On Monday, 13 May, Asian Voice in association with the Royal Air Force hosted the 3rd edition of Be The Change panel discussion on Diversity & Inclusion.
Welcoming the audience Rupanjana Dutta Managing Editor of Asian Voice stressed the importance of embracing diversity and inclusion and mentioned the trailblazing contribution of CB Patel, Chairman and Editor-in-Chief of Asian Voice and Gujarat Samachar towards the cause.
The event was hosted by Seema Malhotra, Labour and Cooperative Member of Parliament for Feltham and Heston and Shadow Minister for Skills and Further Education.
Seema acknowledged the work that Asian Voice and Gujarat Samachar have been doing for over 52 years towards reshaping the narrative around diversity and inclusion. She highlighted the importance of representation across society, including the economy, government, public life, and armed forces which she said was required for making well-informed decisions and for the prosperity of society.
Representing the RAF, Group Captain Taylor highlighted the need to not only voice commitment to diversity and inclusion but to take appropriate action to support them.
He further said, “Diversity brings national security, operational ability, and the strength of our nation to the forefront. We draw from the incredible talent that exists across the whole force, whether it’s regular reserve, civil service, or even our contractors. We are one force and one team, dedicated to the security of our nation.”
Highlights from the panel discussion
Mamta Saha, a BSc and MSc in Occupational Psychology whose consultancy specialises in fostering conscious inclusivity, moderated the panel. The panel consisted of Lubna Shuja, the first Asian, first Muslim, and seventh female President of the Law Society; Jasvir Singh CBE, a leading community activist and co-founder of South Asian Heritage Month; and Yasmin Sheikh a TEDx speaker, diversity trainer and coach, and founder of Diverse Matters.
Yasmin shared her experience with disability,and highlighted the need to overcome attitudinal barriers rather than physical ones. Lubna recounted challenges in her legal career, including gender bias and lack of diversity in senior positions and the judiciary. Jasvir explained the motivation behind South Asian Heritage Month and its aim to celebrate South Asian history and culture.
Yasmin highlighted the social model of disability which she said shifts the focus from 'fixing' the individual to removing societal barriers. Jasvir stressed the importance of true allyship and having difficult conversations to drive meaningful change. He also said that as the reach of South Asian Heritage Month expands, he would like to further the conversation on diversity. He urged the audience to engage, educate and reflect on how they could contribute to promoting south Asian heritage.
Lubna shared her the notion that "if you can't see it, you can't be it", and said that her own journey demonstrated that such a notion is practical and achievable. Yasmin said that conversations like the ones at “Be The Change” should be part of a regular discourse rather than an afterthought. She added that such conversations should influence all aspects of society.
Audience reflection on diversity and inclusion
Responding to a member of the audience Lubna stressed the value of diversity at senior levels, citing the variety of perspectives it brings. Mamta added that ethnic minorities often feel overlooked prompting them to seek alternatives.
Addressing a question about strongly held cultural beliefs within the South Asian community which can often act as barriers to change Jasveer stressed the need to normalise difficult conversations within the community and challenge deep rooted prejudice to bring about transformation.
The panellists also responded to comments from the audience about lack of South Asian representation in sports leagues and, perhaps, for the community to look within for answers. The discussion also touched upon the need for highlighting diversity and inclusivity among children.
CB Patel Chairman and Editor of Asian Voice and Gujarat Samachar concluded the discussion by noting that despite several hurdles the UK had come a long way in promoting diversity and inclusion across society. This, he said, can be seen in the significant participation of South Asians in the progress and prosperity of the nation. He also referred to the leadership role of women in the history and success of Asian Voice and Gujarat Samachar. CB, as he is fondly known, delivered the vote of thanks. The panel discussion was followed by networking, drinks and canapes.
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Group Captain Gareth Taylor, RAF
“It was a tremendous honour to attend the ‘Be the Change’ reception on 13th May, hosted in an incredibly fitting location, the Palace of Westminster. Throughout the evening, I continually reflected upon the philosophy of Mahatma Gandhi and looking inside oneself to drive change for the benefit of others - as a member of the Royal Air Force this is something that resonates when I consider my own understanding of one of our four Core Values - ‘Service’. Serving others is something we demonstrate daily and take great pride in doing so. My congratulations go out to the organising committee for a successful initiative, and reception.”
Squadron Leader Amir Khan, RAF
“It was great to see so many likeminded and inspiring people at the event. I listened with interest to the panel discussion and managed to speak to many in the audience. From an idea 3 years ago with Cecil Soans, Asian Voice to the culmination of the success of events like “Be the Change” is encouraging. I would like to thank Mr CB Patel and the staff at Asian Voice for their continued support. The RAF continues to broaden our appeal by expanding interest to a wider demographic audience and providing the opportunity for social mobility through extensive career pathways.”
