

Peer of the Year

Baroness Brady CBE

Voted Business Woman of the Year and Ultimate Entrepreneur Baroness Brady is passionate about business and the promotion of women in business in the UK. Karren is CEO of West Ham United Football Club and a Senior Non-Executive Director of Syco Entertainment. In 1993, age 23, she was appointed Managing Director of Birmingham City Football Club when the club was in administration. Four years later, she became the youngest Managing Director of a UK PLC when she floated the club on the stock market. She joined the board of West Ham United in January 2010. In December 2013, she was awarded a CBE for services to women in business and entrepreneurship. Baroness Brady was made a life peer by the then Prime Minister David Cameron in 2014, taking the title Baroness Karren Brady of Knightsbridge CBE. Karren is one of the most sought after speakers in the world, motivating and advising global businesses through her award-winning speeches. She is also author of the Sunday Times best-selling autobiography Strong Woman. Karren appears on the BBC’s The Apprentice and is a leading voice, contributor and commentator on business affairs and news programmes.

Award for Community Service

Dipti Mistry, Bhaarat Welfare Trust

Passionate about making a difference in society, the caring Dipti Mistry is the Trustee of Bhaarat Welfare Trust established by the legendary Kantilal Unnadkat in 1998. It is a registered British Charity working with over 150 charities in India to help those who cannot help themselves. Dipti has dedicated her life to serve the community by taking up causes of alleviating poverty, improving animal welfare, women empowerment, providing medical aid for the disadvantaged, supporting the disabled and frail and, above all, providing education for children. Born in Surat, in India, Dipti came to the UK in 1989. She has studied B.Sc. (Chemistry) and has a degree in Library and Information Science as well from India. She is also a qualified Guide Communicator. Against all odds, she continues her mission to HELP the HELPLESS.

Pharmacist of the Year

Jimmy Desai

Jimmy Desai is a community Pharmacist practising in Ilford, Essex. His career spans 28 years, all of which has been devoted to active community pharmacy service. During his career Jimmy has cared for patients of all ages and believes in the principal of ‘serve and be served'. Jimmy is also an avid philanthropist and has been heavily involved with a number of notable diabetes charities. Jimmy is also a Special Advisor on Pharmacy to the All Party Parliamentary Group for Diabetes, where he supports and advises the Group on Government policy on community pharmacy. Jimmy finds his job as a community pharmacist rewarding as he is motivated by helping patients to live healthier lives. In 2016 he created the DIMPLE project, designed to bring diabetes into pharmacies.

Young Entrepreneur of the Year

Harnoop Atkar

Thirty-year-old Harnoop is a young entrepreneur who has business interests in varied sectors, including healthcare, hotels and hospitality. Currently, he is the CEO of Oakland Primecare, a leading provider of premium private pay elderly care focussed on the South East of England. In July 2016, Harnoop successfully led a deal raising £30 million of investment to support the company’s next phase of growth, which will increase the number of beds from 152 to approximately 800. Harnoop’s key to success is he instils the values of treating the elderly with dignity and respect across Oakland. Harnoop is also Director of Equator hotels and The Willows, which is an events and banqueting hall in Fairlop Waters, Essex. Harnoop was formerly a management consultant for EY and PwC in London.

Asian Voice & Gujarat Samachar 2017

7

3-9 Honoree List.qxp_A4 Temp 27/02/2017 12:59 Page 8

Political&

Public Life Awards

List of the Honorees

Business Performance and Innovation in Health Industry

St George's Medical Ltd

Launched by the multi-faceted and enterprising Atul Patel in 2007, St George's Medical Ltd have come a long way since making their first product Olive Oil Ear Drops, a good cheap option for helping to loosen and remove ear wax. The product was an instant hit with people with bad earache and in no time the company became the UK's market leader in that product. They never looked back after that success. Using it as a stepping stone to scaling new heights, St George's Medical decided to innovate more such quality health products that would be available to both the consumers and the NHS at an affordable price.

Over time they came out with hugely successful products like Pregfol (Folic Acid) Tablets for pregnant women; Iso-Rinse for those suffering from Hayfever, Nasal Dryness, etc.; Vitalyp a moisturising lip balm; Vitamin B Compound Strong tablets; Thiamine Tablets; OsteoBlast Tablets; and Ferrous Sulphate Tablet a form of iron supplement. With a strong sense of commitment to medical staff, the patients undergoing treatment and the general public – the hallmark and core principles of St George's Medical have always been that they look to innovate products that would give better results in a cost effective way without compromising on quality and safety. Not resting on their laurels, this year too a number of health products have been lined up by St George's Medical that will go a long way in improving health and quality of life of people as well as helping the NHS to save on cost, especially in the current financial climate.

Doctor of the Year

Professor Nadey Hakim

Prof Nadey S. Hakim, MD, PhD is a transplant surgeon and author with over 30 experience having performed over 15,000 procedures. He studied in Paris Descartes University and University College London. In 1995, he performed the first pancreas transplant in London at St Mary's Hospital and the world's first hand transplant was performed in September 1998. He was awarded Honorary Professorships from Lyon University, Ricardo Palma University, Başkent University, University of São Paulo and was visiting professor to Harvard University. Hakim has edited 23 surgical textbooks and served as the 35th World President of the International College of Surgeons. In January 2016, President Francois Hollande appointed Professor Hakim to the rank of Chevalier de la Legion d'Honneur. In a community which boasts some of the finest medical practitioners in the world, Professor Hakim is amongst the best of the best.

