Simon Tse first joined the Civil Service in 2008, as Chief Executive Officer for the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency. This was followed by a Director role in DWP before joining CCS in May 2016. Simon previously had a successful 25 year career in the private sector, including a role in Virgin Media.
Without hesitation Simon took on the role of Cabinet Office Race Champion in November 2019. Simon was the first person from an ethnic minority to fill the role, which makes the appointment even more poignant for him.
He was born in Swansea back in the early 1960s to a Welsh mother and a father born in Hong Kong, and he was brought up on his mother’s side of the family. Other than his siblings, there was only one other non-white child at his primary school. As a result, Simon often felt conflicted, like he didn’t fit in – asking if he was Welsh, British, Asian, or mixed race? In truth he was all of these, but it has taken him many years to reconcile this and feel comfortable about it.
Since taking on the CO Race Champion role, Simon has been working with John Manzoni and the CO HR D&I team to develop and roll out “Let’s talk about race” sessions across the department. He is collaborating with Cabinet Office staff networks on an event to mark the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. He is also working closely with multiple stakeholders to develop a strategy for his ambitions as Cabinet Office Race Champion.
About Business in the Community’s Race Equality Leadership Team
Each area of work Business in the Community (BITC) undertakes is led by a group of senior executives who provide strategic guidance and support us in achieving our objectives.
The purpose of BITC’s Race Equality Leadership Team is to support employers to help break down the barriers that prevent the progression of ethnic minorities in their workplaces and show how an inclusive organisation better serves its customers, clients and communities.
Find out more about BITC’s work on race equality.