Influential Black leaders including Head of the International Slavery Museum Paul Reid join Edward Enninful in receiving honours at this year’s Powerlist Celebration of Black Excellence Awards
Powerlist Awards where hosted at London’s Grosvenor House Hotel on Friday 27th October. They celebrated the
most influential Black Britons including fashion designer Ozwald Boateng, actors Adjoah Andoh and David Harewood, as well as the head of the International Slavery Museum, Paul Reid. They where all honoured alongside Edward Enninful OBE, Editor-in-Chief of British Vogue and the European editorial director of Condé Nast, who was recognised as this year’s most influential Black person.
The Powerlist was launched in 2006 to showcase Black role models to young people. It is now regarded as the leading authority on issues of Black influence., The Powerlist, in partnership with J.P. Morgan, honours incredible men and women across a wide range of industries, including business, science, technology, and the arts. This year’s event will have a ‘Coming of Age’ theme as The Powerlist magazine celebrates its 18th edition.
In addition to the Top 100 Powerlistees, the award ceremony honoured 11 outstanding individuals for excellence in their areas of expertise.
The PwC Purpose Award which honours someone who consistently lives out ‘purpose’ and demonstrates solving societal problems and helping drive change in their community, was awarded to Dr. Sylvia Bartley, Neuroscientist, Health Equality Leader, Chief of Staff at JSI.
Paul Reid, Head of the International Slavery Museum, was honoured with the Meta Community Award for significantly contributing to their community through passion and selflessness.
The 2024 Executive Leadership Council Executive of the Year Award was won by Vanessa Kingori, OBE, Chief Business Officer at Condé Nast Britain and Vogue European Business Adviser, for showing excellence in a corporate setting from a leadership, performance, and progress perspective.
Paulette Simpson, CBE, Deputy CEO, Jamaica National Bank and Executive Director, The Voice Media Group, was awarded the top accolade in the Salesforce Woman of the Year Award – recognising a woman who has demonstrated excellence in leadership.
Actors Adjoa Andoh and David Harewood jointly won the Entertainer of the Year Award which 
honours the highest standards in the entertainment profession.
The BONI Banking Professional of the Year Award, which recognises a banking professional who shows outstanding performance and embraces innovation, was won by Kene Ejikeme, Partner, Head of Multi Asset Platform Sales and High Touch Execution in EMEA at Goldman Sachs.
Micro-Fresh International and its CEO Byron Dixon OBE, won the BP Business of the Year Award, which honours a black-owned business that demonstrates growth potential, innovation, community engagement, strong management and leadership.
For the London Stock Exchange Group Global Executive Leader Award, which recognises an outstanding leader based outside the UK, Rene Awambeng, Director and Head of Client Relations at Afreximbank, Cairo, scooped first place.
Mastercard Lifetime Contribution Award, which recognises the highest level and personified excellence, was awarded to Fashion Designer Ozwald Boateng OBE.
Powerlist 2024 Number One, voted by The Powerlist’s judging panel, was awarded to Edward Enninful OBE, Editor-in-Chief of British Vogue and European Editorial Director of Condé Nast.