Libas/Summer 2003
Role Model

Businesswoman, author and mentor extraordinaire, Pinky Lilani is the brains behind the Asian Women of Achievement Awards. Libas talks to this diminutive dynamo, who believes that “You haven’t lived a perfect day unless you have done something for someone who can never repay you.”

Pinky Lilani came to Britain in 1977. By 1998 she had established the Asian Women of Achievement Awards. How did she get there?

From 1993 to 1999 Pinky served on the National Council of His Highness the Aga Khan for the United Kingdom. She went on to His Highness the Aga Khan’s Council for Europe from 1999 to 2002, involved in strategic thinking for and welfare of Ismailis across Europe. Pinky was on the committee of the European Women of Achievement Awards and also spearheaded the Ismaili Awards for Excellence in the Ismaili community in Great Britain.

It was her experience on these committees that led her to found the annual Asian Women of Achievement Awards in 1999 to recognise the need to honour Asian women from all walks of life.

She says, “At the heart of these Awards are some extraordinary women, who have set themselves apart with their strong sense of purpose and commitment to the language of excellence, often in the face of insurmountable obstacles. These Awards are also part of a bigger conversation they are about people willing to cross boundaries, integrating their history and culture into another society. They are essentailly about spirited, determined women who want to make a difference.”

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The purpose of the Awards to to acknowledge, celebrate and reward individual efforts of the very special women who will be nominated for and actually receive the Awards. to provide role models for, and give inspiration to Asian women from all walks of life in the UK, and to raise awareness outside the Asian community of the outstanding achievements of Asian women in the UK.

Starting with no funding Pinky has from the beginning attracted high profile sponsors and patrons. Cherie Booth QC, (who wore a shalwar kameez to the event in the first year) was the Patron in 2002 and Baroness Helena Kennedy QC was the Chairman of the Judges.

The Awards ceremony attracts a great deal of media coverage and a lot of celebrities.

The many celebrities who entertained the audience last year included Nina Wadia (of television show Goodness Gracious Me), Shazia Mirza, comedienne, who performs in traditional hijab, and some of the cast of Bollywood Dreams.

The Judges chosen by Pinky and her Vice Chairman Munir Samji are changed every year and come from the ranks of British high achievers. There are two who are retained into the following year for the sake of continuity.

This diminutive dynamo believes that women need their own female role models and mentors. And she has proved that she can be one of those role models.