Awards
Why launch Sikh Awards?
- The Sikh community positively contributes to the broader society during times of need in areas that demand assistance (such as floods, fires and droughts), and also in many other areas in everyday life, (such as business, government, media, medical, agriculture, and a range of other fields).
- The natural approach from the Sikh community is not to seek recognition of this effort but help whenever there is a need. As a direct consequence, there are many unsung heroes and heroines in the Sikh community whose contributions go unnoticed.
- It is therefore important we recognise the effort and contribution from these individuals and celebrate when they have excelled as role models in society. This is not just to make them feel proud of their achievements, but also to create a positive and informative view in the broader community of the Sikh faith and our values, identity and culture.
What Are The Award categories
The following principles underpin all awards, in terms of informing the categories:
- The value of Seva (selfless service) should be evident, as framed in Sikhi; and
- The activities should positively contribute to the social and economic development of Australia
Award Categories
and Criteria
Excellence in Agriculture
(Recognition of farming, cultivation or livestock)
Recognition of outcomes in crop farming, livestock, or contributions to new ways of agriculture that have had a positive impact in the industry. The award recognises achievement across the field of agriculture broadly, beyond active farming, to include areas such as sustainable agriculture, scientific research and the development of innovative techniques that contribute to the Australian economy and is recognised in the local community.
Excellence in Arts, Culture & Music
(Recognition of artistic and imaginative contribution)
Recognition of original contributions to productions and activities that are imaginative and extend the boundaries of arts, culture, and music, including contributions to the broader Australian community. In Arts, this could cover visual arts such painting, sculpture, drawing, or photography. For Culture, this could be dance, theatre or other performing arts that promote a specific level of cultural awareness. In Music, the nomination could be for an artist, musician, songwriter, or producer.
EXCELLENCE IN BUSINESS AND ENTERPRISE
(Leadership Development in private or public sectors)
This award will recognize and honour individuals who have made significant contributions to the business world, showcasing outstanding innovation, sustainability, growth and ethical practices. This award is aimed at highlighting the entrepreneurial spirit to establish and grow businesses within the Sikh community, acknowledging those, who not only achieve business success, but also positively impact their communities and industries.
Excellence in Community Service
(Recognise contribution towards broader public/community)
Recognition of voluntary community service towards Australia-wide public or community needs. The award recognises community service which captures the spirit of Sewa, and which has had a significant impact in changing lives and communities.
Excellence in a Professional Field
(Exemplary contribution in a professional capacity)
This award recognises outstanding performance by qualified professionals, who have made a significant contribution to, and are recognised as an expert in their chosen field by bodies relevant to their area. Examples of professions considered for this award could include areas such as scientific research, accounting, finance, law, IT, education, transport, or health but not restricted to these.
AUSTRALIAN SIKH WOMAN OF THE YEAR
(Outstanding role model for the community)
This award will celebrate the achievement of Sikh women who are role models for the community and have shown outstanding leadership in their chosen fields or have excelled in one or more aspects of the award categories. It also recognises women who have worked to advance gender equality and the status of women, either within the Sikh community or more broadly among the Australian community. Women who are nominated for other categories may, in addition, also be nominated for this category.
Excellence in Sports
(Coverage in sports and athletics)
Recognition of achievement in sports and athletics to a high standard of proficiency. The sports should have a competitive element in which achievement has been demonstrated at a national level in Australia, either as a participant, a coach, or in an affiliated role.
Young Australian Sikh of the Year
(Emerging leader in the community, < 30years old)
This award will be limited to those under 30 years old at the time of the annual awards nominations closing date, and who are also significant role models for other Sikh youth. The award will seek to recognise a youth leader that excels in one or more aspects of the seven award categories. Nominees for other categories who are under 30 years of age may, in addition, also be nominated for this category.
Award Categories
and Criteria
Excellence in Agriculture
(Recognition of farming, cultivation or livestock)
Recognition of outcomes in crop farming, livestock, or contributions to new ways of agriculture that have had a positive impact in the industry. The award recognises achievement across the field of agriculture broadly, beyond active farming, to include areas such as sustainable agriculture, scientific research and the development of innovative techniques that contribute to the Australian economy and is recognised in the local community.
