BARONESS Sayeeda Warsi was presented with the top honour at the prestigious GG2 Leadership & Diversity Awards on Wednesday night (October 13), in front of a star-studded audience and a score prominent personalities.
The minister without portfolio was won the GG2 Hammer Award, given to a person who has proverbially smashed their way through a glass ceiling.
Yorkshire-born Baroness Warsi made history earlier this year by becoming the first Asian woman to serve in a British cabinet and her achievement marked alongside 14 other award winners at a glittering awards ceremony at the Park Plaza Westminster Bridge.
Around 600 people, among them boxing legend Frank Bruno, Eastenders star Rudolph Walker and Bollywood actress Mahima Chaudhary, also heard from Vijay Mallya, the chairman of the UB Group, and one of India’s best known businessmen.
The owner of sport teams Force India and Royal Challengers Bangalore revealed that his company, which produces both Kingfisher beer in India and Whyte & Mackay whisky in Scotland, is set to become the world’s largest drinks company, surpassing the current world’s no. 1 Diageo.
In a wide-ranging conversation with Sky News’ Lukweska Barak, he said the importance of India as an economic powerhouse was only just being realised in the West and still has some way to go.
Warsi was among 14 other individuals and organisations feted for their contributions to the cause of diversity in Britain and a more plural society.
There was a standing ovation for a solider who has defied death and gone on to become an inspiration despite severe injuries inflicted on him when he served in Afghanistan. Private Derek Deranalagi was awarded the GG2 Pride of Britain Award.
Among the other amazing recipients were blind travel company owner Amar Latif (Achievement Through Adversity), 17-year-old referee Tahmina Begum (Football in the Community) the first Bangladeshi-origin female referee in London, Councillor Veejay Patel, leader of Leicester Council as the first Asian to lead a unitary authority in Britain; Pavan Sukhdev, economist and green thinker who is already being tipped as a Nobel prospect (Man of the Year), Denise Milani, a pioneer who has helped to make the capital’s police force among the most representative and diverse of any global city as head of diversity for the Metropolitan Police (Woman of the Year); Derek Derenalagi, who lost his legs in Afghanistan but has gone on to become one of the world’s top athletes using prosthetic blades (Pride of Britain); Dr Vijay Mallya for helping build the profile of the UB Group (International Business leader of the Year); Kishore Lulla who converted distributors Eros into a powerhouse Bollywood studio; Sir Anwar Pervez, who donates 2.5 per cent of his profits to good causes as part of his contribution to the Bestway Foundation (Social Entrepreneur); Joginder Sanger who set up a travel agency in the 1960s and now owns one of the leading hotel groups in the country, with such hotels as The Washington (Mayfair) in its stable. Also feted was journalist Inderdeep Bains, chief reporter on the Slough and Windsor Observer, where she has produced a number of exclusive stories, many of which have been followed up by the nationals.
The judging panel, who sifted through the shortlist of nominees, consisted of Peter Preston, former editor of the Guardian, Angad Paul, CEO of Caparo Group, Terry Mansfield CBE, director of the Hearst Corporation, Yasmin Jetha, CIO of BUPA, and Ramniklal Solanki, editor in chief of the Asian Media & Marketing Group (AMG).
Among sponsors of the awards were Pepisco, HSBC, Nationwide, Daily Mail, Chelsea FC, Southall Travel, Incredible India, Auden McKenzie Group, Royal Navy, Metropolitan Police, HT & Co drinks and Sun Mark Limited.
Kalpesh Solanki, managing editor of AMG, which publishes GG2 and Eastern Eye, hailed Baroness Warsi and the other winners.
“She is an icon to all communities for the way she has persevered and reached the top and shown what can be done with ability and determination,” he said.
“All the winners are trailblazers, who in both large and small ways, make a great contribution to wealth, cultural diversity and a country more at ease with itself – but there is still some way to go and these awards are our commitment to keeping the flame of diversity and plurality burning brightly despite all the pressures to the contrary.”
GG2 LEADERSHIP & DIVERSITY AWARD WINNERS
GG2 LEADERSHIP & DIVERSITY HAMMER – SAYEEDA WARSI, Minister without Portfolio
Baroness Warsi began both her political and professional life working for the Conservative MP and solicitor John Whitall at his practice in Dewsbury. She has worked abroad, most noticeably in Pakistan on the issue of forced marriages. She is married to Iftikar and between them they have five children. She will take centre stage in May when the country goes to the polls over possible changes in the voting system – she has been charged by Prime Minister David Cameron with overseeing the process for the government.
GG2 LEADERSHIP & DIVERSITY MAN OF THE YEAR – Pavan Sukhdev, head of Green Initiative, at the UN Environment Programme
Sponsor: Southall Travel
A banker at Deutsche Bank, Pavan has served as an advisor to the United Nations Environment Programme. His arguments have been powerfully made and have resulted in a wide number of countries seeking his knowledge and insights. Today he heads a multi-national, multi-pronged body that looks to see how the green agenda can be placed at the heart of enterprise and entrepreneurship.
GG2 WOMAN OF THE YEAR – Denise Milani, Director of Diversity and Citizen Focus at the Metropolitan Police
Sponsor: HSBC
As well as heading the Met’s diversity unit, Denise was the first female ethnic minority, non-uniformed member of staff, to complete the highest Police Officer Development course. She developed and authored the Met’s gender equality strategy after devising an innovative conference entitled ‘dancing on the glass ceiling’. She is undoubtedly one of the country’s most successful diversity practitioners, turning laudable theory into effective and lasting action.
