Omar Rashid was appointed president of the Asian Business Chamber of Commerce (ABCC) at the organisation’s annual general meeting.
The AGM was held yesterday at Chamber House in Edgbaston, with the attendance of members and guests.
Neelam Afzal, partner and employment law solicitor of Wildings Solicitors, and Sapreena Kumari, executive director for admissions and student recruitment at Staffordshire University, were appointed as vice presidents.
The ABCC – part of Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce – also announced a new-look executive committee.
The other committee members are:
- Tarnbir Athwal – Desicity.com
- Aulfat Bi Head – Innovation 4 Business
- Fajli Bibi – Faj Transformation Consultancy Ltd
- Aftab Chughtai MBE – Aftabs
- Monica Ghai – Shakespeare Martineau LLP
- Sartaj Gill – Housman Consulting Ltd
- Indy Goraya – Bluebird Care Solihull and Birmingham
- Ahmer Nawaz – Fraser Russell Limited
- Mal Powar – Santander Corporate & Investment Banking
- Gurdas Singh – WANAMA
- Harmesh Singh Pooni – Finance 4 Busines
Omar, the owner and director of The HR Dept at Birmingham and Wolverhampton, has been on the ABCC executive board since 2019.
He has been serving as co-president alongside Amina Hussain of SME Outsourcing since September after Dr Jason Wouhra stepped down.
He said: “I look forward to what is going to be an exciting year ahead.
“I am delighted to have Neelam Afzal and Sapreena Kumari as vice-presidents. It is great to have community veterans like Aftab Chugthai and Fajli Bibi on the board, but I am also excited to work with the new members on the board that have just been announced.
“Together, we understand our responsibilities in being the voice of the Asian Business community. To ensure that we provide the very best platform Asian businesses can benefit from.
“As a board we will strive to ensure we maximise new partnerships and new opportunities ensuring we provide value for our members.”
Omar graduated from Coventry University in 2006 after acquiring a business management degree and a masters degree in human resource management.
After working across public, private and third party sectors in HR and recruitment, he started his own HR Business in 2018 with the HR Dept. The business focuses on providing HR and Recruitment services to SMEs.
The firm also won Outstanding Start Up Business of the Year at the ABCC dinner and awards ceremony in 2018.
Omar is also a co-founder of The Networking Clubs and a radio presenter on Unity FM. His show ‘The Business Hour’ explores the challenges and themes within the Business world.
Henrietta Brealey, CEO of Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce, said: “The ABCC is a dynamic part of our Chamber family as a leading network for, and gateway to engaging with, the region’s Asian business community.
“I am delighted welcome our new committee members and Presidents team. Together with ABCC director Anjum Khan, they bring a wide range of skills, industry experience and perspectives to the leadership of this influential organisation – it’s set to be an exciting year.
“I’d also like to thank our outgoing co-president, Amina Hussain and the committee members completing their terms this year.
“From providing free support to local SMEs during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic to championing local hospitality businesses and networking and connecting the Asian business community, they have all contributed a huge amount to this organisation’s, and local business community’s success.”
The ABCC has over 170 members, while 1,020 members from 230 businesses attended ABCC events last year.
Pictured from left to right: seated – Fajli Bibi, Neelam Afzal, Omar Rashid, Sapreena Kumari, Mal Powar
Standing – Ahmer Nawaz, Aulfat Bi Head, Harmesh Singh Pooni, Aftab Chughtai, Gurdas Singh, Monica Ghai, Sartaj Gill
