Pioneering VR Surgeon Shafi Ahmed named Top Asian in UK Tech 2017
Surgeon and VR evangelist Professor Shafi Ahmed was last night (6th June 2017) honoured with the Chairman’s Award at the launch of the official list of the Top 100 Asian Stars in UK Tech 2017. He was presented the award by HRH The Duke of York, who established the Pitch@Palace entrepreneurship competition to help tech businesses scale-up globally, and sponsors Simon Collins, Chairman of KPMG; Anil Bhanot OBE, Chairman of the Ethnic Minority Foundation and Dilip Joshi MBE, Chairman of Diversity UK. The list celebrates diversity in the digital sector with a focus on disruptive technologies.
Dilip Joshi MBE, Chairman of Diversity UK said: “Among all the disruptive technology in the marketplace today, for me the most vital is in healthcare technology (HealthTech). Innovations in wearable technology; the use of 3D visualisation techniques and the advent of augmented reality, which to date have been used mainly in the entertainment and games arena, are now helping to make a real difference to people’s lives. If we can use the sum of human knowledge and skill to lead healthier and longer lives, then surely this is the true value of technological advancement. This year’s Chairman’s Award winner, Professor Shafi Ahmed, Co-Founder of Medical Realities, is recognised for his Outstanding Contribution to HealthTech.”
In his acceptance speech, Professor Shafi Ahmed said, “It is a real honour to be part of the 100 Asian stars in Tech 2017 and I am humbled to be awarded the highly prestigious Chairman’s award. Asians throughout the UK have made a significant and an important impact in the rise of the UK as a world leader in tech and I am so pleased that their contribution is recognised by Diversity UK. Medicine is being transformed exponentially and I firmly believe that the use of technology will empower our patients and improve healthcare by making it more productive, efficient and cost effective.”
Top 100 Asian Stars in UK Tech 2017
The official list of the Top 100 Asian Stars in UK Tech 2017 was launched on June 7th by Diversity UK in association with the Ethnic Minority Foundation (EMF), KPMG and NewAsianPost.com and hosted at the KPMG offices at 20 Grosvenor Street, Mayfair, London. Previous Chairman’s Award winners include Dinesh Dhamija, Chairman of Copper Beech Group and previously Founder of ebookers who was recognised in 2015 and Shankar Narayanan, Head of UK & Ireland for Tata Consultancy Services who received the award in 2016.
By highlighting the ground-breaking business models, apps, funding and support networks being created by Asian digital entrepreneurs, the list addresses the perceived lack of diversity in the tech sector and showcases the wealth of talent that is currently growing the British tech scene. The evening also saw a panel of seventeen judges selecting the top five in business, fintech, investors, start-ups and women.
Bina Mehta, KPMG Partner leading engagement with next generation of Asians added : “The growth of the UK Tech sector has been the success story of the millennium with vibrant digital technology clusters across the UK creating jobs and contributing significantly to the economy. The tech sector in the UK stands heads and shoulders above other global ecosystems as being more ethnically diverse and it is important to celebrate this fact. KPMG is pleased to be supporting the Top 100 Asian Stars in UK Tech list for the third year. Innovation and diversity are a key elements of our work with the business community and it is important that we shine a spotlight on the achievements of Asian entrepreneurs and leaders in the tech sector and the vital job they do as role models to the younger generation in the UK.”
The Top 100 Asian Stars in UK Tech list, NewAsianPost.com and Diversity UK are the brainchild of the digital entrepreneur Lopa Patel MBE who has long been recognised as an evangelist for STEM and the tech industries in the UK. Lopa promotes enterprise and skills development, is a prominent advocate for more diversity in the field and in 2015 was the first Asian woman to receive the Queen’s Award for Enterprise Promotion.