GG2 PUBLIC SECTOR MAN OF THE YEAR – Councillor Veejay Patel, Leader of Leicester City Council.
Veejay became leader of Leicester City Council in March of this year promising a new era of openness for the council. He still lives and works close to the area he grew up in and today leads one of the most diverse areas of the country – a region that has been economically very successful in no little part to the diversity, talent and hard work ethic of its many communities. As well as being a rising star within the Labour Party, Veejay runs a successful business consultancy which his wife now looks after.
GG2 LEADERSHIP & DIVERSITY PRIDE OF BRITAIN – Private Derek Deranalagi
Sponsor: Metropolitan Police
Derek has been one of the most active fundraisers for the military charity, Help for Heroes. Of Fijian origin, his rehabilitation has been nothing short of remarkable and he has never looked back. Today, he is one of the most inspirational figures for serving soldiers and those debilitated by serious injury. A true hero and man we are truly proud to have with us and applaud.
GG2 LEADERSHIP AND DIVERSITY MAHATMA GANDHI AWARD FOR POLTICAL ACTION – Lord Dolar Popat, Conservative Party
Sponsor: Sun Mark Ltd
Earlier this year Dolar Popat was ennobled in recognition of this contribution and commitment to the Conservative Party over three decades. A successful hotelier, he has renewed and reinvigorated the Tory party’s links with the Asian community and helped to smooth the path for several new Asian MPs in this parliament.
GG2 LEADERSHIP & DIVERISTY MAHATMA GANDHI AWARD FOR POLITICAL ACTION INTERNATIONAL – Asian American Hotel Owners Association
Sponsor: Sun Mark Ltd
AAHOA has gone from being a small business lobby group to one of the industry’s strongest and most powerful voices on Capitol Hill. Its views are sought by all the major players in its industry and it continues to campaign for justice, fairness and enterprise at every level from the familiar mom and pop operation to large chains that span the budget to luxury category.
GG2 LEADERSHIP AND DIVERSITY ENTREPRENEUR – Kishore Lulla, group executive chairman Eros International
Sponsor: Pepisco
Eros is one the companies at the very forefront of bringing Bollywood to the West. It started out as a family business distributing Bollywood movies but today is an integrated studio – making movies and distributing them – and one of Bollywood’s most powerful – thanks to the vision of one man – Kishore Lulla.
GG2 LEADERSHIP & DIVERSITY COMMUNITY – Narendra Thakrar, chairman of the Vallabh Nidhi Trust
Sponsor: Royal Navy
Narendra took over the organisation at a time of deep divisions within the Hindu community. In just two years, he took control of the project and with the help of his fellow trustees managed to garner support from the wider community and complete the £16m project. Today the temple is a focus for the community and instills a sense of pride and self-belief for the people who worship there regularly.
GG2 LEADERSHIP & DIVERSITY ACHIEVEMENT THROUGH ADVERSITY – Amar Latif, managing director Traveleyes
Sponsor: Nationwide
Amar is the founder of a successful international travel company that helps independent blind travellers make the very most of their holidays. But he also helps to organise tours for people who have sight too – he says he gets great pleasure from being with a non-blind group who realise they’re being shown around by – as he puts it – “a blind guy from Glasgow”.
GG2 LEADERSHIP & DIVERSITY FOOTBALL IN THE COMMUNITY – Tahmina Begum, Bangladeshi Football Association
Sponsor: Chelsea
Tahmina was the only girl on the BFA’s training course for referees but she wasn’t deterred, saying she knew she would have to break down barriers and stereotypes to fulfill her ambitions. A good student, she is already one of several young deputy Mayors in Tower Hamlets and is a trained basketball coach and works in a primary school as a PE assistant.
GG2 LEADERSHIP & DIVERSITY SOCIAL ENTREPRENEUR – Sir Anwar Pervez, chairman of Bestway and founder of Bestway Foundation
Sponsor: Auden McKenzie
The Bestway Group is one of Britain’s biggest private companies with a turnover in excess of £2 billion and every year 2.5 per cent of profits are given to the foundation. The diversified banking to cement and cash and carry group set up the Bestway Foundation which is hugely active in funding life changing projects like education grants and scholarships in Pakistan. Every year the company hosts a special charity day at the Ascot races, raising money for Great Ormond Street Hospital and other great causes.
GG INCREDIBLE INDIA TRAVEL PERSONALITY – Joginder Sangar, chairman The Washington (Mayfair)
Sponsor: Incredible India
This businessman started out with a humble travel agency in 1965 but has since widened his business interests far beyond, enjoying immense success as a hotelier of distinction and creativity. Among his prestige portfolio are The Washington Hotel and the Berkeley in London. He is a pioneering businessman whose very name is synonymous with the travel industry.
GG2 LEADERSHIP & DIVERSITY YOUNG JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR – Inderdeep Bains, Chief reporter Windsor & Slough Observer
Sponsor: Daily Mail
In just two years, she has risen to become chief reporter – that is a testament to her ability. She has a canny nose for news, a compassionate touch that opens subjects up. Her exclusives on the Slough family of Chris Brown who was murdered by gunman Raoul Moat, the Medina Diary fire and an interview with prime minster David Cameron are superb examples of her journalistic tenacity and flair.
