Harris Bokhari wins Diversity Leadership Award

Awards, Civil Society 2 Minutes

Team Mosaic win big at GG2 Diversity Leadership Awards 2018!

Original article published on 25 October 2018 on Mosaic

Established as the premier awards for inclusion, diversity and leadership the GG2 Diversity Leadership Awards took place last night, celebrating its 20th anniversary, and saw two senior members of Mosaic walking away as winners.

The event held at the Park Plaza Westminister Bridge saw over 700 guests from an array of sectors come together. Those in attendance – from senior politicians, influential business leaders, and military personnel to those from the arts, film, TV and sport – together celebrated and recognised Britain’s most enterprising and talented BAME high achievers.

Amongst those recognised on the night were Mosaic’s very own Harris Bokhari OBE and Naheed Afzal.

Mosaic Advisory Board member Harris Bokhari OBE was awarded The Eastern Eye’s Editor’s Award 2018 for his remarkable work and continued contribution in helping young BME’s progress and grow through the work of The Patchwork Foundation, of which he is founder.

Taking home the Inspire Award, supported by the British Army on the night was Mosaic London Regional Leadership Group Member Naheed Afzal. Leveling the playing field for recruitment, Naheed was recognised for her work as co-founder of Contracts IT; leading many more women and ethnic minorities into traditionally male dominated professions. The award is presented to an individual for outstanding work in the community, which has served to inspire young people.

Senior Head of Mosaic and Community Integration, Nizam Uddin who attended the special evening said:

“We couldn’t be prouder of Harris and Naheed tonight. To have their continued support for Mosaic over all these years has been a real privilege and a cornerstone to our successes; they are truly deserved winners. We are in the business of creating a generation of new role models, and I can’t think of two better examples for our young people to look up to.

Many congratulations also to the GG2 Awards, and in particular the Solanki family, for their continued efforts over the decades to promote inclusion, diversity and leadership across all communities and all sectors.”

In total, 14 awards were presented on the night amongst which were: Imran Khan QC, who fought for justice in the murder of teenager Stephen Lawrence and currently involved in the Grenfell inquiry, Assistant Commissioner of the Metropolitican Police, Neil Basu and Home Secretary The Rt Hon. Sajid Javid MP.

Published by Harris Bokhari OBE

Harris is board member for the Prince's Trust Mosaic initiative. He was appointed as Mosaic’s first honorary patron and was awarded the prestigious Beacon Award for Philanthropy Advocate 2013 for raising £1m within 12 months for various charities working in deprived communities in the UK, becoming the youngest and first Muslim to receive this honour. He now serves as a judge for the awards. Harris is the co-founder of the Naz Legacy Foundation, which aims to enhance educational excellence and positive integration. It was established in memory of his late father, Naz Bokhari OBE, the first Asian/Muslim head teacher in the UK. The Foundation was honoured to be awarded the Big Society Award 2014 by the Prime Minister. Harris is also an ambassador for the British Asian Trust. Harris’s interfaith work has included organising the first ever engagement event between national community, women and youth leaders from the Jewish and Muslim communities meeting with the new Chief Rabbi in Finchley Kinloss Synagogue. Harris was one of the first Muslims to be invited to the Chief Rabbi’s installation ceremony and was selected to be an Ariane De Rothschild fellow, in partnership with Cambridge University’s Judge Business School and King’s College. Harris also organised the first youth interfaith iftar at Lambeth Palace, which brought together the Archbishop of Canterbury, Chief Rabbi, Mayor of London and over 100 youth leaders from each of London’s boroughs – representing all faiths and none. Harris was awarded an OBE in Her Majesty’s Birthday Honours List for services for young people and interfaith relations; named as one of 40 people in finance who goes further for good causes by Financial News Extra Mile List; and named as one of London’s most influential figures by the Evening Standard’s Progress 1000 list.

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