About Professor Shafi Ahmed
Co-Founder – Medical Realities
Shafi Ahmed is a surgeon, teacher, futurist, innovator, entrepreneur and an evangelist in augmented and virtual reality. Shafi was born in 1969 in Sylhet District, Bangladesh, and came to the United Kingdom as a child. He studied medicine at King’s College Hospital School of Medicine and completed his basic and higher surgical training in North East London in general surgery. He obtained his Fellowship of the Royal College of Surgeons of England, Edinburgh and Ireland in 2007–2008 and was appointed as a Consultant General, Laparoscopic and Colorectal surgeon to the Royal London Hospital and St Bartholomew’s Hospitals, Barts Health in 2007. He is an Associate Dean at Barts and the London Medical school and is an elected member of the Royal College of Surgeons of England where he leads the international surgical training programme. In May 2017, Shafi was appointed Honorary Professor at the University of Bradford where he was invited to take part in The Cantor Technology Lecture Series.
Shafi has been working on new technologies enhancing surgical education globally. His online videos have been watched thousands of times earning him the accolade of being the most watched surgeon in human history. His company Virtual Medics has developed the use of wearable technology in education and clinical practice. This has allowed the development of a web-based platform to stream live and interactive teaching. On 14 April 2016, he performed the world’s first virtual reality operation recorded and streamed live in 360 degrees which was watched by 55000 people in 142 countries. On 9 December 2016, he performed the world’s first live operation using Snapchat Spectacles where he trained 200 medical students and surgical trainees. The operation has been viewed over 100,000 times.
His Virtual Reality company, Medical Realities has launched the world’s first learning and training module in VR.
He is also Vice-President of Proshanti, a local charity community project to set up a health programme in Bangladesh and teaches and trains surgeons in Dhaka, where he supports Rahetid, a postgraduate surgical training centre.
About Diversity UK
Diversity UK is a think tank to research, advocate and promote new ideas for improving diversity and inclusion in Britain. Diversity UK delivers its objectives by undertaking research, facilitating debates, hosting roundtable meetings, producing white papers and publishing a monthly newsletter focusing on contemporary equality issues. Diversity UK is a registered charity (No: 1155189) in England & Wales.
www.diversityuk.org | @diversityuk
About The Ethnic Minority Foundation
EMF is a national registered charity created in 1999. It is an independent organisation that seeks to strengthen democratic values, reduce poverty and injustice in society, and address the growing inequalities in the world system. EMF’s social justice programme has sought to tackle some of the most difficult issues facing societies today. It has worked to try and protect children from exploitation; safeguard the rights of women and other vulnerable groups; tackle poverty and seek social applications for new technologies. Currently most of its work is focused on social enterprises and providing services and opportunities to local communities.
About KPMG Tech Growth
KPMG Tech Growth is a team based in Shoreditch, London focussed on helping early stage and high growth technology companies succeed through providing business advice and more specific tax, accounting, fundraising and cyber security related support. The team supports companies at all stages of their development – from those with just an idea to those looking ahead to a listing. They host a range of industry and networking events for the startup community in London and support a number of startup accelerator programmes as coaches and/ or mentors.
www.kpmgtechgrowth.co.uk | @KPMGTechGrowth
About KPMG
KPMG LLP, a UK limited liability partnership, is a subsidiary of KPMG Europe LLP and operates from 22 offices across the UK with approximately 11,500 partners and staff. KPMG is a global network of professional firms providing Audit, Tax, and Advisory services. It operates in 155 countries and has 155,000 professionals working in member firms around the world. The independent member firms of the KPMG network are affiliated with KPMG International Cooperative a Swiss entity. Each KPMG firm is a legally distinct and separate entity and describes itself as such.
www.kpmg.co.uk | @kpmguk
About NewAsianPost.com
NewAsianPost.com is a news, business and entertainment website for the South Asian diaspora. With an ambition to usher in a new era of high quality citizen journalism, NewAsianPost.com focuses on the ‘untold stories and unheard voices’ of the community. It publishes the ‘Asian Power Couples Hot 100’ and ‘Top 100 Asian Stars in UK Tech’ lists.
www.newasianpost.com | @newasianpost
