Parliamentary BAME leaders programme
Participants from across the country are this week embarking on the Pathway to Success Leadership and Development programme pilot, a ground-breaking new initiative working to equip BAME individuals with the tools and knowledge required to stand for political office alongside other leading figures from across the UK. Participants have been selected based on their proven leadership skills and will undertake a week of intensive coaching to build their confidence and familiarity with political settings.
The programme aims to send out the message that diverse leadership is essential in politics and civil society, while creating a thriving parliamentary democracy. Run by The House of Commons and Operation Black Vote (OBV) in collaboration with Oxford University's Magdalen College and Blavatnik School of Government and Lloyds Banking Group, the programme will offer participants first-hand experience of Parliament and an enhanced understanding of the political landscape, as well as the skills to take their first step towards a career in frontline politics.
Participants are staying in Magdalen College, Oxford from Monday 9th September 2019 and will visit UK Parliament on Tuesday 10th September 2019 to learn more about Parliament, what it's like to be an MP and how to become a political candidate. The Blavatnik School of Government has developed a comprehensive programme to build an in-depth understanding of major political, civic and business ideas through discussion, group activities and input sessions throughout the week.
Those selected to take part in the programme are:
Sheun Oke, a leadership and confidence expert and former Council candidate in Dartford
Michelle Cook, a Sheffield Councillor
Nadeem Ahmed, a Wakefield Councillor
Shaz Nawaz, a chartered accountant and Peterborough City Councillor
Cynthia Barker, Deputy Mayor for Hertsmere and Borough Councillor
Alex Yip, Birmingham Councillor and Shadow Cabinet Member for Children's Wellbeing and parliamentary candidate
Waseem Zaffar, Birmingham Councillor and Cabinet Member for Transport and Environment
Wasim Ali, Sandwell Councillor and Cabinet Member for Resources and Core Services.
Chrishan Kamalan, a qualified solicitor working at the National Assembly for Wales
Damanjeet Nagra, Engagement Manager at Halifax, Lloyds Banking Group
Moawia Bin-Sufyan, JP Magistrate on the Cardiff Magistrate Courts Bench and Investment Director
Alisa Flemming, statutory Lead Member for Children Services, Education and Lifelong Learning and Councillor for the London Borough of Croydon.
Amina Ali, Councillor from Tower Hamlets and Cabinet Member for Adults, Health & Well-being.
Anntoinette Bramble, Statutory Deputy Mayor of Hackney and Cabinet for Education, Children's Services and Young People.
Brian Channer, Parliamentary Assistant for Lewisham East and creator of development and engagement programmes for young BAME people.
Deeba Syeed, a solicitor, political activist and women's rights advocate.
Denzil Johnson, Barrister of The Honourable Society of The Inner Temple
Harini Iyengar, Governing Bencher of Inner Temple and a candidate for the London Assembly election in 2020
Katrina Ffrench, Chief Executive of StopWatch and member of the Violent Crime Prevention Board
Laks Mann, a serving Police Officer for the Metropolitan Police Service, and founder of community start-up Gaysians
Margaret Greer, National Race Equality Officer for UNISON and Councillor for the London Borough of Enfield
Mete Coban, Councillor in the London Borough of Hackney and Chief Executive of My Life My Say.
Noorjahan Begum, Commissioner of Mental Health services in Newham.
Ozzie Clarke-Binns, Head of Innovation and Consultancy for University College London
Reggie Nelson, Graduate Analyst at Legal and General Investment Management
Sandra Stewart, professional with senior management experience within public, private and not for profit arenas
Sonika Sidhu, former Councillor for the London Borough of Ealing, currently working for the Local Government Association
Sunny Lambe, Councillor for the London Borough of Southwark
Yuan Mao, Civil Servant in the Department for Business, Energy and Climate Change
Zohreen Ahmed, GP in South London
About the House of Commons
The House of Commons has committed to increasing the representation of BAME (Black, Asian and Ethnic-Minority) people within its workforce and in Parliament more widely. Through a comprehensive Diversity and Inclusion Strategy it aims to tackle under-representation at senior levels in the House of Commons by 2022. As part of the strategy, it has committed to back the Pathway to Success Leadership and Development programme pilot.
About Operation Black Vote (OBV)
Operation Black Vote is Europe's leading BAME organisation that has a proven history of nurturing BAME political and civic talent. Alumni of previous Operation Black Vote campaigns are now running big cities and boroughs, becoming Members of Parliament, Ministers and Shadow Ministers.
About Magdalen College, University of Oxford
As one of the University of Oxford's constituent Colleges, Magdalen has a strong commitment to academic excellence and diversity. Magdalen's outreach and access strategy seeks to increase the diversity of students both within the College and across the University. A strategic priority of Magdalen's outreach and access work is to redress the under-representation of BAME students, and black students in particular at Oxford.
The Pathway to Success Leadership and Development programme is supported by a number of Magdalen alumni who will act as mentors to the programme participants over the coming year.
About The University of Oxford Blavatnik School of Government
The University of Oxford's Blavatnik School of Government believes in the importance of diversity in government, so governments better reflect the people they represent. They derive governance and public policy lessons from countries all around the world and have a strongly multinational student body, of which more than 80% are scholarship-funded. Around two-thirds of the School's students, past and present, are BAME.
About Lloyds Banking Group
Quote from Fiona Cannon, Lloyds Banking Group Responsible Business, Sustainability & Inclusion Director: "We know that diverse and inclusive leadership is good for business and are pleased to support the Pathway to Success Leadership and Development programme to increase the representation of B.A.M.E people in politics. As part of our on-going commitment to help Britain prosper, we have set our own goals to increase B.A.M.E. representation across our whole workforce, as well as within senior management. We recognise that our ability to reflect and understand our customer base, and harness different perspectives is key to our success."
In 2018, Lloyds Banking Group became the first FTSE 100 Company to set public goals to increase B.A.M.E. representation across the total workforce and within the senior management population. This includes a commitment to increase representation of B.A.M.E colleagues to 10% of all roles and 8% of senior management by 2020. To support this the Group has:
Developed an "Authentic Leadership Programme" for BAME senior managers, who have the potential to reach executive level, allowing colleagues to express their true identity.
Created bespoke career development programmes for colleagues in middle management.
Among first signatories to the Government's Race At Work Charter and are already meeting all the commitments.