Liberal Democrat of the Year

Tim Farron MP

Tim Farron is the Leader of the Liberal Democrats, being elected in July 2015, and has been the MP for Westmorland and Lonsdale since 2005. Having won his seat after 95 years of Conservative representation by 267 votes, he was re-elected in 2010 with a 60% majority. In March 2006 Tim was appointed Parliamentary Private Secretary to then party leader Menzies Campbell before serving a number of frontbench roles. Tim was elected as the national President of the Liberal Democrats in November 2010. Since becoming an MP in 2005 Tim has dealt with over 67,000 constituents cases in his office and held over 600 advice surgeries in South Lakeland. Following his election as Leader of his Party he has made an immediate impact in Westminster, taking the Liberal Democrats in a new direction and holding the government to account.

8

Asian Voice & Gujarat Samachar 2017

TOP BRITISH GIANTS ROCK THE HOUSE

11-12-13 Pics.qxp_A4 Temp 27/02/2017 14:26 Page 9

Rt Hon Angus Robertson MP receiving the award from the Speaker of the House of Commons, Rt Hon John Bercow MP

Journalist Matthew Parris, award recipient with Asian Voice Publisher/Editor CB Patel

Sir Trevor McDonald OBE receiving the award from the Speaker of the House of Commons, Rt Hon John Bercow MP

Hotelier Jasminder Singh (The Mayfair) receiving the award from CB Patel

Tobias Ellwood MP receiving the award from Sir Trevor McDonald OBE

Rahul Dixit (Asset India) receiving the award from Major General Richard Stanford MBE

Rt Hon Lord Feldman of Elstree receiving the award from Sir Trevor McDonald OBE

Anup Sachdeva (Uflex) receiving the award from Air Marshal Sir Baz North KCB OBE

Paresh Raja (MFS UK) receiving the award from Deputy Speaker Eleanor Liang MP

Manoj Ladwa (Europe India Forum) receiving the award from Lord Feldman and CB Patel

Rehman Chishti MP receiving the award from Sir Trevor McDonald OBE

Rikin Lakhani (Kolak Snacks) receiving the award from Valerie Vaz MP and CB Patel

Asian Voice & Gujarat Samachar 2017

9

TOP BRITISH GIANTS

11-12-13 Pics.qxp_A4 Temp 27/02/2017 14:27 Page 10

Red Fort receiving the award from Deputy Speaker Eleanor Liang MP

Rt Hon Matthew Hancock MP receiving the award from Sir Trevor McDonald OBE

Lord Kakkar receiving the award from CB Patel

Lydia Nazreth (Jet Airways) receiving the award from Deputy Speaker Eleanor Liang MP and CB Patel

10

Asian Voice & Gujarat Samachar 2017

Ajjay Mehrra receiving the award from Valerie Vaz MP and CB Patel

Jag Chauhan (Solar Security) receiving the award from Deputy Speaker Eleanor Liang MP

Stanley Tse (SeeWoo) receiving the award from Lord Feldman and CB Patel

TS ROCK THE HOUSE 11-12-13 Pics.qxp_A4 Temp 27/02/2017 14:28 Page 11

Sheena Amin receiving the award from Lord Feldman

Victoria Atkins MP, award recipient with Sir Trevor McDonald OBE

Guests at the awards Editor/Publisher: CB Patel

Chief Executive Officer: L. George Managing Editor: Kokila Patel

Associate Editor: Rupanjana Dutta

News Editor: Kamal Rao

Deputy Editor: Anand Pillai

Sub-Editor: Urja Patel

Advertising Managers: Kishor Parmar

Head of Sales & Marketing: Rovin J George

Head - New Projects & Business Development: Cecil Soans Advertising Sales Executive: Rintu Alex

Graphic Designers: Harish Dahya & Ajay Kumar Customer Service: Ragini Nayak

Asian Business Publications Ltd Karma Yoga Houes, 12 Hoxton Market, London N1 6HW Tel: 020 7749 4085 Fax: 020 7749 4081 www.abplgroup.com ŠAsian Business Publications Ltd

Charlie Fremantle (West london Film Studios) receiving the award from Valerie Vaz MP

To advertise in Asian Voice and Gujarat Samachar please call 020 7749 4085

For other departments, please select contact from below: Asian Voice Editorial: 020 7749 4080 Email: aveditorial@abplgroup.com Gujarat Samachar Editorial: 020 7749 4080 Email: gseditorial@abplgroup.com Customer Care: 020 7749 4080 Email: support@abplgroup.com

Graphics: 020 7749 4086 Email: graphics@abplgroup.com Sales: 020 7749 4085 Email: avsales@abplgroup.com AsianVoiceNewsweekly

AsianVoiceNews

Asian Voice & Gujarat Samachar 2017

11

AAA-Advert-2016.qxp_A4 Temp 27/02/2017 14:36 Page 1

The prestigious Asian Achievers Awards is hosted every year by UK’s leading news weeklies Asian Voice and Gujarat Samachar to honour British Asians par excellence.

Opportunities: n Sponsorship n Table Booking n Advertising For more information please call 020 7749 4085 If there is someone you know who has broken boundaries and deserves recognition for their unique contribution to the community and the nation then please nominate them for one of the awards.

For nomination form please visit www.asianachieversawards.com

ABPL Group

Karma Yoga House, 12 Hoxton Market (Coronet Street) London N1 6HW

Tel: 020 7749 4085