By Zephaniah Samuels 30/11/10
The top 100 most influential people of African Caribbean decent in the UK have been listed in this year’s edition of The Power List 2010.
Index of influence
Dispelling the trite and overused stereotypes that are all too often featured in the national media, this list showcases those from the community who are excelling in their chosen fields of business, the arts, media, science, engineering and space technology.
Like the Forbes Rich List or The Times Most Influential Lawyers List, this year’s Power List celebrates the achievements of black Britons who have risen to the top of their professions, with nine of the top 10 from the corporate world.
Described as an ‘index of influence’ by Michael Eboda, the chief executive of Powerful Media, publishers of the Power List, he points out that if people are asked who the most influential black figures are they would still pick sports stars or people from the entertainment industry. This publication makes it clear that the real power lies elsewhere.
Explaining how the top 100 made it into this year list Eboda said: ‘we define influence as ‘the ability to alter events and change lives.’ A person is eligible for inclusion on the list if they are of African heritage in its widest sense covering the Caribbean and Americas and are resident in the UK,’
A high-powered panel chaired by the British High Commissioner to Australia, Baroness Amos worked with the head of diversity at JP Morgan Carol Lake, renowned actor Kwame Kwei-Armah, head of a private oil company Michael J Prest and Annmarie Dixon-Barrow founder of the Black Excellence Network to compile this year’s list.
Corporate Briton taking diversity seriously
Baroness Scotland of Asthal, QC former attorney general and chief legal officer of the Crown has been ranked number one, with billionaire, Dr Mo Ibrahim, coming in at number tow. Ibrahim is noted for the work programme that he runs to develop the next generation of African leaders.
Vivian Huntm director at the management consultancy McKinsey comes in at number three this year.
Observers have noted that this years publication has been produced in partnership with the global investment securities firm, JP Morgan, and say that this commitment sends out a clear message that corporate Britain are taking diversity and the achievement of black Briton seriously.
Dr Maggie Aderin-Pocock is one of the UK’s top space scientists and holds a degree in physics and a PhD in mechanical engineering. For her PhD project, she developed an instrument for the oil industry that is still used today to test engine oils and additives.
She heads the optical instrument units at the space firm Astruim in Portsmouth and holds a fellowship at the University College London. Her day job involves working in a team of thousands of scientists tackling climate change, but her real passion is for speaking to young people about science. Dr Aderin-Pocock has developed a series of programmes aimed at getting more young people interested in the £7bn space industry. Over the past four years, she has spoken to over 45,000 school children and through Science Innovation, her Stevenage based company.
From Notting Hill Carnival to £30 million pound empire
Businessman and entrepreneur Levi Roots who shot to fame after an appearance on Dragon’s Den which led to an investment of £50,000 from Peter Jones and Richard Farleigh in his Reggae Reggae sauce, is a new entrant to the list.
Outselling Heinz Ketchup in its first year that Reggae Raggea sauce hit supermarket shelves, Roots now heads up a £30 million pound empire and is an inspiration for would be entrepreneurs all around the world.
Poet Dr Benjamin Zephaniah is also a new entrant. He made it to the list for ‘his ability to bring the image and power of poetry to a massive new audience in a way no one else could.’
Zephaniah has written numerous poetry books for children and adults and travelled for almost 30 years performing his poems and music. His work has earned him 13 honorary doctorates and one rejected OBE as well as a appointment as ‘poet in residence’ at the chambers of Michael Mansfield, QC at the time of the Stephen Lawrence case. Zephaniah has also campaigned for justice over the case of his cousin Mikey Powell, a service user who died after he was run over by a police car, restrained by a team of up to eight officers using CS gas and batons after a family member called for help to get him to hospital for treatment.
Inspring and equipping young people to achieve great things
The Power List offers a view of black British society that few are aware exists.
Commentator are correct when they say that these achievement should not be considered remarkable, but rather a indicator of what has been achieved while still acknowledging there is still a lot that needs to be achieved before racial inequalities in the UK will be a thing of the past.
The drive to inspire and educate through this work has led to the Power List team to set up a new charity called the Power List Foundation, which is will be officially launched next year.
With a focus on inspiring and equipping young people to achieve great things there are plans to open an inner city academy to serve the underprivileged and marginalized in society.
‘It’s main objective will be to apply the power of those who have already achieved success to raise the ambitions, and ease the path of those in the community who have not yet realized their full potential,’ Eboda said.
The Power List offers a view of black British society that few are aware exists. Commentator are correct when they say that these achievement should not be considered remarkable, but rather a indicator of what has been achieved while still acknowledging there is still a lot that needs to be achieved before racial inequalities in the UK will be a thing of the past.
The Powerlist is available to buy online from Powerful Media online or by calling www.powerful-media.com, or by calling 020 7868 1970
To read this year’s Power List click here
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