UK’s BAME LEADERS CELEBRATED AT THE 21st GG2 LEADERSHIP AWARDS
Chancellor Sajid Javid retains top position on GG2 Power List
The 21st GG2 Leadership Awards celebrated the achievements of some of the UK’s most prominent ethnic leaders on a glittering evening. The GG2 Leadership Awards showcase ethnic achievement, talent and leadership in the UK. This year’s winners once more proved to be torchbearers for ethnic communities and leadership in their respective fields.
The prestigious GG2 Hammer Award, an accolade presented to a high achieving individual who has shattered the proverbial glass ceiling, was given to Nitin Paranjpe, global Chief Operating Officer of Unilever. His success and achievements at one of the world’s most valuable companies were celebrated on a night when some of the UK’s most successful leaders from diverse communities were honoured for their achievements.
The GG2 Man of the Year was awarded to Viswas Raghavan, CEO of JP Morgan (EMEA), honoured for his formidable leadership of one of the world’s most recognised investment banks.
Poppy Jaman, CEO of City Mental Health Alliance and one of the UK’s most prominent advocates for mental health collected the GG2 Woman of the Year award. Coincidently, she was honoured on World Mental Health Day, and on collecting her award said: Poppy Jaman quote TBC
Chief guest on the night Sajid Javid, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, retained the top position on this year’s GG2 Power List, a glossy annual publication which is revealed on the night of the GG2 Leadership Awards and profiles the 101 most influential Asians in Britain. Javid became the first British Asian Chancellor earlier this year and alongside Home Secretary Priti Patel, ensures that two of the four top positions in the cabinet are occupied by British Asians for the first time.
Sajid Javid said: “I am honoured to be recognised on the GG2 Power List once more and I am proud to live in a Britain where anyone can become Chancellor, whatever their background. Each person on this year’s Power List has their own story to tell, but the example they set to young Asian women and men is helping to create a better and brighter future for Britain. I commend and congratulate them all.”
On a glittering evening hosted by BBC presenter Nihal Arthanayake at London’s Park Plaza Westminster, some of the UK’s most prominent Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) community leaders and achievers were celebrated.
Winners on the night included GG2 Pride of Britain Award winner Professor Dame Elizabeth Anionwu, Emeritus Professor of Nursing at the University of West London; Media and Creative Arts winner Mohit Bakaya, controller of BBC Radio 4 and Radio 4 Extra; and Outstanding Achievement in Science winner Caucher Birkar, Professor of Mathematics at University of Cambridge.
Shailesh Solanki, Executive Editor, Asian Media Group said: “This year’s winners are an exceptional group of individuals who have excelled in their relevant sectors and have become successful and inspirational role models for their communities and wider communities around the UK. The GG2 Leadership Awards remain an important event which celebrates diversity in the UK. Our nominees and winners have shown tremendous achievements which have made a positive impact on the country.”
This year’s nominees and winners come from a wide variety of backgrounds, and professionals from the fields of business, politics, creative arts, media, medicine and law were celebrated.
The GG2 Leadership Awards and the reveal of the GG2 Power List were a culmination of a day in which the GG2 Diversity Conference also took place and saw both corporate and community leaders come together to discuss the importance of diversity, inclusion and representation in the UK on a variety of panels.
GG2 Leadership Awards 2019 – The Full List Of Award Winners
- GG2 Spirit in the Community Award
Awarded to an individual or organisation for outstanding work in the community.
Eartha Pond, Educator and Councillor, QPCC
- GG2 Young Journalist of the Year
Awarded for outstanding work in the media.
Jasmine Cameron-Chileshe, Reporter, Liverpool Echo
- GG2 Media & Creative Arts Award
Awarded for exemplary achievement in the creative industries.
Mohit Bakaya, Controller, BBC Radio 4 and Radio 4 Extra
- GG2 Inspire Award
Presented to an individual or organisation for outstanding work in the community, which has served to inspire young people.
Cemal Ezel, Founder and CEO, Change Please
- GG2 Achievement through Adversity
Awarded to an individual who has achieved a high level of success despite difficult
circumstances.
Nicki Donnelly, Motivational Speaker, Life Coach and Disability Rights Consultant
- GG2 Young Achiever Award
Presented to a young person aged 35 or under who has demonstrated outstanding
leadership, brings about change and who is an inspiration to communities.
Kriti Sharma, Founder, AI For Good Ltd
- GG2 Outstanding Achievement in Science
Awarded to an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to the field of science.
Caucher Birkar, Professor of Mathematics, Universirty of Cambridge
- GG2 Outstanding Achievement in Law
Awarded to an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to the legal profession.
Ayesha Vardag, Founder and President, Vardags
- GG2 Social Entrepreneur Award
Awarded to a cause-driven individual or organisation who has made an outstanding and meaningful contribution to society.
Randeep S Lall, Co-Founder, Trustee and Global Operations Director, NishkamSWAT
- GG2 Pride of Britain Award
Awarded to an individual for their outstanding contribution to society.
Professor Dame Elizabeth Anionwu, Emeritus Professor of Nursing, University of West London
- GG2 Woman of the Year
Awarded to an individual for consistent high achievement.
Poppy Jaman OBE, CEO, City Mental Health Alliance
- GG2 Man of the Year
Awarded to an individual for consistent high achievement.
Viswas Raghavan, CEO JP Morgan (EMEA)
- GG2 Hammer Award
Awarded to an individual who has broken through the glass ceiling.
Nitin Paranjpe, COO, Unilever
Notes :
Established by Britain’s biggest Asian publishing house, the Asian Media Group, the annual GG2 Leadership Awards highlights and showcases ethnic achievement, talent and leadership in the UK. Held annually, and now in its 21st year, the winners, recognised for their outstanding contribution to their respective fields, will be announced at the gala event in front of guests from the fields of entertainment, politics, media and industry.
The Asian Media Group publishes a stable of market leading magazines for the Asian community in the UK and USA. The company host a number of hugely successful events and award dinners affiliated with its magazines.
Previous recipients of the GG2 Hammer Award include Baroness Shriti Vadera, Mayor of London Sadiq Khan, acclaimed journalist Amol Rajan and Britain’s current Chancellor of the Exchequer Sajid Javid.