Mitra Janes | DLA Piper
Last year, Mitra moved to the City from Ford Motor Company to take up a newly-established Diversity and Inclusion position at DLA Piper, one of the world's largest corporate law firms. Mitra's background is in generalist HR, having undertaken a variety of roles in employee relations, learning and development and as a business partner. Her focus and specialism in Diversity and Inclusion stems from her passion for ensuring that everyone feels valued and included and has an opportunity to contribute.
She has a clear strategic vision of improved diversity within the legal sector and in society more broadly and has developed and implemented a number of initiatives focussed on developing the talent pipeline. Outside of work, Mitra is a school governor at a girls' secondary school and is committed to inspiring future generations of women to achieve their full potential. She is a huge Prince fan and has travelled across the UK and abroad to see him in concert.
Veronica Mura | Aon Risk Solutions
Born in Milan, Veronica has a B.A. in Law and Economics and a MSc in Private Business and Law from Bocconi University, Milan. Exposed to risk management from a young age, Veronica has always had an interest on ways and techniques conflict situations can be approached and the study of uncertainties in business models. According to her, insurance is strategy meets law, and she finds it fascinating.
During her studies she had the chance to practice in marine law firms in New York and Genoa, where she developed her passion for marine insurance. After graduation, she worked as in-house counsel for a financial institution in Milan, before pursuing her real passion in the U.S., gaining a scholarship for an LL.M. in Admiralty at Tulane University in New Orleans, where she focused on marine insurance and graduated with honours. She then moved to New York where she qualified as a lawyer and practiced marine law for three years focusing on marine cargo claims, insurance practice and subrogation, and achieving great results.
After working in the U.S. she moved to London, joining Aon’s Global Broking Centre as a claims advocate. In only a few months, Veronica’s contribution has been noted by the leadership within the GBC thanks to her passion for her work, her integrity and her willingness to learn and share her experiences. Veronica enjoys networking and believes in the importance of relationships, and she remains in close contact with marine and insurance friends all over the world.
Naomi Bennett-Hall | Legal & General Group Plc
Naomi is an executive assistant at Legal & General. She works for the Group CFO and Group Corporate Communications Director. In addition to the standard day to day tasks, she utilises her wider knowledge of the business and the sector, alongside her LGBT knowledge to add extra value to the whole business.
In 2014 she was approached to support the 50:50 Network – a network to improve female representation in management at Legal & General - the only person in a non-management grade involved. She attends meetings and has made a significant impact in suggesting and securing panellists, contributing to discussions and ideas and in meeting deadlines.
Naomi leads by example in the secretarial field. She believes women can be anything that they want to be and encourages high expectations. She takes a wider interest in the organisation so that she can be proactive and offer additional value to the business.
Naomi was responsible for the launch the London LGBT Network at L&G including ensuring commitment from senior management; and uses her contacts and knowledge to help move the network forward.
Naomi understands that collaboration, support and a smile is essential in getting on in business and in life. She has an extremely infectious positive attitude and is always willing to step outside of her comfort zone to take on a new opportunity or challenge. It is due to this that she has built up a strong support network that she is able to utilise on a daily basis to assist in the efficient running of the executive office. It is a fine line between being able to correspond with senior management and having a rapport, whilst still knowing your place in the business and that you are a support line member. Naomi has managed to find the perfect balance so that she is well respected within the organisation and is therefore able to put forward suggestions around key business decisions based on the wider business view which are not only listened to, but investigated.
Rashida Abdulai | Hogan Lovells
Rashida Abdulai is a Senior Associate and Solicitor-Advocate within the renowned International Arbitration practice at international law firm Hogan Lovells. She acts for multinational companies on complex, high-value international business disputes across a range of industry sectors including energy and natural resources, telecommunications, consumer goods and banking and financial services.
As a strong proponent of diversity and inclusion in the legal sector, Rashida is a founding member and Co-Chair of the UK’s first inter-law firm diversity network, NOTICED, which is an initiative aimed at promoting ’Networking Opportunities to Integrate, Celebrate and Educate on Diversity’. NOTICED has welcomed more than 200 junior and aspiring lawyers to its high profile events over the past two years. Rashida is also a committee member of the Law Society's Ethnic Minority Lawyers Division.
