Influential Asian women in Wales celebrated in Cardiff

The awards night included women from 48 different countries

Asian women who have made a significant contribution to Welsh life have been celebrated at an event in Cardiff.

About 350 people attended the third Welsh Asian Women Achievement awards ceremony at City Hall on Saturday.

In total, 29 Asian women were nominated for recognition in eight categories, with a panel deciding the winners.

Categories included business, arts and culture, social and humanitarian and tackling violence against women.

Violence against women agenda: Jasmin Akhtar Ahmed, who supports high-risk victims of domestic, sexual and honour-based violence and forced marriages

Management and leadership: Usha Ladwa-Thomas, a development officer at the Welsh government's department of environment and sustainable development

Science, technology and medicine: Dr Alka Ahuja, a visiting professor at the University of South Wales and a consultant psychiatrist for children at the Aneurin Bevan University Health Board

Social and humanitarian: (Joint winner) Basma Ihbasheh, chairwoman of the Barry-based community group, the Rainbow Women’s Group who secured funding for the group

Social and humanitarian: (Joint winner) Sonia Khoury, a Syrian GP who now lives in Llandundo who developed a project for female asylum seekers to become advocates in their communities

Arts and culture: Hiral Narbad Shah who visits primary schools around Wales and runs classes for women to promote dance and healthy living

Business: Yasmin Sarwar, an executive director and co-founder of Cardiff Sixth Form College. Last year, pupils at the college passed 95% of A-levels with grades A* and A

Young achiever award: Azizah Khan, from Cardiff, where she and her sister organised a group of 50 young women to produce a documentary called Sixty Years of Life in Butetown

Other winners were:

• Self-development: Tamasree Mukhopadhyay, a shop manager at Kidney Research UK. She started volunteering with the Missionaries of Charity, an organisation inspired by the work of Mother Teresa, at the age of 15

• Lifetime achievement award: Dr Jasbir Mahapatra, who runs St Brides medical care centre in Newport. Dr Mahapatra and her husband have put their own money in to expanding the practice, with a view to making it a 'health village' in future

• Lifetime achievement award: Poranee James, was given the award for her extensive voluntary and charitable work, including providing a wide range of assistance to the Thai Consul in Wales. Poranee is also the chairwoman of the Thai Cultural Association in Wales, which has organised many cultural events showcasing traditional Thai dancing, costume and food

• Lifetime achievement award: Wai Fong Lee, founder and director of the Chinese Community Co-op Centre in Swansea, which aims to tackle language barriers and social isolation faced by members of the Chinese community. She was awarded an MBE for her contribution to Welsh-Chinese relations