Jolee Tung | Oliver Wyman
Jolee is a Senior Consultant in Oliver Wyman's London office where she supports private and public sector clients across EMEA with commercial strategy, customer proposition, organisational effectiveness and target operating model design.
To date, she has worked across a broad range of industries, including Financial Services, Media, as well as Healthcare.
Outside of her core role, Jolee is an active leader within her community. She co-leads EMPOWERED UK, the UK chapter of Oliver Wyman's employee resource group for racial, ethnic and cultural diversity, and is also a core contributor to the firm's entry-level recruitment initiatives. Moreover, Jolee serves as a Board member for the Mulgrave School Alumni Association, where she advises on the strategic direction of her high school's alumni program.
Jolee graduated from University College London with a Bachelor of Arts and Sciences degree, at the top of her year. She is originally from Vancouver, Canada.
Chloe Priestley | PwC
In 2014 I joined PwC as part of the "School Leaver Programme" having just finished my A-levels.
During my first four years at PwC I studied for several qualifications including a Level 4 Diploma in Audit Practice and the ACA qualification with the ICAEW and I became a Chartered Accountant in 2018. I really enjoyed my training and I was recognised as a PwC prize winner for my Corporate Reporting exam results and nominated for Kaplan's Student of the Year award. In 2019, aged 23, I was promoted to a Manager in Audit, this was the earliest possible stage in my career for promotion. I also won Professional Pensions "Trainee of the Year," which recognised my outstanding achievements to date. I've specialised in Pensions Assurance within PwC's North Pension team since joining, and more recently have moved into our National Asset Wealth Management ("AWM") team, where I've proactively sought out opportunities to get involved in AWM London based Financial Services clients to expand my knowledge. I continue to develop my pensions specialism, increasingly working across our National practice in addition to broadening my experience with Funds clients.
Prior to joining PwC, I attended a Secondary School which was placed in "special measures" by Ofsted in my GCSE years, despite this I achieved the highest grades which anyone had ever achieved at the School and was recognised at my Sixth Form as having the highest grades of any external student. My Parents had never attended University and it didn't appeal to me, much to my Form Teacher's horror when I announced I wasn't applying to University, my family have always worked in an occupation that requires a trade and so working at a Professional Services Firm was something I'd only seen on TV. I was determined to make something of myself without going to University and applying to PwC as a School Leaver was the best decision I've ever made.
Preeti Singh | KPMG
After completing her Economics degree at the University of Nottingham, Preeti decided to sign up to the Teach First graduate programme and spent 2 years as a secondary school Mathematics teacher in a struggling school in West London.
The intention was to give back to the community she grew up in and take part in the Teach First Leadership Development programme before committing to the corporate world. During this time, Preeti was studying towards the PGCE qualification to become a qualified teacher, whilst teaching full time and positively impacting students’ lives.
Then, in 2017, Preeti joined KPMG on the graduate programme within Technology Risk Consulting and has since been working in Information Risk Management or IT Audit. She grew really quickly within her role, working well above her grade, leading teams, taking ownership of various work-streams, adding value for clients and building strong meaningful relationships both internally and externally.
Alongside her demanding day job working on one of the largest clients in the insurance sector, Preeti looked for ways to stay connected to and helping students’ lives. This is where she came across the IT’s Her Future Juniors programme which was in its planning stage and yet to launch its first event, designed to educate young female students around technology careers and providing long term mentoring. Preeti helped this programme to grow, taking a part in leading events, sourcing schools/students, organising key internal and external speakers and launching further new initiatives such as primary school workshops. In 2019, she took over as the lead of the programme and has been training Future Leaders of the programme, collaborating with other technology firms, overseeing activities and innovating and implementing new innovative workshops for the benefit of future young women.
Outside of her work life, Preeti is passionate about baking, wellness and meeting new people.
Simone Goligorsky | Reed Smith
I am a Counsel in the Energy and Natural Resources Group at law firm Reed Smith.
I advise trading companies, banks and utilities on commodity trading, transactional, and regulatory matters. Most recently, I was seconded to ADNOC, the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, to work on the development of its new trading business, and was fortunate enough to be able to be based in the client’s office in the UAE.
I decided to qualify into the field of commodities trading because of the dynamic and fast-paced environment driven almost entirely by geopolitical events, meaning the nature of the work changes on a regular basis. I work the clients based across the global, which brings with it an opportunity to understand each client’s product, project and geographic concerns, making each matter that I work on unique.
I read French and Philosophy at UCL. I then did the law conversion course at the College of Law, graduating with an LLB. I then studied for an LLM, whilst doing my training contract. I was very lucky to have good careers advisors who told me that it was possible to have a career in law without studying law as an undergraduate degree at university, and that I could undertake my law conversion course following the completion of a Bachelor’s degree.
My language skills have been hugely beneficial to my career: I spent part of my training contract in Paris, following which I was seconded to a client in their French-speaking Geneva office. Being a fluent Russian speaker, I am able to work closely with colleagues in Reed Smith’s Nur-Sultan office, and conduct negotiations with clients in Russian.
