Where are you from, and why there?
I am from a small, ‘chocolate-box’ village called Ramsbury, which is in Wiltshire, in the South-West of England. My parents were both from Hertfordshire but moved around the UK a lot because of my father’s career working for what was then British Rail – the national railway service. I loved growing up in the country, where life for a child was carefree – I was out playing in the fields and surrounding countryside most days with my friends from the age of about 5, without any concern for our safety – in stark contrast to how children exist today in the larger cities. Despite this rather idyllic childhood, I could not wait to move to London when I finished university and loved the contrast and opportunities. Twenty-four years and three children later, I frequently think about leaving London, but as yet I have not found the right time or place to go!
Which issues do you work on/care about, and why?
My team of lawyers and I at the International Bar Association (IBA) are working on a wide range of projects which address matters of importance for the legal profession as a whole, including mental well being in the profession; gender equality (I am leading a nine-year, ground-breaking project across the main legal sectors in 16 jurisdictions); modern slavery; cybersecurity; climate change; sustainability; anti-corruption; Artificial Intelligence and Business and Human Rights; and the rule of law. These are issues that matter to the legal profession, impact multiple sectors, and have wider societal relevance as well.
How did you get involved?
I have always cared about addressing injustice in a range of forms — since I was very young, when I raised money obsessively to support animal charities, to my work over the last 20+ years, supporting defendants, victims, children and the homeless. I worked on a domestic strategy to child abuse during my last years working as a civil servant and, in my current role, I have continued my efforts to support victims of abuse by forming two modern-slavery projects, which are in the early stages.
Some of the projects I work on today were suggested by members of the IBA; others arose as a consequence of wider global concern which had to be tackled. Legal engagement on all the areas is important to influence legislative, policy, and international institution change and raise awareness. Our aim is to help the legal profession improve in every aspect of what it does, share best practise, continue to grow, and to make a positive contribution to wider society across all areas of work.
What are the biggest challenges for the issue(s) today?
In my view, the biggest challenge for the legal profession is greed. Compromises need to be made to make the profession healthier and ethical in all of our decision-making and interactions. We need to find a way to challenge this perception meaningfully and with honest insight into how we work and why, then be prepared to make some changes.
Lawyers work across all sectors — public and private — and are not all fabulously wealthy or advising clients who engage in activity that can be problematic. Nonetheless, public perception of the profession is fairly poor. We are integral to business deals, billion-dollar transactions, lawmaking, and law enforcement. We are crucial to how a society functions and, in my opinion, we need to be at the heart of this activity with sound ethical judgment and positive impact in our minds. We are not simply puppets operating for anyone at any cost. We need to explain the relevance of the rule of law to the average citizen, why it matters, and how lawyers uphold it. We need to think more carefully about some of our activities (which, while ‘lawful’, may be considered ‘awful’) and not focus purely on profit. This change is slowly happening, but it will take time across all areas of business, including issues such as mental wellbeing, behavioural culture in the workplace, diversity and inclusion.
Who are your most frequent allies in your field? Any surprises?
We work closely with international partners such as the Umited Nations, the Organisation for Economic Coorperation and Development, the World Bank, and the Europena Union on projects, events, and consultations. Our allies are those who have shared interests and seek to promote the same issues or messages. I am not sure I can think of any who surprise me!
What drives you?
A desire to make a constructive difference, to get all voices involved in the issue, which will lead to an outcome that can work for the majority. I like seeing things change for the better and knowing that I was part of that process and, at times, instrumental in the outcome. I enjoyed that when working on a domestic topic, but it is even more exciting working on an international level and thinking about the cultural challenges as well.
What do you want your career/advocacy to stand for?
I want to know that I made a difference and campaigned to the best of my ability on issues that matter to me. I would love to see improvements in the way we work, what is tolerated, what is addressed, and how people are treated — not just as money-making machines, but as human beings whose contributions are valued and whose well being is critical. This includes ensuring that all genders are equally represented at all levels in every jurisdiction and glass ceilings are removed.