Excellence in Arts, Culture or Music
(Recognition of artistic and imaginative contribution)
Recognition of original contributions to productions and activities that are imaginative and extend the boundaries of arts, culture, and music, including contributions to the broader Australian community. In Arts, this could cover visual arts such painting, sculpture, drawing, or photography. For Culture, this could be dance, theatre or other performing arts that promote a specific level of cultural awareness. In Music, the nomination could be for an artist, musician, songwriter, or producer.
EXCELLENCE IN BUSINESS AND ENTERPRISE
(Leadership Development in private or public sectors)
This award will recognize and honour individuals who have made significant contributions to the business world, showcasing outstanding innovation, sustainability, growth and ethical practices. This award is aimed at highlighting the entrepreneurial spirit within the Sikh community, acknowledging those, who not only achieve business success, but also positively impact their communities and industries.
Excellence in Community Service
(Recognise contribution towards broader public/community)
Recognition of voluntary community service towards Australia-wide public or community needs. The award recognises community service which captures the spirit of Sewa, and which has had a significant impact in changing lives and communities.
Excellence in a Professional Field
(Exemplary contribution in a professional capacity)
This award recognises outstanding performance by qualified professionals, who have made a significant contribution to, and are recognised as an expert in their chosen field. Examples of professions considered for this award could include areas such as scientific research, accounting, finance, law, IT, education, transport, or health but not restricted to these.
AUSTRALIAN SIKH WOMAN OF THE YEAR
(Outstanding role model for the community)
This award will celebrate the achievement of Sikh women who are role models for the community and have shown outstanding leadership in their chosen fields or have excelled in one or more aspects of the award categories. It also recognises women who have worked to advance gender equality and the status of women, either within the Sikh community or more broadly among the Australian community. Women who are nominated for other categories may, in addition, also be nominated for this category.
Excellence in Sports
(Coverage in sports and athletics)
Recognition of achievement in sports and athletics to a high standard of proficiency. The sports should have a competitive element in which achievement has been demonstrated at a national level in Australia, either as a participant, a coach, or in an affiliated role.
Young Australian Sikh of the Year
(Emerging leader in the community, < 30years old)
This award will be limited to those under 30 years old at the time of the annual awards and who are also significant role models for other Sikh youth. The award will seek to recognise a youth leader that excels in one or more aspects of the seven award categories. Nominees for other categories who are under 30 years of age may, in addition, also be nominated for this category.
Nomination &
Selection Process
Who can be nominated
- Sikhs from across Australia can be nominated from any state, or community. Nominations can come from inside or outside of the Sikh community.
- There will be a clear process to nominate people, that allows detail on their achievements to be outlined.
- Dates for nominations, and the details to be provided for each nomination will be communicated via the Australian Sikh Awards website. Self-nominations will not be possible.
- Previous awards finalists from 2023/24 are eligible for nomination.
- Prior winners (final eight) of the past editions of the ASAE awards, as per the website, cannot be re-nominated for the same or another award category.
Who will decide winners and how
- A panel of nine representatives from across Australia, to ensure diversity across geographies, professions, gender and age groups. Representatives selected are expected to remain in their roles for a period two years.
- Once nominations are received, the panel review and determine the winner in each award category.
Selection Panel
Ms. Harinder Sidhu
Patron
Ms Sidhu was appointed as Australian High Commissioner to New Zealand on 31 March 2022.
Ms Sidhu is a senior career officer with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) and was most recently Chief Operating Officer and Deputy Secretary. She has previously served overseas as Australia’s High Commissioner to India and in Moscow and Damascus.
In Canberra, she has served in DFAT in senior leadership roles, as well as in the Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency, Office of National Assessments and the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet.
Ms Sidhu holds a Bachelor of Laws and a Bachelor of Economics from the University of Sydney.
Tarandeep Singh Ahuja
Chair of the selection panel
Tarandeep Singh Ahuja is a partner at McKinsey & Company, the preeminent global management consulting firm, based in Melbourne. He has been with McKinsey for over 16 years and leads their Energy practice in Australia and New Zealand and their Product Development and Procurement practice across Asia-pacific.
Tarandeep advises clients across energy, resources, industrial and consumer goods sectors on a wide range of topics – strategy, growth, performance improvement and digital transformations, and is leading the thinking on the energy transition. Previously, Tarandeep worked at Unilever in India developing and implementing digital solutions across its Food and Beverages supply chain.
Tarandeep is passionate about strengthening the relations between Australia and India and supported the development of the government’s India Economic Strategy to 2035. He chairs the advisory committee of Asialink Business at University of Melbourne and was invited as a guest speaker at the inaugural Asian-Australian Leadership Summit. Tarandeep is also a member of the advisory board of the Young Sikh Professionals Network.
