Parul Goel and Divia Thani win Media Award at inaugural APEX Awards
The inaugural APEX Awards raised £350,000 for children’s charity Yuva Unstoppable as more than 325 business leaders, entrepreneurs, broadcasters and community figures gathered for a black-tie ceremony at the InterContinental London Park Lane on Friday 11th September.
Organised by Whitetops Global and Luminary Networks Ltd, the awards were created to recognise outstanding achievement, leadership and contribution across the British Asian community. Ten honours were presented on the night, celebrating excellence in business, media, culture, community impact and entrepreneurship.
Among the winners, chef, restaurateur and author Asma Khan was named Woman of the Year, while entrepreneur Sukhpal Singh Ahluwalia, founder of Euro Car Parts and Dominvs Group, received Businessperson of the Year. Veteran publisher and Asian Voice editor CB Patel was honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award for more than five decades of service to British Asian media and community life.
Other winners included broadcaster Neev Spencer (Influencer of the Year), Interpolitan Money founder Rishi Patel (Entrepreneur of the Year), solicitor Rakesh Prajapati (Professional of the Year), and McDonald’s franchise operator Reema Mavani, who received the Overall Business Growth & Leadership Award.
In the arts and community categories, promoter John Digwa won the Art & Culture Award for his contribution to bringing Bollywood entertainment to UK audiences, while artist and activist Poulomi Desai received the Community Impact Award. The Media Award was jointly presented to Parul Goel, UK Head of ZEE TV UK and CFO of ZEE TV USA, and Divia Thani, Global Editorial Director of Condé Nast Traveller.
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Co-founder L George said: “We set out to do something this community deserved, and the 325 people in that room on Friday told us we got it right. Seeing these ten names on stage, and seeing what people gave to Yuva Unstoppable, was the proudest night of my career. This is our first one and we are already ready for our second. The APEX Awards will be back next year, and it will only get better from here.”
Co-founder Govind Shahi said: “The APEX Awards exist because British Asian achievement in this country has been extraordinary and, for far too long, largely uncelebrated. That is what Friday was about. Every name on that stage has built something, a business, a body of work, a community and they deserved a night that said so properly. That we also raised £350,000 for Yuva Unstoppable, every penny of it, tells you what kind of room it was. The APEX Awards will return in 2027, bigger, and we are only getting started.”
The organisers said the success of the inaugural event has laid the foundation for the awards to become a flagship celebration of British Asian achievement while continuing to raise significant funds for charitable causes.
Winners at a glance
Art & Culture: John Digwa
Community Impact: Poulomi Desai
Media: Parul Goel and Divia Thani
Influencer of the Year: Neev Spencer
Entrepreneur of the Year: Rishi Patel
Professional of the Year: Rakesh Prajapati
Woman of the Year: Asma Khan
Businessperson of the Year: Sukhpal Singh Ahluwalia
Lifetime Achievement: CB Patel
Overall Business Growth & Leadership: Reema Mavani
