REG Connects 2026: Turning Conversations into Action

REG Connects 2026 brought together business leaders, community organisations, public sector partners and professionals from across Greater Manchester for a day of honest conversations, shared learning and practical action focused on advancing race equity and inclusion.

Across keynote speeches, panel discussions, workshops and interactive breakout sessions, one message stood out: creating inclusive workplaces and communities requires intentional action, strong partnerships and a commitment to continuous progress.

Manchester’s Mission: Growth with Equity

The day opened with a fireside chat between Tom Stannard, Chief Executive of Manchester City Council, and Karen Gabay, exploring Manchester’s Mission: Equity, Inclusive Growth and Economic Ambition.

The discussion examined Manchester’s growing national and international profile and the opportunities this creates for residents, businesses and communities. While economic growth remains important, Tom emphasised that success must also be measured by whether people across all backgrounds can access those opportunities through education, skills development, employment and leadership pathways.

He also highlighted the importance of continued collaboration and accountability, recognising the role that networks such as the Race Equity Group play in bringing people together to learn, share ideas and drive change.

Turning Inclusive Recruitment into Meaningful Outcomes

A practical and insightful panel discussion, hosted by Danielle Ingham (Mills & Reeve), explored how organisations can move beyond diverse hiring ambitions and create meaningful outcomes for underrepresented talent.

Panellists Angela Essel (Thales UK), Khurram Hussain (Warren Partners), Bethany Adam (Bruntwood) and Helen Robinson (Auto Trader) shared experiences and lessons from their own organisations, highlighting that recruitment is only the first step. Retention, progression and belonging are equally important.

The panel discussed the importance of employee listening, diversity data, psychological safety and leadership accountability. Executive sponsorship and visible role models were identified as key drivers of progression, while people managers play a critical role in creating inclusive day-to-day experiences.

The conversation reinforced that organisations must look beyond recruitment numbers and focus on measuring progression, retention and employee experience to create lasting change.

Measuring What Really Matters

The theme of accountability continued in the fireside chat Are We Measuring What Really Matters for Inclusion?, hosted by Ngozi Weller with panellists Zahoor Ahmad and Simon Manterfield.

The discussion challenged organisations to think beyond reporting metrics and consider how data can drive cultural change. Panellists explored how meaningful inclusion is built not simply by collecting data, but by understanding employee experiences, acting on feedback and embedding accountability throughout organisations.

The session served as an important reminder that what gets measured matters, but only when organisations are willing to act on what they learn.

“When racial equity is taken seriously something powerful happens”

One of the most inspiring moments of the afternoon came from Professor Erinma Bell MBE during her keynote session, Forged in Fire: Community Leadership, Racial Equity and Business Resilience.

Drawing on her experience as a community peace activist and leader, Erinma shared powerful reflections on resilience, purpose and the ability to transform challenges into opportunities for positive change.

The session encouraged attendees to think beyond resilience as simply “bouncing back” and instead view it as a catalyst for stronger leadership, more inclusive communities and lasting progress.

Learning from Business and Communities

The panel discussion What Lessons from Business and Communities Can Drive Change at Scale? brought together Professor Erinma Bell MBE DL, Ifem Onuora, Tayub Amin and Charles Kwaku-Odoi DL MFPH for a powerful conversation about collaboration, leadership and lived experience.

Panellists explored how businesses, communities and public sector organisations can work together to create more equitable outcomes and stronger communities. A recurring theme was that sustainable change comes through partnership rather than individual action.

The discussion highlighted the value of learning from different perspectives and demonstrated how collaboration can unlock innovation, broaden opportunity and deliver greater impact.

The power of storytelling and performance

The afternoon programme also included a moving performance by Odd Arts, celebrating the life and legacy of Elouise Edwards. The performance provided a powerful way to spark conversations around identity, belonging and social justice.

This spirit of open dialogue continued throughout the day’s workshops and breakout sessions.

Martina Witter’s workshop on psychological safety highlighted the importance of creating environments where people feel able to speak up, ask questions and contribute ideas without fear.

Meanwhile, Catherine Millan’s session encouraged participants to have more confident and constructive conversations about race, helping attendees recognise and address microaggressions and other barriers to inclusion.

Creating space for honest conversations and diverse voices

The popular Breakout Huddles gave delegates the opportunity to explore practical solutions to some of the biggest challenges facing organisations today.

Conversations focused on:

• Representation and pathways to leadership
• Hidden barriers in hiring and promotion
• Entrepreneurship and equitable access to capital
• AI and the future of workplace equity
• Intersectionality, neurodiversity and race

Designed to be interactive and solution-focused, the sessions encouraged honest discussion, fresh thinking and the sharing of practical ideas that delegates could take back into their organisations.

Alongside these sessions, attendees also heard personal stories and leadership lessons from speakers including Deepa Parekh, Kofi Josephs, Rachel Cashman, Simon Fanshawe and Nazir Afzal OBE, whose conversations captured on a recorded podcast, reinforced the power of resilience, representation and lived experience.

Supporting Future Talent

A welcome addition to this year’s event was the Early Careers Hub, where Samantha Quinn, Chen Ji, Favour Onyeagoziri and Teza Simukulwa provided graduates and young professionals with practical career guidance, employer insights and networking opportunities.

The hub reflected the event’s wider commitment to creating pathways for future generations and ensuring that talent from all backgrounds can access opportunities to succeed.

Looking Ahead

Th conversations that took place at REG Connects 2026 will not end when the event does. The insights, ideas and challenges shared throughout the day will directly inform the ongoing priorities, initiatives and action plan of the Race Equity Group, helping to shape activity across both the REG Committee and the wider pro-manchester network.

If you would like to join the conversation, contribute to our work or get involved with future initiatives, we would love to hear from you. Together, we can continue creating meaningful change across Greater Manchester.

A huge thank you to every speaker, facilitator, sponsor and attendee who contributed to making REG Connects 2026 such a meaningful and impactful event. Together, we continue to build a more inclusive Greater Manchester where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.