When
Tuesday 17th November 2026, 600PM-8:00PM UK timeWhere
Online via Zoom.Format
There'll be a great line-up of speakers plus ample scope for discussion and debate.Why You Should Attend...
This online event follows the APPG on Investment Fraud and Fairer Financial Services summit held in Parliament on 2nd November, building on the discussions, evidence and contributions shared during the afternoon.
The focus was on the vital role that whistleblowers play in society, the retaliation they can face for speaking out, and the urgent need to ensure they are properly protected.
The parliamentary summit was dedicated to the memory of whistleblower Simon Andriesz, who took his own life recently after reporting retaliation by his former employer.
Simon’s tragic case was featured in this recent BBC File on 4 Investigates programme.
His death prompted whistleblowers around the world to unite in their condemnation of the Financial Conduct Authority, following Simon’s pleas for help from the FCA, explaining that he and his family “were in crisis” as a result of the retaliation he was experiencing.
Developments surrounding Simon’s case have also raised serious questions about the FCA’s handling of whistleblowers and its wider responsibilities.
On Thursday 29th October, John McDonnell MP sent an important open letter to Nikhil Rathi, Chief Executive of the FCA, challenging the regulator’s approach and calling for greater independence, transparency and accountability.
The letter raises three particularly important issues:
CLICK HERE to read John McDonnell’s full letter to Nikhil Rathi.
- The independence and scope of the Paterson Review: Questions about the appointment of an FCA Non-Executive Director to review the regulator’s handling of Simon’s case, the independence of the process, its terms of reference and whether the findings will be published in full.
- The FCA’s engagement with the APPG summit: Concerns about the FCA’s decision not to provide an executive-level representative at the 2nd November parliamentary summit, missing an important opportunity to engage directly with whistleblowers and learn from their experiences.
- An independent survey of whistleblowers: Serious questions about the credibility and methodology of the FCA’s 2022 whistleblower survey, which received only 21 complete responses from 68 selected individuals, and a call for a properly independent survey of everyone who has contacted the FCA about whistleblowing since January 2022.
The letter calls for substantive answers and meaningful scrutiny, emphasising that credible accountability and a culture of openness are essential to restoring confidence in the FCA.
The 2nd November parliamentary summit brought together individuals with direct experience, expertise and important perspectives on whistleblower treatment. This follow-up event will provide an opportunity to reflect on the contributions and issues raised, explore them in greater depth, and consider what needs to happen next to improve protections, address regulatory failures and prevent further tragedies.
The central question is how society, employers and regulators can ensure that those who speak out in the public interest are protected rather than punished.
On 2nd November, the FCA published the terms of reference for its review into its handling of interactions with Simon Andriesz. The review, commissioned by the FCA’s non-executive directors and being conducted by Lea Paterson CBE, an FCA independent non-executive director, has a broader remit than originally announced.
It will now examine not only the FCA’s interactions with Simon, but also whether it met its responsibilities under whistleblowing law and followed its own policies and procedures when handling his reports, including his concerns that he had experienced detriment. The review will cover the period from at least 2017 to 2026.
The FCA has said that a progress update will be published in January 2027, with the final report expected in spring 2027.
The publication of the terms of reference is an important development, but it also brings renewed focus to questions about the review’s independence, its scope and whether it will provide the level of scrutiny and accountability that whistleblowers and their supporters are calling for.
This online event will provide an opportunity to examine these developments, consider the questions that remain unanswered and discuss what meaningful accountability should look like.
We will reflect on the evidence and contributions shared at the 2nd November parliamentary summit, hear further perspectives from those with direct experience of whistleblowing and explore the practical steps needed to strengthen protections for whistleblowers.
In particular, we will consider what the FCA’s review must achieve, how its independence and findings can be properly scrutinised, and what wider changes are needed to ensure that whistleblowers are listened to, taken seriously and protected from retaliation.
This is an issue that extends far beyond one individual, one employer or one regulator. The treatment of whistleblowers has profound implications for the public interest, the integrity of financial services and the ability of society to hold powerful institutions to account.
We hope you will join us for what promises to be an important and timely discussion.
Here’s the programme so far…
Andy Agathangelou
Founder, Transparency Task Force;
Chair, Secretariat Committee, APPG on Investment Fraud and Fairer Financial Services;
Chair of the Violation Tracker UK Advisory Board;
Founder, RSA’s Economy, Finance and Business Network;
Chair of Trustees, The Consumer Financial Protection Charity.
