For Jabeer Butt OBE, the Chief Executive of the Race Equality Foundation, the journey into equality and diversity work was never abstract, it was deeply personal.
“I grew up regularly experiencing racism and racial inequality,” he reflects, recalling not just his own experiences but those of his family. From the way employers treated his mother to the barriers his siblings faced in education, inequality was ever-present. A violent attack by a group of skinheads became a defining moment. “That realisation has driven me in everything I do,” he says, describing how it shaped his commitment to social justice.
Today, Jabeer leads an organisation focused not just on identifying inequality, but on solving it. His approach is pragmatic and outcomes-driven. While many organisations highlight injustice, he is clear about his priorities, “The purpose of our work and research is not simply to describe problems… what matters to us is identifying what can be done differently.” This emphasis on solutions defines the Foundation’s work, from nationally recognised programmes like ‘Strengthening Families’, ‘Strengthening Communities’ to improving how ethnicity data is used to better understand health disparities.
At the heart of this work is measurable progress. Jabeer is not interested in empty rhetoric or performative commitments. “We don’t want to be sitting here in five or ten years saying nothing has improved,” he says. “We want to be able to point to clear examples and say, ‘This is better. This has changed.’” It’s a vision grounded in accountability, where success is defined by real-world impact rather than intention.
Yet progress, as Jabeer points out, is rarely straightforward. One of the more complex lessons he highlights is the role of representation. For years, increasing diversity in leadership was seen as a key solution to inequality. While that shift has happened to some extent, its impact has been uneven. “What we’ve come to realise is that lived experience alone doesn’t guarantee change,” he explains. Representation matters, but only when it is coupled with a commitment to equity. “Those who reach positions of authority [must] carry with them a strong commitment to social justice,” he adds, stressing the responsibility that comes with leadership.
The gap between knowledge and action is stark in healthcare, Jabeer Butt argues, drawing on his work with the NHS. “If we don’t recognise that racism exists and persists, we won’t look for it, and we certainly won’t act to address it.” He points to the COVID-19 vaccine rollout, where policies overlooked demographic realities, ultimately widening disparities, and maternity care, where despite proven models for minority mothers remain underused. progress has stalled. “Even when we know what works, we often fail to implement it,” he says.
He challenges how inequality is framed, “More often than not, these disparities are not driven by individual behaviour, but by the structures and systems around people.” Yet, time and again, blame is placed on communities themselves and this misdiagnosis, he suggests, blocks reform and allows inequality to endure.
Debates on diversity are increasingly polarised, but Jabeer rejects claims of “anti-white discrimination,” pointing to the continued dominance of white individuals in positions of power, calling them political tactics that create division and distract from persistent structural inequalities requiring urgent attention.
Despite the challenges, Jabeer’s outlook remains focused and determined. His work is not driven by ideology, but by a belief in practical change. “Ultimately, the goal is progress,” he says, a simple yet powerful statement that captures his approach.
