Speakers announced for South Asian Heritage Month celebrations

A set of professionals who are championing South Asian heritage in various fields has been announced as the speakers for a celebration of South Asian identity and culture.

The South Asian Heritage Month celebration is organised by the Asian Business Chamber of Commerce (ABCC) and will take place on Thursday, 16 July at Birmingham Botanical Gardens.

It will bring together culture, conversation, and community to explore the richness and diversity of South Asian identities.

Popular music producer Ninder Johal, broadcaster and sports presenter Amber Sandhu, and Aston University’s professor of small business Monder Ram will speak during the event. It will be hosted by ABCC manager Katrina Raipuri.

Ninder runs a music, event production and publishing company where he hosts seven large corporate events a year for entrepreneurs in Birmingham, Wolverhampton, Leicester, Manchester and London. 

He has been running a record label for over 25 years and is a member of the premier bhangra band – achanak – who still tour today.

The production company has now ventured in creative services including film and video production. The record label remains as the only British Asian label to have charted globally.

The track Munde To Bachke with a feature by Jay Z charted at number five in the UK charts, number seven in the US and number two in Germany. It has been streamed 122 million times, culminating in sales exceeding 11 million copies.

Amber began her career as an intern at the BBC, quickly earning presenting opportunities across BBC Radio WM, the Asian Network, and Midlands Today, including prominent coverage during the Commonwealth Games.

Since then, she has gone on to cover some of the UK's biggest sporting events, including The Hundred, the Women’s Ashes, and regular reporting across the Premier League for Sky Sports News.

Beyond the studio, Amber is also a dedicated event host and a proud ambassador for the Wolves Foundation where she continues to be an advocate for her city and championing community outreach, youth engagement, and empowerment.  

Professor Monder Ram is the founder and director of the Centre for Research in Ethnic Minority Entrepreneurship (CREME).

For more than thirty years, his work has shaped research, policy and practice on ethnic minority and migrant entrepreneurship. He is known for building durable links between universities, policymakers, businesses and communities, and for turning research into practical change.

His work has helped build and shape initiatives including Minority Supplier Development UK, Productivity from Below, and Time to Change: A Blueprint for Advancing the UK’s Ethnic Minority Businesses.

The event will also include entertainment and a cultural exhibition. Tickets are discounted at £25 until July 1. Thereafter, tickets are priced at £50 plus VAT.

Speaking about the event, Katrina Raipuri, said: “South Asian Heritage Month is a time to celebrate the rich cultures, histories and contributions of South Asian communities, recognising that our diversity strengthens our workplaces, our profession and our society.

“We are proud to bring our region together for our first South Asian Heritage Month celebration at the Botanical Gardens, featuring inspiring guest speakers Monder Ram, Amber Sandhu and Ninder Johal.

“Join us for an evening of cultural performances, South Asian street food-style networking and the opportunity to celebrate the vibrant cultures that makes our region stronger.”

Visit the webpage for more information including sponsorship opportunities.

Pictured from left to right: Ninder Johal, Amber Sandhu, and Monder Ram