Congratulations to OR Zerbanoo Gifford (No.1, 1962-1967), who has received the Emmeline Pankhurst Award for Woman of Achievement.

At the Woman of the Year celebrations at the Manchester City Stadium, on 9th October, in front of over 400 exceptional women in all fields of endeavour, Zerbanoo was presented with the Emmeline Pankhurst Award for her outstanding contribution to human rights, equality and social justice. She received a standing ovation after speaking about the importance of gratitude and the lessons from her transformative near death experience. One female politician present told a BBC reporter that Zerbanoo had helped bring clarity to her life.

The award is the latestin a career spanning decades of activism. Zerbanoo founded the ASHA Centre, a charity for youth empowerment, and is the author of seven books.

You can read more from Zerbanoo in our Summer 2026 Roedeanian magazine on page 27, where she shares her motivations and lessons for her work supporting human rights.

You can read the e-Roedeanian by clicking here.