A privilege to attend the UK Asian Business Council Christmas Networking event and the Rising Bharat Conclave Awards at Portcullis House, House of Commons. Hosted by Taha C., Chairman of UKABC, and his incredible team, the event was truly inspiring.
Taha highlighted the magic of networking and meaningful connections. A touching moment came when he presented the Chair’s Award, thanking his wife for her decade of support, saying, “Without my wife, there would be no UKABC.” Her behind-the-scenes contributions moved everyone.
I was inspired by women like Smita Patil, recognized global partnerships and women’s engagement , and Cheryll Rogers, CEO of FairBreak Global. Cheryll’s leadership in promoting equality through women’s cricket and her advocacy as an ambassador for See the Good reminded me of the profound impact one person can have.
As a grassroots charity leader, representing organisations including Community Champions Alliance, Chinese Community in Peterborough; CHINESE WOMEN IN PETERBOROUGH; Hampton Tiddlers, Peterborough Mums UK, it was an honour to share how we work to bring communities together during networking time to people I have conversed with. From promoting mental and physical wellbeing through Tai Chi—an initiative that has reached over 10,000 participants and earned the prestigious King’s Award for Voluntary Service—to running initiatives like table tennis for women and girls, our mission is to create positive change.
This was my first time attending an event like this, I was blown away by the inspiring people I met—successful leaders, policy makers, and passionate changemakers from across the globe. While I may not have contributed from a business perspective, I hope I added value by sharing the perspective of a charity leader dedicated to grassroots impact.
During the networking sessions, I shared stories of our work, including our vision to reach 50,000 Tai Chi learners in the next five years. I spoke about how community engagement promotes diversity, cultural awareness, early health prevention, recovery, social harmony, and more. It’s exciting to think these connections might open doors to future opportunities—whether through funding, partnerships, or simply raising awareness.
Perhaps someday, a business might even invite me to lead a Tai Chi session at their event, conference, or during Mental Health Awareness Week! I left the event feeling uplifted, inspired, and hopeful. Good things happen when we connect, and I have faith in what’s to come. 🌟
Amazing people I spoke to include Manpreet Maycock VR, Mirela Sula CEO of Global Woman Magazine , Michelle H. S. Quick🇩🇰, Juan Cabrera, Vanessa Dal Busco, Tashi Yangchen, Hirander Misra (GMEX Group, ZERO13), Angela Stokes, Iman Segoana, Charlie Hartley (Moon Sports); Alex Haffner (Fladgate LLP); ANKUR BHARGAVA (Tüpraş Trading); Sushil Patel (Kroll); Junaid Ahmed; Graham Cook; Peter P Meli, Stanley Johnson, Justina Mutale, Lata Gullapalli