Get to know our UKRN members: FCA’s Manawar Saeed

Have you ever wondered who works in some of our member regulators?

Over the past few months, we have introduced the UKRN team and our expert panel but we want to extend this series to our members introducing you to some of the colleagues from our membership that make regulation not only an attractive career choice but do the roles that make regulation possible.

In this series, we have chosen to focus on colleagues that often voluntarily provide their time to staff networks improving equity, diversity and inclusion in their own organisations.

We hope this series of articles allows you to get to know them better.

In this article, we are featuring Manawar Saeed from the Financial Conduct Authority.

  1. Tell me a bit about yourself

Manawar Saeed, is the Co-chair of Spectrum Financial Conduct Authority Race & Ethnicity Network and is the recipient of the FCA Bal Kalwan special recognition award 2022, as well as a finalist for Diversity Equity & Inclusion in the Real IT Awards in 2024.

Manawar was nominated for his drive and determination to hold a very successful Black History Month (BHM 2023) and other events and initiatives throughout the year but also his ability to reach out to more staff and other networks through events and communications, including allies.

Manawar’s Reflection:

“Winning an award is always a great thing, but winning the Bal Kalwan award for DEI, has made all the late nights and hard work worth it. When I first started my journey in DEI, it was to develop my understanding of different cultural backgrounds and the glass ceilings that our ancestors and peers had overcome and broken down for us. The FCA is a great place to work and has allowed me to share my ideas and vision and work towards bringing about positive change”

Manawar has brought a real energy to his role, he organised speakers for BHM but also in the events such as Time to Connect sessions, where he has asked open and challenging questions to get discussions flowing and acknowledged what he’s learning and what more he can learn in future.

Manawar has the drive to do more and keep the network growing and improving – he doesn’t see BHM as an annual event but instead wants to use it as a springboard to do so much more (so much so that even before the month is over, he’s led a Spectrum SteerCo about what actions we should be taking now!) Manawar is positive and passionate regarding DEI issues and goes beyond his role hence why he is a winner for the Special recognition award.

  1. What is the aim of the FCA’s Race and Ethnicity network group?

We are passionate about fostering an environment in which ethnic diversity is championed at all levels and to maximise opportunities for progression for minority-ethnic staff.

The Spectrum network supports minority-ethnic staff through 3 objectives in our vision:

  1. Connecting voices – we believe in raising awareness through an open, respectful conversation. We run events but also encourage local level conversation and our support for Allyship reinforces the universal relevance of the Spectrum agenda.
  2. Unlocking potential – addressing bias and opening opportunities to bring fairness and equality to issues relating to pay, reward and recruitment through our support for central initiatives for example sponsorship and mentoring.
  3. Driving change – we are a strategic partner to FCA’s leadership and work collaboratively with fellow staff networks.

  1. What is Spectrum’ biggest achievement to date?

Since becoming co-chair of Spectrum, I think our biggest achievement to date has been around collaborating internally & externally with other networks and landing key messages around personal development, Black History Month, South Asian Heritage Month, Windrush and islamophobia, Chinese Lunar New Year & for the first time this year East & South East Asian Heritage Month in collaboration with the Civil Service Race forum & Bank of England.

Our Time to Connect sessions have been well received and our colleagues across the FCA have given feedback asking for more of the same. 2025 is going to be great for our networks as we all work towards sharing our plans and from Spectrum, we have great events planned for 2025 outside of Black History Month 2024.

  1. Can you share more about the activity your network planned for BHM? How do you personally celebrate Black History Month, and what does it mean to you?

We have officially entered the season of Autumn. Although this represents a farewell to summer and warm bright days there is no need for sad faces as it also represents the arrival of Black History Month and here at Spectrum, we are very excited. The theme for this year is ‘Reclaiming Narratives’ and provides the unique opportunity to correct historical inaccuracies and showcase success stories that reveal the full complexity of black heritage. Spectrum have been working hard to bring you a diverse tapestry of events and speakers that will leave you informed, engaged and above all proud of the plethora of achievement within the black community. This is a time when black talent will be duly celebrated.

