Qaisra Shahraz Honoured at UK’s Largest Diversity Awards
Qaisra was presented her ‘Life Time Achiever’ award by Sol Campbell, the famous footballer and two representatives of Microsoft Damian Stirrett & Sarbjit Sahota. Microsoft sponsored this award category.
Qaisra whole heartedly wishes to thank the people who have voted for her for this Award and also who provided the videos including her PA Moien who compiled her supporting evidence for the award.
Press Release from National Diversity Awards.
‘Actor and Comedian Richard Blackwood and ITV News Presenter Charlene White united to host the National Diversity Awards on September 16, 2016.
ROLE MODELS and charities were honoured nationwide at Friday’s ceremony at the breathtaking Liverpool Anglican Cathedral, rewarding Britain’s most inspirational people for their fight against inequality.
Community heroes from across the UK gathered in the bustling city of Liverpool to celebrate the outstanding achievements of those who have demonstrated exceptional devotion to diversity, equality and inclusion.
QAISRA SHAHRAZ beat seven others in the running for the LIFE TIME ACHIEVER AWARD
Qaisra Shahraz
Qaisra has offered outstanding services to Literature, education, women’s rights & interfaith relationships spanning 30 years. Her lifelong commitment to equality issues and celebration of diversity through her multiple careers is exemplary. Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, Qaisra is a prize-winning and critically acclaimed novelist and scriptwriter. A truly global achiever, she has become an excellent global citizen who has used her literary work as a tool for intercultural dialogue with thousands of university students and school children around the world. Being a highly successful and achieving woman on an international scale, Qaisra was recognised as being one of 100 influential Pakistani women in Pakistan Power 100 List (2012). She is also a Director of Asia Pacific Writers and Translators partnership. Qaisra has devoted her life to women’s rights and the impact she’s had is frankly quite phenomenal.
QUOTE FROM QAISRA SHAHRAZ
‘I am delighted to have won the ‘Lifetime Achiever’ award. It’s great to have the appreciation & the breadth of my work in literature, education, interfaith relationships and women’s rights recognised and celebrated in this way.’
‘National Diversity Awards is a phenomenal thing. In current challenging times, including post-Brexit- with the rise of hate crimes, the NDA awards offer a breadth of fresh air, with a resounding message, to all bent on dividing us that we are standing together, to celebrate diversity.’
‘Delighted to have met the amazing, wonderful man, Paul Sesay, the founder and CEO and his incredible NDA team who work around the year dedicating themselves to discovering and celebrating the fantastic work of thousands of individuals and charities across the UK devoted to equality and diversity.’
‘It was a thrilling experience for me and my sister Farah, to be part of an incredible event in the gorgeous surroundings of Liverpool Anglican Cathedral, which brilliantly showcased and celebrated 1- the marvellous work, of hundreds of unsung heroes, amazing companies and charities across the UK. All of whom have tirelessly dedicated their lives to inclusion, removal of barriers for others and celebrating diversity.’
‘All nominees were amazing, inspirational people, excellent role models -and all winners in their own right!’
‘As a British Muslim woman I hope my ‘Lifetime Achiever’ award speaks for itself-that Muslim women are not all passive, or oppressed women, or will be bullied about what we can and can’t do- We can speak for ourself – Thank you Mr. Trump-or told about what we should or should not wear- the French Burkini ban fiasco.’
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http://www.nationaldiversityawards.co.uk/2016winners/
http://www.nationaldiversityawards.co.uk/qaisra-shahraz/
http://www.nationaldiversityawards.co.uk/blog/
A record 20,000 nominations and votes were received this year, paying tribute to grass root communities nationwide. Microsoft were just one of the brands supporting a skyfall of diversity talent – positive role models, community organisations and entrepreneurs from the LGBT, ethnic minority, age, gender, religion and disability communities.
Other sponsors included adidas Group, the Army, Financial Ombudsman Service, Kier Group, PwC, MI5, GCHQ, MI6, ThoughtWorks, Direct Line Group, Transport for London, ITV, The Open University, The Voice Newspaper & Able Magazine.
The energy in the room was an intrinsically positive one, with each nominee being extremely supportive of each other. The evening was kicked off by founder of the NDA’s Paul Sesay, discussing the importance of the National Diversity Awards and what inspired him to create the ceremony.
As passionately as ever, Sesay said, “The grassroots organisations that The National Diversity Awards recognise are pioneering amazing initiatives on equality diversity and inclusion; and we need to promote, empower, profile and acknowledge their extraordinary achievements.” The ceremony, without a doubt, delivered on that promise.
David Isaac CBE followed, sharing with the audience what he hopes to achieve as Chair of the Equality and Human Rights Commission. His speech was met with a rapturous applause from the inspired audience.
The diverse line up of award presenters included actor and director Femi Oyeniran, ITV weatherman Alex Beresford, Actor & Comedian Sally Phillips, Union J Favourite Jaymi Henley, Hollyoaks star Annie Wallace, Liverpool’s very own acting sensation Philip Olivier, former England football international Sol Campbell, and the UK’s leading disabled fashion model Kelly Knox.
Designed to highlight the country’s most inspirational and selfless people, the NDA’s are supported by the likes of Stephen Fry, Sir Lenny Henry and Katie Piper amongst many.
Returning from the Rio Paralympics with two Gold Medals in tow, British Cyclist Jody Cundy said ”I am proud to be supporting The National Diversity Awards – a fantastic celebration of the achievements that would often go unnoticed, but ultimately have enhanced today’s culturally diverse society, bringing together and creating role models from all walks of life!”.
The Liverpool Signing Choir, who performed at both the Olympic and Paralympic games in 2012, performed stellar renditions of John Lennon’s imagine, and Heather Smalls’ Proud.
MiC LOWRY, described by BBC1CTRA as the ‘next big thing to come out of the UK’ also showcased their music to the nationwide audience. The 5 piece band will be touring with Justin Bieber from September 29th and released their brand new single on the same day as they awards.
The National Diversity Awards was a real feel good ceremony, where each nominee had earned their right to be in attendance for their fantastic work in their specific community.
The Golden Globes of the diversity world was a wholeheartedness event refreshingly celebrated in such swanky style, that it was evident who were the stars of this show, the well-deserving, humble and extraordinary nominees.
The full list of winners is as follows:
Positive Role Model for Age: Sajid Rashid BEM
Positive Role Model for Disability: Aston Avery
Positive Role Model for Gender: Dr. Sylvia Forchap-Likambi
Positive Role Model for LGBT: Moira Smyth
Positive Role Model for Race, Faith & Religion: Keesha Edwards
Community Organisation Award for Age: AIM Academy
Community Organisation Award for Disability: Glasgow Disability Alliance
Community Organisation Award for Gender: Women4Africa
Community Organisation Award for LGBT: Mermaids
Community Organisation Award for Race, Faith & Religion: Black Cultural Archives
Community Organisation Award for Multi-strand: Victory Hants
Entrepreneur of Excellence: Neomi Bennett
Celebrity of the Year: Annie Wallace
Diverse Company: Channel 4
Lifetime Achiever: Qaisra Shahraz’
