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Jillian Haslam (born October 4, 1970) is best known as a philanthropist, supporting particularly the people of India, where she herself grew up. After suffering from malnutrition and abuse in the slums of Calcutta, she eventually built her career in banking in Delhi and the UK. She is the author of a book called Indian-English which is based on her life growing up in Calcutta and later Delhi. The book is soon to be made into a film about her childhood and subsequent progress to become a successful business woman.

Early Life
Haslam was born in Calcutta in 1970, the second eldest daughter of Roland and Margaret Haslam. At the time her father was a mechanical engineer, but he had previously served in the British Army in India. Eventually she became one of eight siblings; another four had died as infants suffering from malnutrition. Her family was in a constant state of near starvation and all were victims of abuse wherever they lived within the worst of the slums in Calcutta. When she finished school she moved to Delhi to start work.

Career
Haslam moved to Delhi in 1987 where she worked for a local export company before securing a more senior role with American Express. In 1995 she moved to the Bank of America where, alongside her role as Executive Assistant to the CEO, she was made President of the banks Charity and Diversity Network in India; a role which won her several global awards, including the International Volunteer Award in 1998. She then migrated to London and helped her siblings to join her. Despite their long-held wishes, her parents died before they too could make the move back to their home country.

She continued her career in banking in the UK with Royal Bank of Scotland, where she won the Individual Achievement Award in 2008. She has now left banking to spend more time as a charity worker and fundraiser whilst working as a coach, trainer and speaker.

Charitable Work
Today Haslam is a Trustee on the board of Remedia Trust. Remedia is a non-profit organization in India that seeks to provide support for, and the betterment of, people living below the poverty line. She works extensively in India and has opened the National Speaking Academy to help young people speak to tell their stories. She has also established the Jillian Haslam English Speaking Academy to help people with the language to enable them to find better jobs. She runs five charities supporting children, the aged, youth, women in need and the disabled.

Author
Her book 'Indian-English' details her childhood and early adult life with her Anglo-Indian family, part of the British minority who, through lack of resources, were forced to stay behind after Indian Independence in 1947.

The book chronicles her troubled and impoverished upbringing as she, her siblings and parents, all struggled to survive. Haslam’s memoir charts her earliest recollections and how their lives were often saved by the poorest of the poor. The story speaks of her persistence and determination to overcome the horrors of her childhood to achieve both personal and business success and to care for her family. The book is now going to be made into a film with a screenplay by Neil O'Neil. She is currently working on her second book, The Irrepressible Mind.

Awards
In 2012 Haslam was shortlisted for the Asian Women of Achievement Award (Social & Humanitarian category) in recognition of her business achievements and charity contributions. The award is presented annually to Asian women who have been outstanding in their contributions to business, entrepreneurship, social and humanitarian work.

In 2015 Haslam was presented with a True Legend Award by Telegraph of Calcutta and Seagrams 100 Scotch.