To reflect the theme for Black History Month, Spectrum and Elevate worked together to bring FCA colleagues some events that hope to inspire allyship, educate colleagues and provide some laughs along the way. The planned events will encompass a series of fireside chats around this year’s theme of ‘Reclaiming Narratives’. We look forward to some stirring discussions from guest speakers such as Tangy C Morgan, Former special advisor (Bank of England) and Justin Placide (Co-Chair of The Civil Service Race Forum), amongst others.

1st October 2024, 11am-12pm: BHM Opening – Teams Call
17th October: Jollof Rice Wars – Hybrid
24th October, 1.30pm -6pm: Flagship event on ‘Reclaiming Narratives’. – Hybrid
• Presentation – ‘What is this year’s theme of reclaim the narrative about’?
• Introvert Master class with Richard Etienne, Creative Brand Consultant and Director of Internal Communications at Elsevier
• Fireside Chat with Paulette Simpson CBE, Deputy Chief Executive Officer at JN Bank UK in conversation with Etala Anderson & Ochuko Eduvie-Doku

Panel Discussion with:
• Justin Placide, Co-Chair of the Civil Service Race Forum
• Richard Etienne, Creative Brand Consultant and Director of Internal Communications at Elsevier
• Tangy C Morgan, Senior Advisor, Bank of England,
• Therese Chambers, Joint Executive Director of Enforcement and Market Oversight, FCA
• Ebony James (Diversity Innovation Group Founder)
• Ash Ramnawaz (NHS Marketing Manager)
31st October 2024, 11am-12pm: Reflections
So, as you can see, we have a wide range of exciting events happening over October and please #Bring An Ally!

We invite all of our colleagues to attend as many events as possible, celebrating the breadth and diversity of Black culture, and helping us in Reclaiming Narratives.

  1. What advice would you give to younger Black professionals trying to navigate their career path, especially in industries where they might not see many people who look like them?

I recognise the nature and difficulties with opportunities available to someone from an already underrepresented community. I have been fortunate enough to have been mentored throughout my career and have therefore been exposed to various methodologies and understand their effectiveness. Therefore, have a career plan, have a good mentor and network both internally & externally.

I think the biggest challenges facing ethnic minorities colleagues is engagement with the Senior Leadership Team and the number of opportunities available to forge a successful career in the FCA. One of the things we would like to focus on over the next year is personal development and brand.

  1. What actions do you think workplaces can take to celebrate diversity and inclusion beyond Black History Month?

Don’t just celebrate BHM…Since becoming co-chair of Spectrum I think our biggest achievement to date has been around collaborating with other networks in the FCA and landing key messages around personal development, Black History Month, South Asian Heritage Month, Windrush, islamophobia, Chinese Lunar New Year & for the first time this year East & South East Asian Heritage Month in collaboration with the Civil Service Race forum & Bank of England. Our Time to Connect sessions have been well received and our colleagues across the FCA have given feedback asking for more of the same. 2025 is going to be great for our networks as we all work towards sharing our plans and from Spectrum, we have great events planned for 2025 outside of Black History Month 2024.


I believe the key priorities for the Spectrum network should be focused on creating structured programmes geared towards nurturing our most junior colleagues that will ultimately lead to greater representation across the various strands of the FCA. Practically speaking, I believe that regular meetings would be essential to monitor progress, cross-collaboration with the various networks in the FCA, and also organising more cross-industry networking events with UKRN members!

  1. Tell us something that we don’t know about you

I love reading books & enjoy traveling, my next trip will be to Dubai, Habibi – that’s the usual stuff. I am a massive Bruce Lee fan and once my health further improves, I’ll start training in Krav Maga and Wing Chun martial arts again.

  1. Lastly, if you could sit down and have a conversation with any figure from Black history, who would it be and what would you ask them?

Nelson Mandela, – Madiba suffered so much but remained resilient. Nelson Mandela is known for several things, but perhaps he is best known for successfully leading the resistance to South Africa’s policy of apartheid in the 20th century, during which he was infamously incarcerated at Robben Island Prison.

I would ask Madiba, ‘when you were in prison did you believe that you would pave the way for apartheid to end?

Why was Nelson called Madiba?
Madiba is the name of the Thembu clan to which Mandela belongs. It gets its name from a 19th century chief. All the members of this clan can be called Madiba. Mandela was called Madiba as a sign of both respect and affection.

We really hope you enjoyed getting to know Manawar more. Please look out for our next featured UKRN member shortly!