Christina Warner | Goldsmith Chambers
Christina is a family law, human rights and animal protection barrister at Goldsmith Chambers. Originally qualifying as a solicitor-advocate, she cross-qualified as she believed her skills could be better utilised at the bar.
Having contributed to campaigns and conferences she raises awareness of social mobility and access to justice for those of marginalised and disenfranchised communities, in particular those of the LGBT and Spanish-speaking communities in London.
Christina often represents individuals who form part of alternative family structures, promoting their rights and those of their children as well as better visibility of the community before the family courts.
After a sabbatical at the Office of the Prosecutor at the International Criminal Court, where Christina contributed to the draft guidance on policies involving children and also formed part of a team of prosecutors bringing cases against individuals involved in the recruitment of child soldiers and girls involved in sexual slavery; Christina was appointed associate counsel in January 2018 with a particular interest in representing the victims of gender-based violence.
Aside from her work in family justice, Christina also works on matters concerning animal protection and domestic abuse and the impact of family law proceedings on the lives of companion animals. Having collaborated with both animal and domestic abuse charities in the UK and internationally, she has advised on the safeguarding and wellbeing of animals in situations of domestic abuse or in circumstances of relationship breakdown, highlighting the role companion animals play in the lives of children who have been subject to family law proceedings.
Christina has been published in leading legal journals on legislation impacting animals, including matters of dog ownership and the need for greater funding for those fleeing domestic abuse with their companion animals.
Christina has been a keynote speaker at international events discussing matters of domestic abuse. During 2020, Christina was invited by US-based charity, Positive Links to speak on two occasions firstly, in May 2020 on the impact of CoVid on domestic abuse in the UK and in September 2020 on the protection of companion animals in situations of domestic abuse.
Christina was also a keynote speaker at Recognise & Respond: Strengthening advocacy for LGBT+ survivors of domestic abuse which was hosted by LGBT charity, GALOP in May 2019. She provided an update in relation to the proposals made by the domestic abuse legislation and how this is likely to affect both service providers and those of the LGBT+ community. Christina was amongst members of Parliament and academics talking on the subject of intimate partner violence and domestic abuse.
In 2021, Christina was diagnosed with Stargardt’s Disease, a genetic birth defect causing which causes sight loss. As someone who is partially sighted, Christina feels honoured to form part of an incredible community of practicing barristers who represent those with seen and unseen disabilities championing for greater visibility and diversity at the bar.
Rachel Welch-Phillips | Bird & Bird LLP
I am an Associate in the International Aviation Group at Bird & Bird LLP.
I act for operating lessors, managers, banks and airlines in a variety of international aviation transactions, and provide regulatory advice to the industry with a special focus on environmental matters. I have experience in commercial and financial aviation matters including aircraft sale and purchase, operating leases and asset management.
Alongside my law degree, I hold a BA and MPhil (Cantab) in Environmental Policy and advise on regulatory and compliance issues in relation to airline greenhouse gas emissions and other environmental matters. In addition, I assist clients with a broad range of regulatory matters within the aviation industry including slot allocation, big data, jurisidictional issues, the law of unmanned aerial vehicles, and general compliance with EU and UK aviation law.
As the daughter of a diplomat my life has been characterised by constant travel, predominantly to places where being black was the exception not the rule. From an early age I faced the challenges of representing visible and audible difference, and in overcoming these, I have learned the significant strength to be found in being different. Throughout my legal journey and in my role as Chair and Founder of the BAME Network at Bird & Bird LLP, Embrace, I strive to prove and to empower others to apply the strength that lies in confidently portraying unique characteristics and perspectives.
Emily Agnoli | Simmons & Simmons
Emily has over 10 years’ experience managing complex international criminal, regulatory and internal investigations, for individuals and corporates. Her work has included:
• investigating a $9.6 billion fraud involving two prominent Saudi families;
• advising on an SFO investigation into a financial institution regarding two capital raisings during the 2008 financial crisis;
• persuading HMRC not to prosecute a retired banker accused of involvement in a film financing tax avoidance scheme;
• advising a global company on a substantial police investigation into fraud and misconduct in public office, involving over 50 witnesses; and
• advising Petrofac on its high-profile ongoing SFO investigation.
She has carried out numerous internal investigations and advised on investigations involving the Financial Conduct Authority, US Department of Justice, UK police, Maritime and Coastguard Agency and HMRC. Alongside this work she has experience of high profile civil litigation with expertise in managing the issues that arise in parallel civil and criminal proceedings. Emily also advises clients on contentious data protection litigation, cyber-attack and data breach response and notification, most recently advising an investor services company in relation to threatened litigation by a PEP for GDPR breaches.
Emily is passionate about the development of junior talent at the firm, acting as a mentor, in particular to junior women and those preparing to go off on or return from maternity leave. Emily is Head of the Associates Gender Balance Committee and helped draft the firm’s race and ethnicity allies booklet. She is a finalist in the Outstanding Returner category in the Women in Law Awards 2020 following her successful return from her second maternity leave and recently started a ‘Mums in Law’ support group.
