A doctor from Leeds who survived a life-threatening illness to help others, and Musharaf Asghar, the inspirational star of Channel 4’s Educating Yorkshire, were among the winners of the 5th Yorkshire Asian Young Achiever Awards (YAYAs), announced at a gala awards event last night (27 November) at the Cedar Court Hotel in Bradford.

The awards, founded by Bradford-based charity QED Foundation and supported by title sponsor York St John University, celebrate the achievements of young people aged 16 to 35 of South Asian heritage who were born in or live and work in Yorkshire, and who have overcome deprivation and disadvantage, or overcome barriers to become successful in their chosen fields.

Twenty-six nominees were shortlisted for the 10 award categories at this year’s awards.

The 2025 overall winner award, sponsored by York St John University, went to Dr Madiah Mahmood, from Leeds.

Madiah is a resident doctor at Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust. Despite coming from a lower socio-economic background and initially not getting the grades, entered medical school via a foundation year. Madiah survived life-threatening autoimmune encephalitis in 2016 and graduated six years later. She has gone on to raise awareness of the condition for the Encephalitis Society and has introduced new innovations in her department.

Sabba Nosheen, 31, won the Overcoming Life Obstacles category, sponsored by Leeds Community Foundation.

Sabba, from Bradford, was raised by a single mother in a struggling home and faced challenges at school. Married by the time she was 17, she has three children with severe allergies. Juggling multiple jobs as a single mother, Sabba now runs Up and Away Events, her own balloon art and event decor business.

Business leaders and influencers attended the awards, which were presented by broadcaster and stand-up comedian, Noreen Khan, with Rami Baitieh, Chief Executive of Morrisons PLC, delivering the keynote speech. 

Fouzia Younis MBE, the UK’s Consul-General to Toronto and the first British Muslim woman to head a diplomatic post in the British diplomatic service, also gave a speech, inspiring the audience with her own success story.

Video messages of support – to mark QED’s 35th anniversary – were also sent from high profile figures in their field, including Yorkshire businessman and philanthropist Sir James Hill OBE, Sir Mufti Hamid Patel CBE (education leader, chief executive of Star Academies), Julia Middleton (founder of Common Purpose, a global leadership development organisation), Sir Alan Parker (a corporate adviser and chair of Brunswick Group), and Anne Keast-Butler (director of GCHQ).

Dr Mohammed Ali OBE, QED founder and chief executive, said: “The YAYAs are all about young people and celebrating their talents and achievements – not only the winners, but all of the nominees.

It was a privilege to share the stage with so many gifted individuals and listen to their inspiring and often moving stories. I would like to thank all of our sponsors, for without their generous support we simply wouldn’t be able to host these awards.”

Adeeba Malik CBE, deputy chief executive of QED Foundation, added: “In these uncertain times, the YAYAs provide an important platform for our young people to showcase their skills and they are a reminder, too, of the great wealth of talent that exists here in Yorkshire.”

Set up in 2020 by QED Foundation to mark the organisation’s 30th anniversary, the YAYAs have quickly established themselves as one of the key events in Bradford’s awards calendar.

The Bradford-based charity was founded in 1990 by Dr Mohammed Ali and today is widely recognised for its pioneering work in tackling inequality and promoting social and economic advancement among ethnic minority groups, both here in the UK and abroad.