Tarandeep holds an integrated M.Tech from the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, and an MBA from the Indian School of Business, Hyderabad.
Ms. Manpreet Kaur Singh
Manpreet is a media personality and multi-award-winning journalist working with Special Broadcasting Service (SBS), which is the world’s largest and most diverse multilingual broadcaster. Currently working as a Program Manager, she oversees the editorial and digital output of several language programs on SBS Radio.
Having worked for national television and newspapers in India, Manpreet joined SBS in 1993 as Executive Producer of the Punjabi program. Serving audiences through investigative stories about social justice, cultural cohesion, and multiculturalism, she has won several national and international awards: UNAA Media Peace Award, New York Festivals, NSW Premier’s Multicultural Communication Awards, Victorian Multicultural Awards of Excellence, GOPIO award to name a few, also being named finalist for several accolades including the prestigious Walkley Awards and The AIBs.
Her work exploring the history of Indian arrival in Australia has been included as individual contributions in at least three published books, and was commissioned as an educational resource for high school students in Australia.
Manpreet has served Our Watch as a member of the Media Advisory Group for several years to promote ethical reporting of family violence in the media, also participating as a guest speaker at the Our Watch Fellowship Program delivered in conjunction with the Walkley Foundation. Working closely with Australian Football League, she was part of the AFL Multicultural Focus Group for many years, going on to become an AFL commentator who called multiple matches in Hindi and Punjabi between 2103-16.
In 2017, she was recognised in a global publication as one of 500 Sikh Role Models – from different walks of lifeand in the following year, her contributions were recognised by the international website Sikh Role Models under the category ‘Authors and Writers’.
Manpreet holds a post graduate degree in Mass Communication, and over the years, has written articles for several publications including India Today, Indian Express, Hindustan times, and Sikhchic.com
Ms. Kuljit Jassal
Kuljit came to Fremantle in Western Australia (WA) as a young school student on a Student Exchange in 1980. She then migrated with her family to Perth in 1982.
She joined the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) in 1988 as a Logistics Officer. Kuljit saw much of this country as an Australian Defence Force Recruiting Officer when she was posted to the Recruiting Unit in Melbourne, Victoria.
After nearly 13years in the RAAF, Kuljit joined the Education Department (WA) where she is currently employed as the Team Lead for the Enterprise Business Solutions team in the Department’s ICT Branch.
Kuljit has always been involved in community activities through school parent groups, School Boards, local Cancer fundraisers and more recently by volunteering with the Australian Sikh Heritage Association. She enjoys learning about how and when Sikhs first came to this country. Kuljit is very proud of her Sikh heritage and is always wanting to share it with the wider community.
Kuljit holds a Bachelor of Business from Curtin University and Graduate Certificate in Business from the University of New England.
Pam Bains
Pam was appointed Group Executive Network at Aurizon in March 2020. Prior to this appointment, she held the position of Chief Financial Officer and Group Executive Strategy from 2017.
Pam has been with Aurizon since 2010 and has held various senior management roles at the company during this time. She played a key role during Aurizon Holdings’ initial public offering and listing on the Australian Stock Exchange, capital restructuring and separation of Aurizon’s Network business, as well as support for various regulatory reforms which have improved the financial performance of Aurizon’s Network business.
Pam has broad experience in finance and leadership roles in both Australia and globally over the past 25 years. Prior to joining Aurizon, she was the Head of Finance, Customer Service at Telefonica O2 UK, a subsidiary of one of the largest global integrated broadband and telecommunications providers. She has also held senior management roles at Next PLC, General Electric and Arthur Andersen.
Pam holds a BA (Honours) Accounting and Finance, is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of England and Wales and a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. Pam is also a Non-Executive Director of NBN Co Limited, a Director of Aurizon Network Pty Ltd, Integrated Logistics Company Pty Ltd, Coal Network Capacity Co Pty Ltd and an Advisory Board Member for the Young Sikh Professionals Network (YSPN).
Dr Sarvjit Girn (FAICD)
Sarv is a non-executive director and advisor for a portfolio of companies in the banking, health and technology sectors. His career spans over 30 years in financial services and healthcare across the UK, Australia, and Asia.
