On Friday, 16 May, Asian Voice, in collaboration with the Royal Air Force, hosted the fourth edition of the Be The Change panel discussion on Diversity and Inclusion at the Terrace Pavillion in the House of Commons.
In her welcome address, Rupanjana Dutta, Managing Editor of Asian Voice, highlighted the discrimination and marginalisation faced by the British Asian community - particularly the first generation - and celebrated their progress in political representation, social influence, and contributions to business, academia, the professions, and the arts.
The event’s host, Navendu Mishra, Labour MP for Stockport, applauded CB Patel, Chairman and Publisher/Editor of Asian Voice and Gujarat Samachar, for his tireless advocacy on behalf of the diaspora. Acknowledging that discrimination and abuse were still widespread as recently as a decade ago, he remarked, “We have made a lot of progress.” However, he also cautioned that “progress is fragile,” emphasising the need for continued efforts to safeguard and promote diversity and inclusion.
Group Captain Gareth Taylor, Officer Commanding, Recruit & Select at the RAF, emphasised the need for diversity not only at the representative level but also in leadership. He remarked, “It’s wonderful that we're having this conversation at the Houses of Parliament - at the heart of our country and our government.
“The Royal Air Force continues to recognise the importance of inclusivity and diversity. This year, we’ve seen a 12% increase in ethnic minority recruitment, thanks to the outstanding efforts of our personnel engaging with communities and showcasing the quality of our work. Inclusivity enhances our operational effectiveness - it allows us to think differently, approach problems in new ways, and stay ahead through the strength of diverse perspectives.”
Panel discussion: Navigating diversity with identity and purpose
Moderator Jasvir Singh CBE, a leading community activist and co-founder of South Asian Heritage Month was the moderator for the panel which consisted of Vinita Marwaha Madill, space engineer, advocate for women in STEM and Founder of the award-winning global platform, Rocket Women; Faheem Khan, the founder of Future Leaders UK, a social mobility and social change organisation; and Priyaneet Kainth, a global diversity, equity and inclusion leader who lives with an invisible incurable disability.
The panel shared their personal perspectives on diversity and inclusion. For Vinita, it meant having relatable role models who looked like her - something she actively fosters through Rocket Women. Faheem described diversity as “standing out, not fitting in,” and urged people to take pride in every part of their identity. For Priyaneet, it was about acceptance and showing up as your whole self, noting that “it also involves a lot of self-care and considerable work.”
The panel also reflected on some of their personal challenges. Priyaneet shared how her disability led to assumptions that she would never amount to anything, and how the invisibility of her condition often caused others to question its legitimacy. She emphasized that these perceptions impact many lives.
Discussing the current challenges to diversity and inclusion, Faheem commended the Labour government for their commitment to diversity but also iterated that we cannot take the progress for granted. “Let us not become complacent”, he said. He also highlighted that while it is good to mark the progress in statistics and numbers, it should also be about positive experience.
Faheem emphasized that there’s still work to be done, particularly in supporting social mobility for those from marginalised backgrounds. He asked, “If we're not valuing talent, hard work, and commitment when helping young people progress, then what are we valuing?”
Vinita suggested that better social mobility can be promoted through networking groups and scholarships, which open up more opportunities. Priyaneet, meanwhile, emphasized the importance of encouraging skill-based learning.
Audience interaction: The many faces of change
Interacting with the audience, the panel examined how real change can be created, sustained, and supported by both individuals and institutions.
Faheem opened by asserting that while meritocracy remains essential, the principle must be applied in a context that accounts for unequal starting points. It’s not about handing out jobs based on background, he said, but about ensuring everyone has a fair shot to begin with. The playing field is far from level when access to quality education, mentoring, and opportunity is often dictated by socio-economic status or ethnicity.
Jasvir shared a personal reflection on how positive discrimination had helped him in the past. He recalled a time when a senior executive, in a room full of potential candidates, said he wanted to appoint gay a man of colour as it ticked two boxes and was transparent about that decision. While such statements can be controversial, he appreciated the honesty. There’s merit, he said, in being open about redressing imbalance, especially when followed by supportive structures. Vineeta added that positive action must be understood not as a handout, but as an enabler.
In discussing how to keep going in the face of increasing resistance to DEI efforts, Priyaneet encouraged people to focus on their own sphere of influence. Change doesn’t always have to be seismic. “If you help one person,” she said, “that’s still progress.”
As the discussion turned to what individuals can do, the panellists offered simple but powerful suggestions, all underlining the value of genuine alliances, shared experiences and support that is active, informed, and consistent, and not just symbolic.
When asked what one action could make a difference, Priyaneet suggested creating more entry-level roles and apprenticeships where formal degrees aren't the sole measure of merit. Faheem advocated for reinstating youth provision funding - such as school meals, youth clubs, and mentoring - which can positively shape lives from an early age. Vinita emphasized the need to introduce STEM education earlier, especially for girls, to prevent potential from being cut off too soon.
Chairman ABPL, CB Patel concluded the discussion, noting that it had been one of the finest panels on diversity and inclusion: thoughtful, open, and willing to agree as well as disagree. He thanked Navendu Mishra and the RAF personnel for their partnership and efforts. He said Britain has always been self-corrective as a country, so most worries around its politics are unnecessary. He added, “The diversity efforts are ongoing, but Rome was not built in a day, and it is not yet finished. The work goes on.”
The panel discussion was followed by networking, drinks and canapés.
