The shortlist for the Yorkshire Asian Young Achiever Awards 2025 (YAYAs) has been announced, celebrating the region’s most inspiring young people of South Asian heritage who have overcome challenges to achieve success in their chosen fields.
Organised by the QED Foundation, the awards recognise individuals aged 16 to 35 who were born, live, or work in Yorkshire and who have broken barriers, faced adversity, or challenged inequality to make a positive impact.
Established in 2020 to mark QED’s 30th anniversary, the YAYAs have become one of the North’s most prestigious celebrations of talent, ambition, and community leadership.
Image: Lorne Campbell / Guzelian
The Bradford-based charity QED Foundation, founded by Dr Mohammed Ali OBE in 1990, is nationally recognised for its work tackling inequality and promoting social and economic advancement among ethnic minority communities in the UK and abroad.
This year’s YAYAs feature nine award categories spanning sport, health, arts, media, education, business, public service, and community work, alongside an overall Young Asian Achiever of the Year title. The winners will be announced at a gala ceremony on Wednesday 27 November at the Cedar Court Hotel, Bradford, hosted by TV and radio presenter Noreen Khan with keynote speaker Rami Baitieh, Chief Executive of Morrisons PLC.
This year’s shortlisted nominees include:
- Sport: Ayesha Khan (footballer, Sheffield United / Sheffield Wednesday), Nohmaan Hussain (boxer and NHS cardiac practitioner, Sheffield), Sehran Ahmed (University of York student sport leader).
- Health & Healthcare: Dr Zoyah Hussain (GP, North Yorkshire), Usman Javaid (wellbeing practitioner, Bradford), Adil Mohammed (paramedic, Sheffield).
- Arts & Creative Industries: Awais Hussain (Bradford charity founder celebrating South Asian heritage), Rayn Rabib (17-year-old musician, Bradford), Heena Mahmood (author and physiotherapist, Leeds).
- Media: Rima Ahmed (BBC Radio Leeds), Sahdiya Pervez (teacher and digital creator), Musharaf Asghar (motivational speaker, Educating Yorkshire).
- Education: Yashica Govind Vasanad (Halifax student and equality campaigner), Mohammed Ali Adnan (Bradford College student), Shames Maskeen (The Race Institute, Leeds Trinity University).
- Young Entrepreneur / Private Sector: Ali Zafar (CEO, social enterprise promoting financial literacy), Sidrah Ahmer (Bradford entrepreneur supporting women in work), Falaq Ujjala (Bradford café owner and community leader).
- Public Sector: Aqsa Saleem (police officer, Dewsbury), Ismail Hussain Siraji Uddin (district councillor, Bradford), Aisha Hussain (civil servant, Bradford).
- Not-for-Profit: Aleem Bashir (University of Bradford Students’ Union CEO), Neena Ugail (STEM advocate), Maleehah Hussain (volunteer and law graduate).
- Overcoming Life Obstacles: Dr Madiah Mahmood (Bradford Teaching Hospitals doctor and autoimmune encephalitis survivor), Nilah Ghulam (York St John University disability practitioner), Sabba Nosheen (Bradford business owner and single mother of three).
Celebrating five years of the YAYAs
The 2025 awards coincide with the QED Foundation’s 35th anniversary, marking over three decades of transforming lives through education, training, and inclusion. Since its inception, QED has helped over 40,000 people from ethnic minority backgrounds, including new arrivals from 26 countries.
Dr Mohammed Ali OBE, founder and chief executive of QED Foundation, said: “As we celebrate 35 years of QED, we are delighted to welcome the YAYAs for the fifth time. Many shortlisted candidates have overcome great challenges, and it is wonderful to share their inspiring stories with the wider community.”
Adeeba Malik CBE, deputy chief executive of QED Foundation, added: “These awards showcase the wealth of young talent in our communities. They’re not just a celebration, they inspire others. If people see someone who looks like them achieving success, that impact can be truly profound.”
Professor Karen Bryan OBE, Vice Chancellor and Chief Executive of York St John University, headline sponsor of the YAYAs, said: “We are proud to have supported the YAYAs since their inception. The awards celebrate determination, creativity, and achievement, and highlight the powerful impact of young people of South Asian heritage in Yorkshire.”
High-profile sponsors of the 2025 awards include Morrisons, University of Leeds, University of York, National Science and Media Museum, Born in Bradford, MyLahore, LocaliQ, Leeds Community Foundation, and Bradford 2025.
