NORTH EAST’S MOST INFLUENTIAL SOUTH ASIANS OF 2022

Every year with the help of our readers, we are able to compile our annual list of key influencers and movers and shakers of the North East. This year we were particularly looking for influencers, who have used their position to help in those going through difficult times with the cost-of-living crisis and have helped improve society, business, and our environment.

Earning money and achieving success is surely hard work, however being able to have influence is something that only a special few can command. These influencers can help make or break a decision, help set trends but also use their status for the good of their industry or community. So, we set out to find out, just who are the most influential within the North East’s South Asian community.

This year again we have received a huge number of nominations, and we would like to thank each and every one of you who took time out to nominate.

This made the task even more difficult of shaving down the list to the final 20. However, thanks to our panel made up of our editorial team and input from public figures this has finally been achieved. It wasn’t easy trust us as there are so many who are doing some incredible work and deserving of recognition, that it was a real challenge to get to our final 20 influencers. The list is in no particular order and brings forward men and women from all sectors of business, politics, sport, entertainment, and charity and here they are:

Dr Shaid Mahmood Mbe

Shaid became our first PVC-EDI when he joined Durham University in February 2022. He has been made an MBE in the annual New Year Honours List announced by the UK Government on behalf of His Majesty the King. Shaid received the award for services for further education in Leeds and West Yorkshire. Alongside his university role, he is Chair of Governors of Luminate Education Group and Chair of the Association of Colleges. Before joining Durham, he was Chief Officer for Communities and Transformation and Change at Leeds City Council.

Dr Rajesh Nadkarni

Dr Rajesh Nadkarni is an executive Medical Director and Deputy Chief Executive of Cumberland, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation.

Dr Rajesh 20 years’ experience as a Consultant Forensic Psychiatrist; He has extensive expertise in the clinical assessment and management of mentally disordered offenders and provides clinical expertise to the Newcastle Crown Court Mental Health Team. Dr Rajesh has significant experience of service development in the area of offender health

Dr Rajesh has a national profile where he is an invited member of CASS Business School Advisory Group involved in the development of master’s in medical leadership, City University of London; an invited member of the Mental Health Economics Collaborative, Mental Health Confederation; and an invited member of the National Health and Justice Clinical Reference Group.

Imam Mohammed Roziur Rahman

Imam Mohammed Roziur Rahman, is a classically trained Imam and mental health chaplain from Newcastle upon Tyne. He works as a Muslim chaplain for the NHS and was previously the Muslim chaplain for Newcastle and Northumbria universities. He is also a Director of Newcastle Council of Faiths and a regular advisor to local organisations. He holds a degree in Islamic Theology (attained at Darul Uloom, Bury) and a MA in chaplaincy (attained at the Markfield institute, Leicester) and is trained in Islamic sciences with a keen interest in Islamic bio-ethics, community engagement and Islamic contextualisation in the current era. He is also a Hafiz of the Quran, a specialist in Quranic Arabic and has taught Islamic subjects in Newcastle for many years. He also was awarded the British Imams and scholars awards (BISCA) for community engagement held in London 2015.

He also was awarded the religious advocacy award at the British Muslim awards 2018. He also was shorlisted for an excelleecne award at the Muslim news award 2019. He currently holds Inter-faith Eid meals for refugees, New Muslims, single parents and disadvantaged people at restaurants he hires personally every year. He counsels the youth on various issues and promotes mental well-being within the Muslim community. He regularly is interviewed on the BBC and ITV on his views regarding current issues.

One of his most ambitious projects is to establish a community complex named 'the centre for humanity', an ambitious project which looks to integrate his current passion for community engagement with a positive future for all.

Meenu Malhotra

Meenu Malhotra is founder and Chairman of Malhotra Group PLC. Educated at Sacred Heart Convent School in Ludhiana, India, Meenu came to the UK in 1979 aged nineteen years. Although from an affluent family his introduction to working life in his adopted North East began as a humble newsagent’s assistant. Inherently astute, with a natural business acumen to emerge, his early venture into setting up a fledging fashion and property enterprise rapidly expanded over the years to a multi-tiered PLC that it is today.

Over the years he has won many awards and accolades and continues to help in the entrepreneurial development of the North East

Ammar Mirza Cbe

Ammar Mirza is a sought after, leadership and business management consultant through his company AmmarM (UK) Limited. He is a serial entrepreneur with interests and investments across a number of sectors. With more than 15-yearsexperience he has helped establish several hundred new businesses within the North East. As chairman and founder of Asian Business Connexions, a notfor-profit social enterprise that aims to connect, support, and promote the Asian wider community, Ammar has helped make a significant social and economic impact across the Globe.

Ammar was a finalist in the Northern Asian Power list and has been a shortlist for the Northern Powerhouse Northern Lights Business Personality of the Year 2017. Among his many awards and accolades he featured in the top 50 of the 2017 Smith and Williamson Power 100 UK Entrepreneurs. Ammar has helped forge international bi-lateral trade links working with Turkey and Indian based businesses to attract foreign investment into the North East.

Sandeep Kapoor

Sandeep is co-Director of Spice FM, one of the North East’s leading South Asian media platforms. Spice FM has been at the centre of South Tyneside for many years, educating and entertaining its listeners, with a large reach.

Sandeep has been instrumental in bringing communities together through the various events he has hosted, such as the Diwali Mela. However, the charismatic personality uses his influence to also help those in need. He did just that when setting up a local food bank from the local Hindu temple during Covid. The radio presenter and media entrepreneur was also one of the first to launch a wedding planning business for the South Asian community in the North East. His morning show continues to be one of the most listened radio shows on Spice FM

Krishan Kant Attri Mbe

Krishan Kant Attri, is a priest and a volunteer leader at Newcastle Hindu Temple, He was made an MBE in 2013 for his services to inter-faith relations in the North East. Within three years of assuming leadership of the temple he transformed it into not only a place of worship, but an educational, welfare and social centre and he also actively participated in the Council of Faiths.

Krishan’s contribution in the field of inter-faith relationships has been lauded by the local community.

He worked with other faith leaders to establish strong lines of communication between people of faith communities in the region.