Comedian/writer Sajeela Kershi has been announced as one of the winners of an Asian Women of Achievement Awards (AWA). The winners of the 2015 Awards were announced at an event in London last night in the presence of HRH The Duchess of Gloucester, Patron HRH Princess Badiya bint El Hassan, The Rt Hon Theresa May MP, The Rt Hon Hilary Benn MP, Tasmina Ahmed-Sheikh MP, Miriam Gonazlez Durantez, Elif Shafak and Jazmine Walia. AWA is an annual celebration of the contributions that individual Asian women have made in Britain, both professionally and in their communities, and the applicants this year were as impressive as they were diverse.
10 women and one organisation were selected as category winners by a judging panel chaired by Sir Nicholas Young. The full list of winners is:
o Sajeela Kershi, comedian, actor and writer [Arts & Culture]
o Sevasti Wong, managing director, Accenture [Business]
o Farzana Baduel, founder, Curzon PR [Entrepreneur]
o Shivvy Jervis, presenter, Digital Futures; head of digital media, Telefonica [Media]
o Nicky Jayesinghe, head of professional policy division, British Medical Association
[Professions]
o Daman Mullhi, founding trustee and director of PR, The UK Sepsis Trust [Public Service]
o Parmi Dheensa, executive director, Include Me TOO [Social & Humanitarian]
o Annie Zaidi, youth engagement coach, Leicester City Football Club Community Trust [Sport] o Tanya Datta, store manager, Marks & Spencer [Young Achiever]
o Jyoti Shah, consultant urological surgeon, Burton Hospital NHS Foundation Trust [RBS AWA
Chairman’s Award]
o University of East London [Community Award]
Saleela Kershi may be best known to comedy fans for her role in Brendon Burns' 2007 Edinburgh Comedy Award-winning show, So I Suppose THIS is Offensive Now. In April of this year she was involved in the South Bank Centre's multicultural celebration, the Alchemy Festival, hosting the show Immigrant Diaries.
Pinky Lilani OBE DL, Founder, Asian Women of Achievement Awards said, ”The common factor linking the women was their inexhaustible positive energy, whether throwing themselves behind their careers, a passion or a cause, they have all shown themselves to be dedicated and determined. I am proud to stand with this group of inspiring women.”
Cherie Blair, long-time supporter and Patron of the Awards said, “The sheer talent and quality of the nominees is testament to the hugely important impact that Asian women have in the UK and it is essential that we continue to recognise and support them. The AWA programme plays a key part in doing so, helping to create more role models, finding more future leaders and championing women. Congratulations to all of this year’s nominees.”
Pictured: Sajeeli Kershi is standing between Andy McGowan, Senior Managing Director, Accenture (the arts & culture category sponsor) and Elif Shafak, author and speaker, who won the Global Empowerment Award earlier in the evening.