Having originally studied History at the University of Edinburgh, she did her law conversion at BPP Law School in London. She has two young daughters and lives in East London.
Erika Pagano | Simmons Wavelength (Simmons & Simmons)
Erika is the Head of Legal Innovation and Design at Simmons Wavelength. She is an award-winning lawyer, innovator, and educator whose sweet spots include culture creation, leadership, strategy, teaming, technology, and cross-border initiatives.
Having dedicated nearly a decade to change, creativity, and client centricity in the legal profession, Erika works with a wide variety of clients on harnessing the power of applied legal design—that is, taking a holistic and practical approach to how visual, verbal, and technological factors add value to communications, processes, and interactions by facilitating accelerated digitalization, ensuring simplicity and streamlining, and creating competitive advantage. She leads the world's first and only legal design team housed within a global law firm.
Prior to joining Simmons, Erika was a full-time academic at the University of Miami School of Law and led legal innovation and culture creation projects for some of the world's largest corporations and law firms. She was also the Director of LawWithoutWalls, the world's largest legal innovation education nonprofit that enables teams of lawyers, business professionals, and students from six continents to collaborate and hone their creative and cultural competencies. In these roles, Erika has taught thousands of students and professionals the skills needed for success in the 21st century legal profession. Between her undergraduate and law degrees, Erika lived and worked in China. She has a background in broadcasting, a love for speaking Spanish and Chinese, and will never turn down another Sichuan cookbook.
Erika has been recognised by the Financial Times and the British Legal Awards. She is a regular speaker and published author. She also serves as Guest Faculty at IE University (Madrid), where she teaches courses on innovation in the legal profession at both the undergraduate and Masters levels. She sits on multiple boards (Georgetown Class of 2008 Committee, LawWithoutWalls Advisory Board, Awesome Foundation London, University of Miami School of Law Alumni Board and National Advisory Council, and ILTA Law School Advisory Group) and is a graduate of the Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University and the University of Miami School of Law, where she served as Managing Editor of the University of Miami Law Review.
Memento Charinga | Legal & General Investment Management
Memento has responsibility for designing, executing and managing multi-asset solutions for pension schemes.
She has over 8 years of experience of working with DB pension schemes, having joined LGIM in early 2018 from Aon where she was a product specialist within the fiduciary management team. Memento has a Master’s degree in Actuarial Finance from Imperial College London and an honours degree from Heriot Watt University. Alongside her professional role, Memento works to drive positive change in the industry through her volunteer roles, mentoring and work on various committees.
Memento is passionate about creating opportunities for others and access to education, she works tirelessly with organisations in the UK and in Zimbabwe to help fund education and provide basic support for less fortunate students.
Rachel Harbers | Morgan Stanley
Born and bred in Australia I have always chased adventure and new experiences, from sea kayaking in Fiji for my Gold Duke of Edinburgh expedition, completing a university social business internship in India or my placement with a Middle East strategy consulting firm.
My high school exchange to Benenden School in Kent introduced me to The City, and inspired me to seek a dynamic and international career path in the City of London.
I studied a Bachelor of Economics at The Women’s College, within the University of Sydney and was awarded ‘The Women’s College Scholarship’ for my skills in academic, sporting and cultural life. After graduating, I began my career in Private Wealth Management at Morgan Stanley in Sydney, and within six months I was asked to step up and lead the International Middle Office team whilst my Manager was on maternity leave. The leadership opportunity allowed me to recognise that I thrive working in a team environment where I lead projects and find solutions.
This drive directed my relocation in October 2018 to London with Morgan Stanley Investment Management. My role as a Transitions Manager gave me a broad understanding of the investment management life cycle and I was delighted that my immediate impact was recognised by being a Finalist in the 2019 Women in Investment Awards 'Rising Star of the Year'.
My recent move to the International Product team has involved regular contact with colleagues and clients across EMEA, Asia, and US and has been a dynamic forum for relationship management and negotiation skills across large scale projects. I thrive on a collaborative approach to effectively manage stakeholder expectations and shifting deadlines, within our team philosophy of innovation.
An early introduction to community volunteering through The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award has led to fundraising for Cancer Research with a 1km ocean swim and sprint triathlon in Australia’s 40 degree summer heat to my current role as Co-Chair of the Future Leaders Shadow Board (FLSB) for Women in Banking & Finance (WIBF). I have led our recent forward strategy for the FLSB, and personally networked to recruit a diverse group of future leaders from across the industry and created an inclusive and collaborative board environment with my Co-Chair. Despite Covid-19, many opportunities abound for mentoring others through WIBF, and I am hoping to run my first charity half-marathon in 2021.
My vision as a WeAreTheCity Rising Star would be to focus on inspiring Future Leaders for the Investment Management industry. Through collaboration between WeAreTheCity and Women in Banking and Finance - I would aim to reach out to the wider community by running educational panel events with girls in high schools across the UK on the multiple roles and career paths available within the industry. It would be full circle - as a schoolgirl from Australia, I learnt of The City and it inspired me on my career pathway. To then represent The City to inspire other young women across diverse backgrounds to be the next generation of Future Leaders would be a rewarding way to pay it forward.