Powerlist

The Powerlist


Britain’s Most Influential People of African And African Caribbean Heritage.

Introduction

The Powerlist is an annual publication that was first published in 2007 in a bid to provide professional role models for young people of African and African Caribbean heritage.

Since then it has brought a number of people to prominence who were hitherto unknown and has created a network of influencers, many of whom now have commercial relationships with one another and some of whom have become friends. In many ways, we are rebranding black Britain.


The publication is distributed primarily to schools and universities, but it has become heavily requested by corporates as well, as it is recognised as a valuable source of identifying black talent. We are only too keen to assist organisations that are seeking to diversify their staff make-up, particularly at senior levels.

So, how do we decide on who makes the list?

First, we should acknowledge that it is totally subjective, and we (Powerful Media) decide nothing, really. The judges do that. But it works like this. Powerful Media receive nominations from potential new nominees. 

We then put them through a test based on our definition of the word influence, which we define as: ‘the ability to positively alter events and change lives as demonstrated over a reasonable period of time’.


We give each new nominee marks out of 10 on two indices: how influential they are in their immediate sphere of expertise and how far that influence reaches beyond that. The 50 highest rated new nominees are given to our independent (none of them works for, or is associated with Powerful Media Ltd) panel to deliberate over, along with updates on 99 of the 100 incumbent Powerlistees (the previous year’s number one is automatically elevated into the Hall of Fame).


They are given seven days to look over the documentation before locking themselves in a room for eight hours, usually in early August/ late July to deliberate and come up with the final list.

Powerful Media Virtual Black Excellence Awards 2020

Click on the video below to see our ground-breaking virtual online awards event

Powerlist 2024 Top 10

These are the individuals who topped the 2023 list of the most influential people of African, African American and African Caribbean heritage in the UK

Powerlist Celebration of Black Excellence Awards Winners 2023

PwC Purpose Award

For consistently living out ‘purpose’ and demonstrating solving societal problems and helping drive change in her community.

Nominees:

Martin Griffith

Trauma Surgeon and Violence Reduction Lead, St Barts Hospital, London 

Dr Sylvia Bartley

Neuroscientist and Health Equality Leader; Chief of Staff, JS

Professor Kevin Fenton CBE FFPH

London Regional Director at Office, Health Improvement and Disparities, Regional Public Health Director at NHS London

Winner

Dr. Sylvia Bartley

Neuroscientist, Health Equality Leader, Chief of staff, JSI

Meta Community Award

For an outstanding individual or organisation, making significant contribution to their community, through passion and selflessness.

Nominees:

Paul Reid

Head of the International Slavery Museum, Liverpool

Patrick Vernon

Social Commentator; campaigner on myriad social wrongs

Professor Jacqueline Dunkley-Bent OBE

Chief Midwife, International Confederation of Midwives (ICM)

Winner

Paul Reid

Head of the International Slavery Museum, Liverpool

Executive Leadership Council Executive of the Year Award

For an executive showing excellence in a corporate setting, from a leadership, performance, and progress perspective.

Nominees:

Ije Nwokorie

Senior Director, Apple

Segun Osuntokun

Global Senior Partner, Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner

Vanessa Kingori OBE

Chief Business Officer, Condé Nast Britain; Vogue European Business Adviser

Winner

Vanessa Kingori OBE

Chief Business Officer, Condé Nast Britain; Vogue European Business Adviser

Salesforce Woman of the Year Award

For a woman who has demonstrated excellence in leadership in her domain or broader.

Nominees:

Paulette Simpson CBE

Deputy CEO, Jamaica National Bank; Executive Director, The Voice Newspaper Group; Deputy Chair of the Windrush Commemoration Committee

Eva Omaghomi

Director of Community Engagement to King Charles and Queen Camilla

Professor Shirley Thompson

Composer and Conductor of Classical music; reader at the University of Westminster society

Winner

Paulette Simpson CBE

Deputy CEO, Jamaica National Bank; Executive Director, The Voice Newspaper Group; Deputy Chair of the Windrush Commemoration Committee

Entertainer of the Year Award

For an actor, singer or musician who has set the highest standards in their profession throughout their career.

Nominees:

David Harewood

Actor

Adjoa Andoh

Actress

Nonso Anozie

Actor

Winners

Adjoa Andoh

Actress

David Harewood

Actor

BONI Banking Professional of the Year Award

For a banking professional who shows outstanding performance and embraces innovation, strong leadership, and adept problem solving.

Nominees:

Tangy Morgan

Independent Senior Advisor to the Bank of England and Strategia Worldwide

Kymberlie Andrew

Global Head of Content and External Executive Communications, Standard Chartered Bank

Kene Ejikeme

Partner, Head of Multi Asset Platform Sales and High Touch Execution in EMEA, Goldman Sachs

Winner

Kene Ejikeme

Partner, Head of Multi Asset Platform Sales and High Touch Execution in EMEA, Goldman Sachs

BP Business of the Year Award

For a black-owned business that can demonstrate growth potential, innovation, community engagement and strong management and leadership.

Nominees:

Mobilus Labs

Technimove

Micro-Fresh International

Winner

Micro-Fresh International

CEO: Byron Dixon, OBE

London Stock Exchange Group Global Executive Leader Award

For an outstanding leader, based outside the UK, who has demonstrated exceptional vision, innovation, and had a transformative impact on their organisation.

Nominees:

Phuti Mahayele-Dabengwa

CEO, Naspers South Africa

Rene Awambeng

Director and General Head of Client Relations Afreximbank, Cairo

Winner

Rene Awambeng

Director and Head of Client Relations, Afreximbank, Cairo

Mastercard Lifetime Contribution Award

For achievement at the highest level and personified excellence over a protracted period of time.

Winner

Ozwald Boateng OBE

Fashion Designer

Powerlist 2024 Number One

Voted by our judging panel to top this year’s list.

Winner

Edward Enninful OBE

Editor-in-Chief of British Vogue, European Editorial Director of Condé Nast

MEET

The Judges

The task of deciding who makes it on to the Powerlist is down to our formidable judges, who have strict criteria to abide by.

 

First, we receive new nominations and updates from current Powerlisters. Names are put through a rigorous test based on our criteria of influence: ‘The ability to positively alter events and change lives as demonstrated over a meaningful period of time’. Bios of the highest-scoring 150 or so are given to the panel for deliberation.

  • Daniel Taylor

    Daniel Taylor MBE

    Design Specialist


    Daniel Taylor is a renowned and highly respected design specialist with a reputation for designing and building bespoke interiors for public and private sector clients. His career highlights include winning the contract to design the Conservative Party’s new HQ in London, and being a founding member of the Creative Apprenticeships Task Force, a £12m initiative that works with businesses to identify successful apprenticeship practice and opportunities for young people

  • Read Powerlist 2024 Online

    The latest edition of Powerlist, Powerlist 2024. 

    Powerlist

    Nominations

    The Powerlist showcases and provides a platform for Britain’s most influential people of African and African Caribbean heritage. With every new edition we avidly search for new people to join the ever-diversifying list. We’ve already started compiling this year’s edition. With that said we encourage you to kindly nominate new potential Powerlistees.


    The criteria we use is our definition of influence; the ability to change lives and alter events positively, as demonstrated over a reasonable period of time.

    Nominate a potential Powerlistee 

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