Five standout female leaders unveiled as the official judging panel for this years’ ‘BPA Empowering Women Awards‘
The BPA Empowering Women Awards 2026 has unveiled the powerhouse women tasked with choosing this year’s winners.
As nominations continue to gather momentum from across the UK, organisers have confirmed a formidable five-strong judging panel made up of women whose own careers reflect the very values the awards were created to champion – leadership, resilience, influence and real-world change.
Joining the judging panel this year are: Saira Ali FLI FRSA, Sarah Khan-Bashir MBE, Rizwana Mahmood Ahmed MBE, Rifhat Malik MBE and Noor Ali BEM – each bringing a wealth of professional experience, community insight and lived understanding of what meaningful achievement truly looks like.
Spanning sectors including law, education, business and public service, the panel has been carefully selected to ensure the awards are assessed through a lens of credibility, substance and integrity.
Organised by Asian Express newspaper and Business Power Awards, the ‘BPA Empowering Women Awards’ return on 25th June 2026 at Cedar Court Hotel in Bradford, shining a spotlight on women across the UK who are leading from the front – often without the recognition they deserve.
In a climate where women continue to break barriers while still being underrepresented in positions of visibility, the importance of who sits in judgement matters.
These awards have never been about tokenism or titles. They exist to celebrate the women building businesses, leading organisations, transforming communities and shifting the culture in ways that often go unseen.
Each judge represents a different dimension of female leadership – from legal excellence and educational impact to entrepreneurial strength and community-rooted influence. Together, they reflect the breadth of ambition and achievement that the awards aim to honour.
Organisers say the panel will play a vital role in ensuring the process remains rigorous, fair and reflective of the calibre of women being nominated.
With entries open across a wide range of categories, the 2026 programme is once again expected to attract a powerful field of nominees – from founders and professionals to change-makers, mentors and unsung leaders whose work is making a lasting difference.
The BPA Empowering Women Awards has rapidly established itself as more than just an annual celebration. It is becoming a platform for visibility, validation and long-term support – built on the belief that recognition should be the start of something, not the end.
NOMINATE
Nominations for the BPA Empowering Women Awards 2026 are open now, with the winners to be revealed at the gala awards evening on 25th June 2026. To nominate, visit: businesspowerawards.co.uk/nominate