Of mixed Caribbean and African descent, Rashida has particular interests in these geographical regions and the role of law in economic growth and development. Rashida is a key member of Hogan Lovells' Africa practice and regularly publishes articles on important legal developments and issues of interest to businesses operating in Africa, and has participated as a speaker and panellist at a number of legal and business forums both locally and internationally, including the East Africa International Arbitration Conference, held in Nairobi in July 2014 and in Tanzania in April 2015. Rashida sits on the working committees of International Lawyers for Africa (ILFA) and Africa International Legal Awareness (AILA), non-profit organisations which work to build legal excellence and foster sustainable development across Africa.
Dara Kirton ǀ PwC UK
I am a manager at PwC, having started on the Consulting graduate scheme in 2011 and worked my way up in the Operations consulting team. Since being at the firm, I have demonstrated passion for our people, our clients and our communities in the true ethos of PwC – “doing the right thing”.
Our People: I am a people manager, mentor and coach taking an active role in the development of others.
Our Clients: I have delivered large successful transformations for a range of FTSE 100 companies – including disaster turnarounds, relocations and operating model transformations.
Our communities: I have set up a mentoring scheme at the firm to support students from under represented backgrounds (women, ethnic minorities and socially/economically deprived) to get into professional services. We work with a range of universities, charities and social enterprises that help us to identify students that PwC wouldn’t typically target through recruitment. As a result of the mentoring scheme’s successes in the last two years in improving equal access opportunities, this year the team won two awards- PwC Consulting Award for “Doing the Right Thing” and the PwC (Firmwide) Award for Sustainability and Community.
I have a passion for diversity and have been a champion in the firm for gender equality, multiculturalism and social mobility as well as supporting and linking in with our other people networks. I am the chair of the newly relaunched Multicultural Business Network at PwC and am looking forward to developing my network externally around the topic.
Outside of work, I have an active social life, am a massive foodie, love travelling and try to keep up a dwindling skill in street dance.
Life motto: Live. Love. Laugh. (hardly original but pretty much encompasses everything I’m about!)
Rosa Goncalves ǀ Kidbrooke Community Enterprises
Rosa Goncalves is an entrepreneur in community development and regeneration. Whilst raising her 3 children she qualified and worked as a child minder.
In 2003 to 2006 she organised community engagement in the then known as Ferrier Estate in Greenwich London Some of her volunteering work includes:
- 2000– 2004 – She was vice Chair of Ferrier Residents Action Group (FRAG).
- 2001 – 2005 – A volunteer Liaison community development officer
- 2002 –Volunteer with Greenwich Community Law Centre and trained as Legal Adviser
- 2003 – 2011 -director of Paraiso Samba School, Security Coordinator, Participation officer
- 2003 – Member of the Greenwich Diversity Board
- 2006 - Healthier Greenwich Executive Group Community Representative
- 2003 – 2005 - community representative with Greenwich Community Network and LSP Board member
- 2005 – Vice - chair of the Greenwich Community Network 2005 - 2009 Borough wide housing panel Member
- 2005 – Vice chair of the Ferrier/Blackheath Housing Panel 2007 – 2008 –School for Social Entrepreneur Graduate
- 2008 – 2015 – Founded/Developing Kidbrooke Community Enterprises
- 2007 – 2015 – Managing/Developing Guarida Community Cafe
Her current project is focused on developing her signature brand, Kidbrooke Community Enterprises (KCE), with little to no funding.
KCE, a Cooperative Social Enterprise Company Limited by Guarantee, founded in 2008 by Rosa Goncalves, with the support of community minded residents. Back then its work focused on ensuring the Kidbrooke community benefited from the regeneration of the area. Today, KCE is going through many changes. With a new board of directors working with Rosa to further develop KCE to brand to other areas of Greenwich and London.
