Asian Business Chamber announces appointment of two new vice presidents

The Asian Business Chamber of Commerce announced the appointment of two new vice-presidents during its Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Wednesday April 15.

Chef Daksha Parekh, operations director at Mahirs Experience, and Sunil Kumar Mahay, founder of Vasu Legal, have been confirmed as vice-presidents.

Monica Ghai, legal director at Shakespeare Martineau, will continue as the president.

She joined the ABCC committee four years ago before being elected as president in October 2025.

During her tenure as both president and vice president, she has led several initiatives including the ABCC’s Women’s Business Network and South Asian Heritage Month campaign.

The other committee members are Sartaj Gill (Housman Consulting), Muhanid Ali (EY), Trina Tiernan (Joseph Chamberlain College), Zahir Ahmed (MIA Properties), Ann Powell (Smartworks Birmingham), Satpal Singh (Allica Bank) and Aulfat Bi (Azets).

Daksha Parekh is a healthy cooking chef, plant-based educator, plant-forward hospitality consultant, and operations director at Mahirs Experience.

Her work is focused on giving back to her community and industry through education, advocacy, and conscious, healthy food leadership.

Rooted in the belief that food, when chosen and cooked correctly, has the power to heal and transform, Daksha teaches people how to prevent, reverse, and manage lifestyle diseases through mindful cooking, practical nutrition, and real-world skills.

Daksha Parekh said: “It is a real honour to be appointed as vice president of the ABCC and to join a committee that is so passionate about supporting and championing our business community.

“My work has always been rooted in giving back, whether through education, wellbeing or creating more conscious approaches within the hospitality industry.

“I’m looking forward to bringing that perspective into this role and working collaboratively to support businesses, share knowledge and create meaningful opportunities across the network.

“The Chamber plays a vital role in connecting people and ideas, and I’m excited to contribute to its continued growth and impact in the years ahead.”

Sunil Kumar Mahay is a dedicated immigration solicitor with over a decade of experience guiding individuals and businesses from around the world through the complexities of UK immigration law.

Since qualifying in March 2013, Sunil has handled a wide range of personal and business cases - helping people and families navigate challenging immigration processes.

Sunil said: “I’m delighted to take on the role of vice president at the Asian Business Chamber of Commerce.

“The Chamber plays a vital role in supporting and connecting Asian businesses, and I’m excited to contribute to building an even stronger, more inclusive and dynamic business community.”

ABCC president Monica Ghai said: “The past year has been a vibrant and impactful one for our community, marked by real progress for the ABCC. The AGM offers a valuable moment to reflect on that journey and set our direction for the year ahead.

“Our festival events, from Diwali and Eid to Vaisakhi, have been a highlight, bringing people together in a spirit of unity and reminding us that we are building more than a business network.

“I am also proud of the continued growth of our Asian Women in Business network, which is creating meaningful opportunities for women to connect and lead.

“Looking ahead, our focus is on collaboration and delivering tangible value for our members. Through a series of roundtables and ongoing engagement, we want to ensure the Chamber continues to evolve in a way that is relevant, responsive and truly impactful for the businesses we represent.

“I also look forward to working closely with the committee to highlight the strength and contribution of Asian businesses within the regional landscape, ensuring their voices continue to be recognised and celebrated.”

Meanwhile, Birmingham Hospice has been selected as the ABCC’s chosen charity for the coming year.