Jersey female leaders network goes global

Thursday 14 March 2019

A network for female leaders in Jersey to connect with each other is set to go global, including Bermuda, BVI, Cayman Islands, Guernsey, Hong Kong and the Isle of Man.

Established in 2017, Appleby's Female Leaders Network brings together women in senior positions across the jurisdictions in which the firm operates, who meet regularly to discuss and champion workplace diversity and boardroom representation.

Their meetings are informal and the network includes women from various industries and backgrounds.

Pictured: Wendy Benjamin, Appleby's Managing Partner.

Appleby Managing Partner Wendy Benjamin, who launched the network in 2017 by bringing together a group of senior female leaders from the island, commented: “I am really proud of the Female Leaders Network and the work we are doing to celebrate and promote diversity in the workplace, particularly in the boardroom, where we know women are less represented. As a global firm we want to be leading such important conversations.”

Various female partners and employees across the jurisdictions are already supporting the initiative, which was announced on International Women's Day.

“Diversity is an important subject and one that we take very seriously at Appleby,” said Faye Moffett, Managing Partner for the Isle of Man office. “We champion diversity across the organisation and understand the benefits to the firm of having a diverse workforce. As a firm that has a global network which spans 10 jurisdictions, we are a naturally diverse organisation. Females account for more than half of the business as a whole, which is similarly reflected across our senior lawyers and other leadership positions.”

Pictured: The network was born in Jersey in 2017.

She added: “Gender is of course only one measure of diversity. When we are recruiting at Appleby it is about finding the right person for the job regardless of gender, religion, race, disability or sexuality. It is also about diversity of thought and having people from different experiences, backgrounds and mindsets.”

Bermuda Partner Tammy Richardson-Augustus, commented: “It is incumbent on us to foster a culture where diverse voices are heard, supported and valued and where inclusion is not merely tolerated but receives unquestioned acceptance. An inclusive workplace is quite simply a business imperative. We are pleased to play our part in carving out a path for diversity in the legal arena.”