Sarv currently serves as Non-Executive Director for Police Bank, Commonwealth Bank Health Society, and auDA, which manages the .au internet domain. He is a chair and member of a range of Board sub-committees, including Audit, Risk, and Technology. Previously Sarv completed nine years on the Boards of Reserve Bank Health Society and the Can Too Foundation.
In his executive career, Sarv has held senior technology and transformation roles at the Reserve Bank of Australia, Westpac Group, Commonwealth Bank, and more recently I-MED Radiology. He is a respected leader in navigating complex, large-scale IT change programs with strong business outcomes. He specialises in, cyber security risk management, digital transformation, and technology leadership.
Sarv holds a Doctorate from the University of Technology Sydney in Board Cybersecurity Governance, and a Bachelor of Computer Science (Hons) from the University of London. He is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Inder Singh
Inder Singh was appointed Group Chief Financial Officer and Group Executive, Strategy in March 2026. In this role, Inder leads NAB’s Finance function across the Group and is responsible for Strategy and Group Development, supporting the delivery of NAB’s strategic priorities and long-term performance.
Inder brings more than 20 years’ experience across global financial services, with senior leadership roles spanning insurance, banking and asset management. His experience covers multiple markets including Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, Europe, Asia and the United States, with a strong focus on execution, performance discipline and sustainable value creation.
Before joining NAB, Inder was Group Chief Financial Officer of QBE Insurance Group, a role he held from 2018. Since joining QBE in 2015, he held senior leadership positions including Chief Financial Officer for Australian and New Zealand Operations, and Group Head of Corporate Development and Financial Planning & Analysis.
Earlier in his career, Inder spent significant time in investment banking in Sydney and London with Deutsche Bank and UBS, advising on strategy, mergers and acquisitions and capital structures. He began his career at Arthur Andersen.
Inder holds a Bachelor of Commerce from Monash University in Melbourne.
Karan anand
Karan Anand is the Global Chief Strategy Officer and Managing Director (Australia) at Hnry, with nearly 20 years of experience across strategy, technology and high-growth business leadership. As Hnry’s first Australian hire, he has helped scale the company from launch to a nationally established business, now a post–Series C fintech which has raised close to $100 million in venture funding.
Prior to Hnry, Karan spent almost a decade at Monitor Deloitte as a Director, advising boards, CEOs and regulators on growth, innovation and transformation across financial services and technology.
He brings extensive governance and community leadership experience, currently serving as a Non-Executive Director of Myriad Australia and previously as Chair of the Australia India Youth Dialogue, and Co-Founder and inaugural Chair of the Young Sikh Professionals Network, where he now sits on the Advisory Board. He has been recognised through awards including Innovator of the Year at the Commbank Young Hero Awards in 2023 and inclusion in Asialink’s Asian Australian 40 Under 40 in 2024.
He holds a Master of Finance (Distinction) from the University of New South Wales, where he received the Goldman Sachs Postgraduate Award, and a Bachelor of Commerce in Actuarial Studies and Finance.
Dr Parwinder Kaur MLC
Hon Dr Parwinder Kaur is an award-winning scientist, advocate, and Member of Parliament, deeply committed to advancing science, community, and inclusive leadership. Her journey from the lab bench to the Western Australian Legislative Council—as a first-generation migrant, mother, and woman of colour—reflects her passion for innovation and transformative change. Elected in May 2025 as a Member of the Legislative Council for the Australian Labor Party, she brings a powerful voice for progress and inclusion.
Dr Kaur has received numerous accolades for her sustained contributions to science. Drawing on her expertise in biotechnology, she connects people with their environments in new and meaningful ways. Recognised with prestigious honours—including the Australian Academy of Sciences’ Science and Innovation Award (2013), Microsoft’s AI for Earth Award (2019), and induction into the Western Australia Women’s Hall of Fame (2023) and being the winner Sikh Woman of the Year at the inaugural ASAE Awards in 2023 in recognition of her leadership, service, and advocacy—she champions diversity in STEM and evidence-based policy. She empowers people from all walks of life and age groups to see that individuals can drive change. As a Member of Parliament, professor of science, and mother, Dr Kaur stands as an inspiring role model for the next generation of diverse scientists to pursue their passion for discovery, translation, and public service.
In her role as Deputy Chair of Committees, member of the Standing Committee on Environment and Public Affairs, and Member of the National Policy Forum of the Australian Labor Party, she continues to demonstrate her belief that science and service together can create a sustainable, equitable future for all.