Seema Malhotra MP
Promoting the agenda on diversity both here and globally is crucial. I've always been incredibly proud of the work done by Asian Voice, because it has made an outstanding contribution as a community newspaper. It serves as a strong voice for change, covering community issues and national news while building a bridge between Britain and India, documenting our nation's progress over the past 52 years.
Friends, we know that representation matters. It matters in our economy, politics, public life, armed forces, and in how we access and share power. It influences how we build and create our shared future together. Diversity of experiences and voices leads to the best decisions being made. Research shows that diversity and inclusion in business lead to stronger growth and greater prosperity. Opening doors, creating pathways, seeing role models, and encouraging growth show the strength that comes from our diversity which inspires and motivates future generations to push boundaries and succeed in ways they never imagined.
Last week, as the Shadow Minister for Skills, I travelled to Australia and Singapore to meet with leaders about their strategies for skills and how they are preparing for the future. Our country must do the same because inclusion won't happen by chance, inclusion happens by design. This is why we should be concerned about dropping apprenticeship numbers for those under 24. It's also concerning that while 40% of apprenticeship starts used to come from lower socio-economic backgrounds, now 40% are from higher socio-economic backgrounds.
Policy changes can negatively impact inclusion unless we plan for it. Diversity is fundamentally about fairness, inclusion, and social and economic justice. Harnessing the power of our diversity in all its forms is vital to the success of our nation and the world. In an increasingly divided world, culture and education play an even more important role in building inclusion, valuing diversity, and celebrating differences… Despite the progress we've made, society still has a long way to go to be inclusive across the country and to see diverse representation at all levels.
Statistics show that around 10% of court judges and about 12.5% of tribunal judges in England and Wales are from minority ethnic backgrounds. Around 10% of our armed forces and 10% of the House of Commons are from minority ethnic backgrounds. To be representative, these numbers should be almost double. As the first female Punjabi Member of Parliament elected to the House of Commons, I see relatively few people from minority ethnic groups in top positions in FTSE 100 companies—only about six chairs, seven CEOs, and nine CFOs according to the latest statistics.
Encouraging aspiration is crucial, but we must also change our systems, the way our organizations operate, and tackle discrimination to ensure fair rules. Inclusion doesn't happen by chance. It's our responsibility to look out for the next generation, identifying those with the potential to be future business, political, academic, armed forces, and community leaders, and ensuring they have visible pathways…
We must think through the promise we want to make for Britain and the world of tomorrow. Britain is stronger with its diversity. Our society and economy are enriched. Global Britain is stronger with the links we bring through our diaspora communities, bridging with our home nations, and nurturing a shared heritage together.
I wish you every success for tonight's panel discussion and debate. I thank you for your passion and knowledge on this important issue, and I commend Asian Voice for its leadership. I wish you many more years of success.
Mamta Saha
This forward-thinking event was a breath of fresh air. The insights, openness and vulnerability shared by the panellist were endearing and simultaneously profound. The audience was excellent and their questions highlighted the necessity to continue bringing the issues of D&I to the fore - particularly within the Asian community. Thank you for giving me the honour to host the panel.
Yasmin Sheikh
I loved taking part in the panel discussion "Be The Change" in the iconic House of Commons. There were some powerful stories from the panellists regarding inclusion or lack of inclusion in society, which resonated with audience members based on the level of engagement after the event and the thoughtful questions which they asked. We also shared practical tips and takeaways for the audience to feel empowered and hopeful for the future.
Lubna Shuja
It was a privilege to be part of this distinguished panel. We can all ‘Be The Change’ we want to see. We only need one person to take small steps and start a trail which will become a path for others to follow. I am confident that change is happening and will continue at pace. It was great to see so many people from across the community attending this event and enthusiastically participating in discussions on what they would do to contribute to making that change happen faster.
Jasvir Singh CBE
It was such a pleasure to be part of the panel alongside trailblazers making their marks in the world of equality and diversity. Getting a chance to move away from buzzwords and talk about it from a personal perspective was so important, as it helped to humanise the issues being discussed. It's one thing to talk about women breaking glass ceilings or being more aware of access issues for differently abled people, but quite another when hearing personal stories of gender discrimination, exclusion, and the day-to-day struggles of someone being in a wheelchair. I was also glad to be able to talk about issues that have affected me over the years, such as how my sexuality was weaponised by extremists, as well as how my family has been so loving towards me and my husband. My one takeaway from the event was the importance of actively listening to what others have to say. That is probably the best way to ensure greater inclusivity in wider society. Congratulations to Asian Voice, the RAF and Seema Malhotra MP for coming together to host such a wonderful evening.
