On Sunday 13th July 2025, more than 350 guests gathered in Bradford for what many are now calling a defining moment in the region’s push for gender equity and inclusive leadership.

The BPA Empowering Women (BPAEA) awards, hosted in the grand ballroom of Cedar Court Hotel, Bradford, was far more than an evening of accolades – it marked the birth of a movement.

Yes, there were gowns and speeches. Yes, there were cameras and standing ovations. But beneath the glamour was something raw, real, and electrifying: the ignition of a movement.

This year, Asian Express celebrates a landmark: 25 years of independent journalism, community advocacy, and platforming unheard voices. For decades, they’ve told the stories that needed telling, publishing tens of thousands of pieces and over 6,000 features on businesses, entrepreneurs, disruptors and visionaries.

This year, they’ve brought that storytelling to life. “From page to stage” wasn’t just a slogan – it was a declaration, and the launch of the Business Power Awards. This milestone was celebrated not with a retrospective, but by amplifying the very people the publication has always championed, Yorkshire’s trailblazing women.

The evening was attended by a host of dignitaries, including the Lord Mayor of Sheffield, Safiya Saeed, Mayor of Rotherham, Rukhsana Ismail, and MP Naz Shah, alongside civic leaders, creatives, businesswomen, and entrepreneurs. They, along with Sharon Milner, CEO at Leeds Children’s Charity at Lineham Farm, Harleen Kaur – CEO of Club Ekta, and Sabbiyah Pervez – Senior Investigations Reporter BBC, inspired the audience with their speeches.

The nominees were women from all walks of life: professionals, founders, community builders, creatives, CEOs. Each one a beacon of resilience. Each one, a quiet revolution in motion.

“These women don’t just rise, they lift others,” reflects Andleeb Hanif, Co-founder and Editor of Asian Express, and Chairperson of the Business Power Awards.

Our winners are not simply professionals or pioneers – they are torchbearers. Women who challenge norms, dismantle barriers, and build ladders where none existed. They are, in every sense, leaders – regardless of title, status, or recognition.”

He added: “The BPA Empowering Women movement is now an annual, living commitment to equity, inclusive leadership, and systemic change. And it will grow with the help of every woman it uplifts, every ally it engages, and every young girl who sees herself in the stories shared.”

The #BPAEW hashtag gained momentum across social platforms, but the organisers insist this isn’t about visibility for its own sake. The goal is a sustainable and growing platform that champions inclusive leadership, equity, and representation at all levels of society.

The event also paid tribute to the power of community and allyship. Sponsors and supporters, many of whom have stood alongside Asian Express throughout its 25-year journey, were credited with helping build a platform that now empowers others.