South Asian Youth Action Announces 2025 Annual Gala Honoring Distinguished Leaders

South Asian Youth Action (SAYA), a community organization based in New York, revealed plans on November 25 for its 2025 Annual Gala. The event is scheduled to take place on May 10 next year at Pier Sixty.

The gala will honor two prominent South Asians: Amna Nawaz, the co-anchor of PBS NewsHour, and Beesham A. Seecharan, the Chief Operating Officer, General Counsel, and Client Advisor at Matthews South. According to SAYA’s press release, the Annual Gala is a celebration of individuals who leverage their influence and resources to create a meaningful impact in society. The organization described Nawaz and Seecharan as “exceptional leaders whose work exemplifies the values we hold dear.”

Amna Nawaz, recognized for her exceptional journalism, has had an impressive career. She became the co-anchor of PBS NewsHour in April 2018 after serving as an anchor and correspondent at ABC News, where she led the network’s livestream coverage of the 2016 presidential election and anchored breaking news events. Nawaz also worked as a foreign correspondent and Islamabad Bureau Chief at NBC News. Her groundbreaking efforts include founding and managing NBC’s Asian America platform in 2014, which aimed to highlight stories from the nation’s fastest-growing and diverse communities. She continues to contribute to NBC News and MSNBC.

In 2019, Nawaz made history as the first Asian American and the first Muslim American to moderate a presidential debate. Her accomplishments include receiving four prestigious Peabody Awards for her team’s coverage on PBS NewsHour. These accolades recognized significant reporting milestones: coverage from Israel in 2024 after the October 7 Hamas attack, reporting from Uvalde, Texas, in 2023 following a devastating school shooting, live reporting outside the U.S. Capitol during the January 6, 2021, insurrection, and an in-depth exploration of global plastic pollution in 2019.

Beesham A. Seecharan, a distinguished legal and financial expert, joined Matthews South in 2021. Matthews South is an independent advisory and software firm that provides unbiased, independent advice, enabling clients to navigate the capital markets effectively. Before this role, Seecharan held senior positions at prominent institutions, including Goldman Sachs, where he was a Managing Director and Senior Counsel for Global Markets. He also practiced law at JPMorgan Chase, specializing in equity derivatives.

Seecharan began his legal journey at the renowned law firm Davis Polk & Wardwell, working in its New York and London offices. Over his career spanning more than two decades, he has advised on and structured transactions valued at over $500 billion for global issuers and shareholders. His extensive expertise has been instrumental in shaping capital markets strategies.

Seecharan’s contributions extend beyond his professional roles. He chairs the Board at Sakhi for South Asian Survivors and is an Advisory Council Member at the Center for Public Research and Leadership. He has also actively supported various nonprofit organizations, including serving on the Board of Directors at SAYA.

Academically accomplished, Seecharan holds an A.B. in International Relations and an M.S. in Mathematics from Stanford University. He earned his J.D. and a Parker School Certificate in International and Comparative Law from Columbia Law School.

The 2025 Annual Gala promises to highlight the remarkable contributions of these leaders who embody the values of empowerment, leadership, and dedication to community upliftment. Through the event, SAYA aims to inspire and foster a continued commitment to meaningful social change.