NOHMAN AHMED

Co-Founder | Crep Protect 

Nohman Ahmed is one of the three brothers who founded the group Undercover Brothers which specialises in the lifestyle fashion industry specializing in exclusive sneakers, shoe care, streetwear, and bags.

One of the more prominent brands under their ownership is Crep Protect which has revolutionised the shoe care industry. Founded in 2013, Crep Protect has grown to become an international success in the industry with global presence in over 52 countries. Selling to sportswear retail giants such as JD Sports and Footlocker, Crep Protect was ranked the 2nd fastest growing independent company in the UK and the 7th fastest in Europe (2019).

The group also operates multiple luxury go-to boutique for high-end streetwear and exclusive sneakers under the brand ‘Presented By’, one of Europe’s largest sneaker marketplaces – KLEKT, and is also the worldwide licence holder for Adidas Shoe care.

PINKY LILANI CBE DL

Founder and ChairWomMAN | Spice Village & Women of The Future

Pinky Lilani CBE DL is a food guru, author, motivational speaker, and an internationally acclaimed champion for women.
Pinky Lilani is the Founder and Chief Executive of Spice Magic, founder and chair of several awards recognising influential women and leaders, including the annual Women of the Future Awards and the Asian Women of Achievement Awards.
She is Patron of Development in Literacy, the Westminster Society and Frank Water. Pinky is an ambassador for the Tiffany Circle of the Red Cross and she sits on the Board of Trustees of the Royal Commonwealth Society. She is a Deputy Lieutenant for Greater London.
She herself received an OBE in 2007 for her work to celebrate women’s achievements. She has been called one of Britain’s most entrepreneurial women.

SAEEDA AHMED

Founding Director | Education Partnerships UK

Saeeda Ahmed is a thought leader and socioeconomic entrepreneur successfully spanning over 20 years of solution driven projects which benefit the economy, society, and industry. She is the Founding Director of Education Partnerships UK, UNGSII Ambassador and Advisor, and the Director, Business Development of Aladdin Steet.com.

She was the specialist advisor to the President of Puntland State in Somalia, Former Ambassador and Member of the Strategic Partnership for Higher Education Universities and Further Education Colleges in Yorkshire and Humber, England.  Former Director of the University of Leeds and Former Director of Adventure Capital Fund.

Saeeda is involved on a global level on the development and growth of the halal economy from an ethical and socially responsible model perspective. Saeeda has spoken internationally and nationally at over 120 conferences and events.

Saeeda is involved in various Youth and Women’s empowerment, Leadership, and enterprise related networks. Saeeda was strategic adviser on an international think tank that promotes peace and democracy in the Middle East, non-executive director for Social Firms UK and a Board member for Pupil Referral Unit which supports young people that are not succeeding in the mainstream education system.

Julie Chen

CEO & Co-founder | The Cheeky Panda

Julie Chen is an eco-entrepreneur and co-founder and CEO of The Cheeky Panda ranked 6th in the UKs top 100 scale up companies. Cheeky Panda makes bamboo-based hygiene products. Since it was founded in 2016, the company has sold over 12 million products and now is getting ready to go public.
Since founding the company as the CEO Julie has become a mother while helping build the company to sell in over 25 countries with a turnover of over £10m and staff of over 30. In 2021, Julie was received the Businesswoman of the Year award by MSDUK as an ethnic minority business owner, female founder and CEO.
Commercial interests and area of expertise: entrepreneurship, business growth, FMCG, B Corp, sustainability, branding, global supply chain.

The Hon Baroness Uddin

Chair of Judging Panel

Manzila Pola, Baroness Uddin is a campaigner of women’s rights and activist in the cause of anti-racism, anti-colonialism and a strong advocate on supporting women’s participation in the public spheres. She was elevated to House of Lords as the first Bangladeshi and Muslim in 1998, in recognition for her role, influence and impact on the advancement of women’s and disability rights and championing social justice, particularly in the East End of London

Dr Husna Ahmad OBE, PhD

CEO of Global One 2015, Secretary General of the World Muslim Leadership Forum

Dr Husna Ahmad OBE is the CEO of Global One 2015 which is a faith based International NGO focussed on women. 

With a PhD in International Environmental Law from the School of Oriental and African Studies, [SOAS] London University, and an honorary fellow of the Edward Cadbury Centre for the Public understanding of Religion, Birmingham University.

Dr Ahmad is the former Group CEO of Faith Regen Foundation which is a multi-faith UK charity.

She is currently a Board member of Faith for the Climate, Palmers Green Mosque (the MCEC). She is also a member of the Women’s Faith Forum UK; and Executive committee member of Barnet Faith Forum.

She is a member of the Multi faith Advisory Council to the UN Inter-agency Task Force on Religion and Development.

She is one of the key organisers of the newly inaugurated Global Muslim Business Forum GMBF. 

Dr Ahmad sits on the Steering Committee of The World Bank’s Moral Imperative Initiative. 

She is an author and thought leader who has presented many papers internationally focusing particularly on faith and the environment.

She is the Secretary General of the World Muslim Leadership Forum and the Coordinator for the Alliance of NGOs and CSOs for South-South Cooperation [ ANSSC] which works in collaboration with the UN office of South South Cooperation. 

She was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the New Year’s Honours list in 2010 for her services to disadvantaged people for work promoting social justice with disadvantaged communities.

Anjum Khan

Director of Asian Business Chamber of Commerce

Anjum Khan is director of the Asian Business Chamber of Commerce (ABCC), which is part of the Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce (GBCC).

Anjum has many years of business acumen, having started her own training business in 2002 before taking up a full-time position with the GBCC in January 2016.

She is a board member of Ronald McDonald House Charities (Birmingham)  and Edgbaston Stadium’s Inclusion Advisory Board. As well as having a long, illustrious career in business, she has helped to empower South Asian women and break down stereotypes of what South Asian women should be and do.

Anjum has earned a host of accolades – including national recognition in the English Asian Business Awards in 2018, an Inspiring Woman award at the annual Birmingham Thyagaraja Festival in 2020 and being honoured for her contribution to representing diverse cultures.

Anjum led on the ABCC’s Business Support Campaign on Covid-19 to help West Midlands-based business owners who don’t speak English as their first language access support and guidance. This campaign was critical in engaging more members of the Asian business community to help them receive guidance and advice that was crucial to their survival.

Ridwana Wallace-Laher

Senior Director of Growth, Penny Appeal

A highly motivated individual with an unyielding passion for taking on challenges and pushing boundaries. Experienced in leading and managing diverse teams both domestically and globally to deliver complex projects that meet the needs of a wide range of stakeholders. Exceptional charity sector experience. Dedicated to providing donors with an unparalleled experience throughout their entire donation journey, working in close collaboration across multiple departments to ensure the charity’s continued growth. Skilled in organising events, connecting with community groups, driving innovation and motivating teams to go beyond their expectations.

Sohail Ali

Co-founder
ChaiiWala

Othman Shoukat

Investment Director at Salonica Maroon

Othman leads the Investment Committee at Salonica Maroon. AT Salonica Capital he is Head of Consumer Markets and focuses on scaling up businesses and turnarounds. Othman has end-to-end deal cycle experience. Prior to joining Salonica, Othman worked at KPMG within Transactions & Restructuring, specialising in M&A and Restructurin