The Asian Business Chamber of Commerce has unveiled its new 14-strong committee – with Saqib Bhatti elected president for the third consecutive year.
Saqib, who is director at Younis Bhatti and Co Ltd chartered accountants, retains the presidency again following the latest annual ABCC elections.
A director of the Greater Birmingham and Solihull LEP with responsibilities for promoting diversity and business support, he is the youngest president in the ABCC’s 28-year history.
Meanwhile, the two vice-presidents are Dr Haseena Lockhat, managing partner of Moseley-based Vista Apartments and Omer Simjee, partner at law firm Irwin Mitchell.
Dr Lockhat also works as a consultant clinical psychologist for the NHS and is regarded as a leading figure both in the UK and internationally on healthcare issues relating to Female Genital Mutilation.
Omer Simjee is a Partner in the Birmingham Employment Team of national, full-service law firm, Irwin Mitchell, typically involved in training, tribunal litigation and advising on strategic HR issues such as redundancies, reorganisations and outsourcing.
Three new committee members have been elected, Ruzwan Boota, Siamha Butt and Qasim Majid.
Ruzwan is tax assistant manager at Birmingham-based professional and finance firm Mazars LLP. Siamha is employer engagement director with the MOD based in Harborne while Qasim is CEO of Jewellery Quarter-based IT/marketing firm Wow Zone.
Other members elected to the 14-strong committee include Anita Champaneri, managing director of Birmingham firm Delicious PR, Nasir Awan, CEO of Awan Marketing PLC of Hockley and Kadeer Arif, managing director of KA Consulting in Birmingham.
Also elected were Aftab Chughtai, managing partner of clothes, toys and luggage retailer Aftabs of Alum Rock Road, Manjit Kang, diversity ambassador/real estate finance Manager at NatWest Bank in Colmore Row, Dee Kundi, partner at Brindley Place law firm Veale Wasbrough Vizards and Lakhbir Singh, regional manager of Wolverhampton-based BCRS Business Loans.
Anjum Khan, ABCC director, said: “We were inundated with applications and electing the committee is always a highly vigorous process. All the members who were elected are ambassadors for the ABCC, ensuring they are all speaking on behalf of Asian business and raising the profile of the sector.”
She said candidates had to undertake a detailed interviewing process after putting their names forward. The ABCC has been running for 28 years and currently has a total of 210 members.
