NETBALL CEO SHORTLISTED FOR ASIAN WOMEN OF ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

IFNA Chief Executive, Urvasi Naidoo, has been shortlisted for the 2012 Asian Women of Achievement Awards, which champion the contribution made by Asian women across British business, sports, public, cultural, community and political life.

Founded and chaired by author and entrepreneur Pinky Lilani OBE, and now in their 13th year, the Awards have recognised Asian female pioneers such as comedy actress Nina Wadia; Kamal Basran, founder of the UK’s leading ethnic food supplier, The Authentic Food Company; civil rights activist Shami Chakrabarti; and the first Asian woman to lead a FTSE 250 business, Ruby McGregor-Smith.

This year, the Awards also include a new “Asian Women of Achievement Community Award” and “Asian Woman of Achievement in Sport”, to celebrate the impending London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Urvasi Naidoo features in both categories – as IFNA CEO in the Sport category, and a Trustee of charity Sporting Equals in the Community category. Sporting Equals promotes ethnic diversity across sport. Urvasi says of the charity’s work: "It's important to try and engage people to do more sport, particularly Asian people and Asian women. They are not taking enough physical activity. Ninety-two per cent of South Asian women don't take part in recommended levels of physical activity compared to 55 per cent of all women in the UK. It could be cultural; it could be there are fewer opportunities; it could be no one's encouraged them..."

Pinky Lilani said: “The Asian Women of Achievement Awards provide the benchmark for aspiring female Asians in the UK and give them a platform to showcase their unbelievable achievements which must be applauded.”

Chris Sullivan, Chief Executive, Corporate Banking Division, of headline sponsor RBS, said of the Awards: “RBS is delighted to support the Asian Women of Achievement Awards, one of the most important programmes recognising Britain's fantastic diversity of talent.”
The judging panel, chaired by Sir Nicholas Young, Chief Executive of British Red Cross, will meet over the coming weeks to decide winners for each of the 11 categories, with the winners announced at a ceremony on 16 May 2012 at the London Hilton, Park Lane.