What are the key projects you have been involved in over the past 12 months?

Over the last 12 months, there has been a national conversation about data privacy and online safety. Connecting and protecting 30 million consumers up and down the country means BT has a unique say in this discussion. We’ve responded to government and regulator consultations on protecting people from illegal harms online, making the case for how content moderation, user controls and governance and accountability could best be implemented ahead of the Online Safety Act becoming law.

The scale of our customer base has also required our team to take steps to defend our market position when it’s been called into question, and I’m really proud of the efforts we made to successfully defend ourselves against recent class action and competition law claims. We’ve also put in the groundwork to strengthen our position as an industry leader for the next year and beyond, shaping our position on proposals by the regulator to auction more network spectrum for 4G and 5G mobile use.

How do you approach managing legal aspects during periods of instability or crises, and how does your legal strategy align with the broader business strategy to ensure the organisation’s resilience?

For almost 180 years, BT has brought progress for the UK – and now, we’re undergoing a major transformation for the next chapter of our story. As a company and a brand, BT has a unique place in the national consciousness – connecting and protecting millions of homes, businesses and public services across the country – so working here you get a real sense that when we change BT for the better, we also do better for customers and the country. The broader business has a clear strategy in place, and my team plays an important part in its delivery. So the pressure is on!

Our legal strategy is all about enabling the business to deliver for customers, stakeholders and the nation. For us, this means constantly looking at how we can be best equipped to both support and protect a brand that is like no other. Recently, we’ve refreshed our Legal Panel to accelerate our work with a smaller set of strategic partners, benchmarking them on key criteria including usage and incorporation of AI. Our drive for smarter legal work has also seen our team invest in new technology that has enabled better competitive sourcing when it comes to how we partner with firms. This investment into our own way of working has undoubtedly made us more efficient and has also given us a better stream of data to show our stakeholders the value we bring – which is always important as an in-house legal team.

What is a cause, business or otherwise, that you are passionate about?

As a life-long theatre lover, I am really passionate about the arts and their ability to amplify unheard voices that bring people together. I was incredibly proud to serve as a Trustee of the National Theatre in recent years and more recently, to be appointed Chair at the Kiln Theatre. I’ve long admired the progress and impact of the Kiln Theatre and the important role it plays within the local community in Kilburn, so to play a part in helping everyone experience the power of theatre while reflecting the cultural diversity of local artists is a huge honour.