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?

During periods of instability or crisis, I prioritise a proactive and risk-based legal approach. This involves rapidly assessing potential exposures – regulatory, contractual, reputational – and implementing mitigation strategies that are both legally sound and commercially viable. I work closely with cross-functional teams to ensure legal decisions are aligned with operational realities and strategic priorities.

My legal strategy is designed to support business continuity and resilience. That means embedding flexibility into contractual frameworks, ensuring compliance with evolving regulations, and maintaining clear communication with stakeholders. I also emphasise scenario planning and legal stress-testing to anticipate challenges before they escalate.

Ultimately, the legal function must act as both a safeguard and a strategic enabler. By aligning legal responses with the broader business strategy, we help the organisation navigate uncertainty with confidence and agility.

What measures has your company taken to embed sustainability practices into its core business operations, and how does the role of the general counsel contribute to driving and ensuring sustainable practices within the company?

Bupa is fully committed to protect the environment. This is why we recently updated our company purpose to helping people live longer, healthier, happier lives and making a better world. To bring this purpose to life, Bupa has launched a number of initiatives, for example, with our Healthy Cities program, we encourage people to adopt healthy, long-term habits in their day to day lives, while preserving and regenerating green spaces. By completing activities like walking 6,000 steps a day and challenges set via the Healthy Cities app, participants can unlock investment from Bupa into the restoration of the environment in urban areas.

As Legal Director, I have a unique opportunity to influence my organisation into becoming more sustainable by taking specific actions in my day-to-day activities. For example: becoming paperless by implementing electronic signatures on contracts and corporate documents in general. Also, I can impact the communities the company makes business in by promoting fair and clear business relationships.