Sir Anwar is a retired and recovering British diplomat who enjoyed a unique and distinguished career in the British Civil and Diplomatic Service. Breaking the mold in 2004 he became the first British High Commissioner from an ethnic minority background in the UK. He went on to serve as an Ambassador and later still as the first non white British Governor. He also served as the International Director in the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office, responsible for policy in the UN and all its agencies, the Commonwealth, Council of Europe and the OSCE.
Twenty years later, Anwar is still held in much affection and remains a household name in Bangladesh and in the UK British Bangladeshi community for his service in leading the international community to help Bangladesh overcome extremism and instability during 2004 to 2008, he himself survived an assassination attempt by terrorists that wounded him severely and killed his bodyguard and 3 others whilst injuring 50 more. In Peru he received the country's highest award for a diplomat, the Order of the Sun, for transforming relations between UK and Peru. In the FCDO he received the Institute of Governments award for Diplomatic Excellence. He also holds two honorary doctorates for his contribution to diplomacy.
Now retired; he enjoys rustic folk music, time in the community, working for a better UK and helping young people and those in midcareer to achieve their ambition.
Manuel Vogt is a political science professor at UCL. His expertise lies in: the causes and consequences of inequality and civil violence in multi-ethnic states, processes of ethnic group mobilisation, the impact of elite networks on contentious politics in developing countries, as well as political extremism and radicalisation. He is also the writer of the book Mobilisation and Conflict in Multi-ethnic states, for which he has conducted research in Latin America and Sub-Saharan Africa.