Apeksha Naik
7 Oct 2025
“Standing Firm in Our Power and Pride”
Last Thursday, we at Rail Unites for Inclusion (RUI) collaborated with Network Rail’s Cultural Fusion Network (CFN) and EDI team to hold a Black History Month event in London. This year’s theme is, “Standing Firm in Our Power and Pride” and the theme was reflected on throughout the day.
The event was opened by one of CFN’s Co-Chairs Ibtisam Saeed and a dedicated CFN and RUI member – Tracee Grenardo. One of CFN’s Co-sponsors, Anit Chandarana, Group Director, System Operator then welcomed everyone with personal reflections about his background and career then opened the floor to questions which he answered really honestly.
Keneefia Parker, a Track Maintenance Technician at Network Rail shared her experiences of going through the apprenticeship programme during and after COVID. Two other equally inspiring external speakers inspired everyone including Seyi Obakin, OBE. CEO of Centrepoint, Chief Executive of Centrepoint, a charity working to end youth homelessness in the UK and Chairman of Youth Futures Foundation who was interviewed by one of our Co-Chairs Odis Palmer. The other external speaker was Paulette Simpson, CBE, Executive Director of The Voice and Deputy Chair of the Windrush Committee who spoke about representation, justice, knowing our worth, being authentic and understanding Black History.
There was also an interactive ‘Action Learning Set’ session, used in an industry programme for underrepresented groups called Next Stop – Your Future was co-facilitated by Apeksha Naik, Co-Chair of RUI and Gamiel Yafai, Founder and CEO of Diversity Marketplace. The method of using active listening to a colleague’s challenge and then asking curious questions using a dialogue approach to coach the colleague was found to be very powerful and rewarding.
The event was wrapped up by Faizza Rumani, Pauline Holroyd – the other Co-sponsor of CFN, Ibtisam Saeed and Tracee Grenardo all thanking all that had been involved in making the day a success.
Don’t miss our next Rail Unites for Inclusion collaboration event on 17 November hosted by Lee Chambers which will be held in Manchester. We look forward to seeing you there!
