Lauren Lyons | Oliver Wyman
I love the variation that consulting brings and the positive solution led impact we have with our clients.
My first 2 years were as a Generalist consultant (being promoted to Senior Consultant in my first year), I then aligned to our Organisational Effectiveness Practice and was promoted to Associate. I then made the decision to start a family and subsequently took 9 months off for maternity. I returned working 3 days a week across the public and private sector managing organisational transformations with my clients. I believed it was important to show to my peers that it was possible to have a fulfilling career while also having a fulfilling family lifestyle. That same year my growth and achievements were recognised and I was promoted to Engagement Manger. I have since been back at work full time for a little longer than a year and in addition to my project delivery role at clients, I am UK&I Chief of staff and led our Women of Oliver Wyman (WOW) network in 2020/2021, which focuses on building a community within the London office where women can thrive and collaborating with other women's networks.
I was the first person in my family to go to University. My head of sixth form was against me applying for Oxford as she didn't think my application would be successful. This taught me an early lesson to listen to the people who broaden your horizons and tell you what you could do, instead of what you can't do. A degree and masters later, in Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, and post completion of my DPhil studying Influenza virus all at Oxford University I joined the world of consulting. I joined consulting after my DPhil as I felt I still had so much to learn and wanted to broaden my experience outside of science and academia. I have now worked for Oliver Wyman for 5 years across 20+ projects, within many industries and across international locations.
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.
Michelle Nunkoo | Dell Technologies
An inspiring leader I manage a talented diverse team of senior consultants with a passion to deliver successful outcomes and support our clients on their digital transformation journeys.
Over the last year in a climate of change, challenge and unknown, Cyber Attacks have been more prevalent than ever and the ripple effects from a Cyberattack can be far-reaching and result in BIG losses. I have driven a successful framework to grow, develop and expand capability and knowledge share to enable a ready workforce to work with our clients to respond to such threats and protect their critical assets. This has led to enhanced time to value, reducing mobilisation lead times, winning client confidence and future business. I am comfortable presenting / advising and collaborating with all levels within our Customer environments from CxO to technical teams.
I began my career at Dell Technologies in 2005 rising from an Internal Sales Executive to Project/Program management, positively impacting our business along the way. I accepted a Leadership role in 2018 and have consistently used my influence to foster a growth mindset and inspire others in their career journeys. I am driven and passionate about Diversity and Inclusion and actively drive towards Dell Technologies 2030 Moon-shot goals. I embrace change and prepare team members for the advancing Digital Age. As a Co-Founder of Women in Consulting, I helped all genders expand their networks, driving connections with senior VPs and other executives across the organization.
I am a participant in a small group of selected individuals to participate in the EMEA “Future Talent program” designed for our future leadership.
I like to challenge the norm and privileged to be part of the Mental Health committee and working on many initiatives such as podcasts, team and management talks to ensure each of us take the time to talk and eliminate taboos.
Outside of work, I am a proud mother of two children, a true fitness fanatic and love a challenge! Being half Spanish, travel and culture is a true passion and a fun fact would be a breath taking 12,000 ft sky dive over the Hoover Damn which was quite the experience! My next adventure is the Inca trail (Machu Picchu) Challenge in 2022. Nestled high in the slopes of the Andes, more than 7,000 feet above sea level, I will be trekking over 6 days, helping to raise funds for the Talent Foundry charity, which helps young people reach their full potential, and share in the common good.
Jessica Curtis | Atkins Global
Shortly after graduating Edinburgh University with a BSc in Geography, I joined Atkins on the Junior Consultant Development Programme in June 2019.
To date I’ve held a few roles within the business, my first role being a PMO controller within Heathrow Airport Limited’s Cyber Programme. My role encompassed providing key support across multiple projects and facilitating the coordination of the programme logistics.
My second role, also in Cyber space, was as a Testing Project Manager within a Government Department. Here I worked closely with key stakeholders to provide a sustainable, enduring in-house capability to improve cybersecurity behaviours. Although by far the most challenging part of my career, this role was without a doubt extremely rewarding. In my current role I sit as Intervention Lead within the Management team to coordinate 3 cyber workstreams.
People are at the core everything that I do. I thoroughly enjoy working with a diverse range of people across both my organisation and clients; valuing and celebrating all those that surround me.
I’m delighted to be nominated for a Rising Star award.
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.
Natasha Dutton | Allen & Overy LLP
Natasha is a Trainee Solicitor at Allen & Overy in London and manager at GROW Mentoring, a charity which aims to increase access to law for aspiring lawyers from underrepresented backgrounds.
She is an Australian who studied Politics at the University of Western Australia before moving to London to study her GDL and LPC at BPP University in London. Natasha is passionate about diversity and inclusion in the legal profession and has a particular focus on mentoring young women in law.
Corinna McClune | Citigroup
I was called to the bar in July 2014 after receiving an Exhibition Scholarship and Duke of Edinburgh entrance award from the Inner Temple.
In September 2014 I joined the Citi Legal Department as a Legal Analyst, negotiating documentation for the markets business. In 2017 I took a leap and moved into my current role as EMEA Sanctions, AML and Anti Bribery Counsel and was made a Vice President in 2018. In this role I serve as a subject matter expert regional counsel, covering Citi's operations across all business lines in more than 50 countries in Europe, the Middle East in Africa.
I am in my third year of mentoring with Career Ready which is a national social mobility charity for students and after mentoring some fantastic students in previous years, this year I am serving as mentor support to first time mentors within Citi Belfast. I have also served as a ‘peer mentor’ in the Citi Legal Department, mentoring a peer who is a newcomer to Citi. I am a member of the Citi Belfast Families Matter Steering Committee, we are a small group of employees who deliver programmes and events to help support families in the different stages of a persons career and their personal life. I joined this team as part of my passion for working parents and carers to get as much support as they can from their employer and know what is available to them, as well as being able to plan some fun events along the way. I am also a member of the Pro Bono Access to Justice scheme, taking part in various pro bono projects and a member of our legal team’s Development Committee, which works to implement ideas and initiatives across the Corporate Legal Department globally.
Outside of work I am a girl guide leader so you'll find me preparing crafts or camps for young girls and I'm looking forward to my 4 year old daughter being able to join me this year in guiding. I am also a charity trustee of a local playgroup.
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.
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.
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.