Having moved KCE from the now regenerated Kidbrooke area, to the Woolwich Common Estate in Royal Greenwich, with some support from the local authority, Rosa aims to facilitate and maximise the potential to secure local residents position by giving them a voice in the local area development plans.
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Aoife Walsh | EY
I studied law in University College Dublin, qualifying as a solicitor in 1998 and moving into tax in 2000. I enjoy the fast, dynamic pace of tax, with a constantly evolving, challenging and changing landscape. I have worked in private client tax for over 15 years; now working in a small private client tax team in a large organisation, dealing with non-domiciled HNWIs.
Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with my family, sightseeing in London and eating out with friends.
Caroline Renouf ǀ Rossborough Guernsey
I began my career in Insurance in 1995 when I left school. I went to work for a small family run firm that specialized in Personal Lines products.
In 1997 I became one of the youngest people in the Channel Islands to hold the then titled Certificate of Proficiency and now hold the Certificate in Insurance.
I joined Rossborough in 2000 as a Directors Broking Assistant in the Commercial team, this role allowed me to grow as an individual. I was in charge of certain in house schemes and this made my confidence grow. In 2006 I became a Commercial Account Handler dealing with a portfolio of clients.
In 2009 I was asked by the Commercial Director to become his Personal Assistant. I jumped at the chance as we already had such a good working relationship. It is a role that I thoroughly enjoy and I am still able to do broking as part of my job to assist him.
At nearly 36, I have had nearly 20 years working in the Insurance Industry and this experience enables new staff members to shadow me and I often find myself as a referral point for colleagues.
In 2015 I began assisting my friend as a coordinator of a local PA network, Guernsey PA Connect. This is a venture I am extremely proud of. I am not naturally a confident person and it takes me out of my comfort zone. The PA Network has been set up to allow the PA`s of Guernsey from all organizations, to connect with each other, develop closer relationships, learn from each other and also all take away valuable skills to assist us in our future endeavors.
Dominique Liberto | Aon UK Ltd
I derive from a multicultural background, belonging to diverse nations including Italy, Malta, South Africa, England and Greece. I received an eclectic education in the United States, Rome and London. I have a four year BA degree in Communication and Marketing and an MA in Creative Writing Studies. I have obtained substantial work experience within Non Profit International Organizations (organizations under the UN umbrella) in Rome and London, especially in the fields of communication, marketing, public relations and risk management.
In 2009 I moved to London to obtain my Masters Degree and at the beginning of 2010, I joined Aon as a placing broker and then moved in the claims department where I have acquired vast experience in Financial Lines, Power, Property and Crisis Management.
I love mentoring the junior colleagues who have the passion and hunger for career development. I am also highly involved in the Woman’s network and charity events within Aon.
Nicola Ruane | EY
Nicola firmly believes that the finance sector has a responsibility to create a more economically, environmentally and socially sustainable world. From 2007 whilst working on a trading floor, Nicola began to question the negative impact of complex financial products on the wider economy. Following a career break in 2010 to work on a sustainability project in Peru, she studied part time for a Masters in CSR focusing on corporate governance, ethics, sustainability and human rights, achieving first class honours. Since 2012 she has been pioneering the EMEA CSR programme of MUFG, a major Japanese bank, developing a regional community investment programme leading to the bank’s shortlisting for a prestigious Lord Mayor of London Dragon award. At a global level, she initiated a materiality analysis to identify the bank’s most important social and environmental issues in order deliver value to the business and stakeholders. Ready for a new challenge, she has recently joined EY’s EMEIA financial services office as Corporate Sustainability Operations Lead.
A change agent, Nicola is passionate about inspiring, educating and learning with and from others to move the dial in a collaborative way; through mentor and mentee relationships, as a co-founder of the women’s network at MUFG, as an active One Young World ambassador and with a blog on the Huffington Post. Consequently, she has been invited to speak in New York at the B Team forum, a collection of business and world leaders led by Richard Branson, who have come together to advance the wellbeing of people and the planet through business. Committed to be part of changing the sector for the better - Nicola advocates for more women in senior roles, more long-term and ethical decision making and a financial services sector that responds to the needs of our society.