About Pinky Lilani

The Food Guru

Pinky came to the UK from India - never having cooked in her life. Self taught and encouraged by appreciation from family and friends she taught Indian cookery to Adults, advised major supermarkets on the development of Indian dishes and wrote SPICE MAGIC an Indian culinary adventure. This was followed by television appearances and incorporating food as a central theme for corporate team building days. Her food related appearances include 'Cooking with spices' at the V&A 'Encounters' exhibition, focusing on the meeting of Asia and Europe 1500-1800

“I cook from the heart,” says Pinky Lilani OBE, “actually, I do everything from the heart!”

The Women’s Champion

Some of the organizations, events and initiatives set up by Pinky:

THE ASIAN WOMEN OF ACHIEVMENT AWARDS

THE WOMEN OF THE FUTURE AWARDS

THE INSPIRATIONAL WOMENS NETWORK

THE WOMEN OF ACHIEVEMENT AMBASSADORS PROGRAMME

THE WOMEN OF THE FUTURE ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT SUMMIT

THE GLOBAL EMPOWERMENT AWARD

Background to the Programmes

The Asian Women of Achievement Awards, of which Pinky is Chairman, was her brainchild. The Patron of the Awards is Cherie Booth QC. Founded in 1999, it is an annual event held in London to acknowledge the achievements of Asian women.

In 2006, Pinky Lilani OBE launched her second awards ceremony after coming across a wealth of talent and promise from women aged 35 and under. The Women of the Future Awards rewards women who are achieving impressive results in diverse fields at a young age. The awards create role models for the younger generation and unearth inspiring stories.

Pinky runs the awards with publishing and events company Caspian Publishing Ltd. Pinky is behind the Lloyds TSB Inspirational Women’s Network which was launched on 2 July 2007. The network has developed from the informal community that has built up from both award ceremonies. The network is for women to provide support and create business relationships and to meet like-minded people.

In 2007 Pinky launched The Women of Achievement Ambassadors Programme which is being supported by Merrill Lynch. By appointing ambassadors, the message of high-achieving women can be taken into the schools. A-level students can be provided with tangible role models in diverse fields. The launch reception took place in October 2007 and the ambassadors now carry out regular visits to students.

The Voluntary Worker

Patron: The ASIAN WOMENS RESOURCE CENTRE, THE NATIONAL BLACK POLICE ASSOCIATION, THE WESTMINSTER SOCIETY

FUNDRAISING FOR: THE NATIONAL AUTISTIC SOCIETY, THE RED CROSS, THE CARON KEETING FOUNDATION, MAYOR OF CROYDON CHARITIES

MENTOR: The Princes Trust

NATIONAL PROGRAMME LEADER: The Prince’s Seeing is Believing Programme: (can we have the link www.bitc.org.uk/sib)

Focus: Inspiring & Empowering Young Women

Global connections

Pinky has spoken at global conferences on subjects as diverse as Racism and success. She also recently led a delegation of business women to Mumbai to encourage bilateral communications particularly between women.

She has recently joined the advisory board of Sapphire Partners

In 2006, Pinky's portrait was painted by Alice Instone it will be exhibited in May as part of an exhibition Twenty One Twenty First Century Women. in May Women of Influence series.

At the CBI First Women Awards in 2006 Pinky was awarded the Pwc Lifetime Achievement Award.