Press Release: India UK Achievers Honours

PRESS RELEASE

ElsaMarie DSilva, Founder of Red Dot Foundation is a finalist in the “Society & Policy” category at the India UK Achievers Honours 2024. This initiative by the National Indian Students and Alumni Union UK (NISAU) in partnership with the British Council (in India) and the UK Government Department for Business and Trade aims to celebrate the India-UK educational ties by recognising the work of Indian students and alumni who have pursued a British programme of study and have since shown excellence in their field and made immense contributions to society.

Commenting on the importance of the India UK Achievers Honours, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said: “First I would like to thank you for all that you are doing to champion the special UK-India partnership. I am pleased to see that for the second year, you are showcasing exceptional Indian talent that has been developed in the UK. I am extremely proud of the UK-India partnership and the 2023 Achievers Honours highlights the strong outcomes that can arise through partnership.”

Sanam Arora, Chair of the NISAU UK and Commissioner of the UK International Higher Education Commission said: “As we unveil the finalists of this year’s Achievers Honours here at the UK Parliament, we stand at the confluence of heritage and ambition. Today, we celebrate the indomitable spirit that propels individuals to transcend boundaries and redefine success on a global stage. Each finalist is a symbol of the potential that thrives within our communities and the shared future we are forging through excellence and innovation. Today, we don’t just recognise excellence; we ignite the promise of tomorrow, honouring those who lead by example and inspire greatness in us all. I am so excited to showcase our finalists today and can’t wait to reveal the winners for our class of 2024 tomorrow!”

ElsaMarie Dsilva said: “I am honoured to receive this recognition for my work. The Chevening Gurukul fellowship I attended at Oxford University was transformational and helped me develop the long term strategy for my organisation. I am proud to be part of the UK alumni.”

Alison Barrett MBE, Director India, British Council said: “As a jury member, it has been a pleasure to learn about the meaningful contributions by the applicants of India UK Achievers Honours. The success stories of the UK alumni from India are brilliant testimonies to the excellence of UK education and career opportunities it enables for international students. We are excited to celebrate the success of these alumni, and the ever growing partnership in education between both our countries.”

About India UK Achievers Honours:

Now in its second year, Achievers Honours is the most prestigious global recognition for Indians who have studied in the UK. The honours are highly contested and go through a rigorous jury selection. From cancer research to culinary arts, from bureaucracy to business, from law to LGBTQIA+ rights, these achievers are thought leaders and innovators showcasing the best of British study with Indian calibre and acumen. Achievers are based in the UK, India, and countries across the globe.

All the finalists were invited to London and honoured at the British Parliament where they had an opportunity to interact with British members of parliament, policymakers, and stakeholders in the education sector. The final winners will be announced and honoured in a much-awaited gala ceremony on 28th February in the heart of London among 400 exclusive guests.

Last year, Achievers Honours celebrated 75 years of India’s independence by honouring 75+ Achievers across 8 categories. Bollywood actor Parineeti Chopra; Raghav Chadha Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha; Adar Poonawalla, CEO of the Serum Institute of India, Samir Saran, President of Observer Research Foundation; Aditi Chauhan, Goalkeeper of the Indian Football Team; Menaka Guruswamy, Senior Advocate at the Supreme Court of India; and Somdip Dey, AI researcher among those who were honoured in London.

India UK Achievers Honours and the Education Conference is sponsored by ETS Global, Loughborough University, Edvoy, and Pearson PTE.

About NISAU:

The multi-award winning NISAU UK is the apex UK organisation representing students, alumni and young professionals of Indian origin. It is the Home Away From Home for Indian students in the UK; and works passionately towards our goal of ensuring that there is a student safety net for all international Indian students in the UK. From running a multi-year long campaign to bring the Post Study Work Visa to the UK; 360 support to thousands during the Covid pandemic and even supporting Indian students trapped in the Ukraine war, NISAU volunteers painstakingly work towards the welfare of the Indian student and alumni community. www.nisau.org.uk

About the British Council:

The British Council is the UK’s international organisation for cultural relations and educational opportunities. We support peace and prosperity by building connections, understanding and trust between people in the UK and countries worldwide. We do this through our work in arts and culture, education and the English language. We work with people in over 200 countries and territories and are on the ground in more than 100 countries. In 2022–23 we reached 600 million people. www.britishcouncil.org