Browne Jacobson trainee lawyer makes global OUTstanding LGBT and Role Model Lists 2021

Hannah Collins, a Nottingham based trainee lawyer at Browne Jacobson has been listed in the OUTstanding LGBT+ Future Leaders Role Model List for 2021. The global list which is sponsored by Yahoo! Finance showcases LGBT+ business leaders and allies who are breaking down barriers and making a significant contribution to LGBT+ inclusion in the workplace.

Hannah who joined the national law firm in 2015, was central in the formation of Browne Jacobson’s internal Diversity & Inclusion (D&I) steering group where, along with partner, James Arrowsmith she has an active role in educating the firm on LGBT+ related matters and championing related initiatives.

She has supported changes to the firm’s Pronoun policies and regularly writes personal blogs and hosts internal webinars / discussion groups which focus on LGBT+ related topics. She has also been pivotal in organising and promoting in person and virtual Pride and LGBT History Month events at the firm and has co-ordinated the firm’s involvement with external Pride marches.

Earlier in the year, Hannah helped drive the set-up of the East Midlands branch of the Alliance Network through her participation in an external LGBT+ steering group. The firm now collaborates with the Network which brings together some of the region’s most diverse employers and LGBT+ professionals and staff networks from across the region. The mission of the Network is to unite organisations to share good practice, provide support networks, facilitate events, and make the region the best place for LGBT+ individuals to live and work. Hannah co-ordinated and led on the first panel discussion which launched the East Midlands Alliance Network, by focusing on intersectionality.

The OUTstanding LGBT+ role Models List celebrates individuals and professionals who are actively making a difference and driving the LGBT+ agenda in the businesses and sectors they operate in. The impressive judging panel includes: Jim Fitterling, CEO of DOW; Dawn Airey, Independent Director of Grosvenor Estates GBI; Ashok Vaswani, Global Consumer and Payments Head at Barclays; Harriet Green, CEO & Chairman, Asia Pac; Suki Sandhu, Founder & CEO of Involve & Audeliss and Lianna Brinded, Head of Yahoo! Finance UK.

Hannah Collins commented:

“It is a real honour to have been named in the OUTstanding LGBT+ Future Leaders Role Models List and to be positioned alongside some fantastic business community advocates of LGBT+. The corporate sector still has quite a journey ahead in terms of diversity and representation but organisations like Outstanding are doing some fantastic work in encouraging businesses and business leaders from across the globe to become more progressive, inclusive and accessible to people from a minority groups that are faced with societal structures and barriers.

“I am very passionate about championing D&I within the legal profession and am fortunate enough to work for a large progressive organisation that has D&I firmly on its agenda and wants to make a difference. I endeavour to continue to make a difference too.”

Oliver Holmes, Head of D&I at Browne Jacobson added:

“We are so delighted that Hannah has been given this amazing accolade. Over the last three years, she has played an important part in shaping the firm’s LGBT+ agenda and advocating for change. She is an authentic and inspirational role model for diversity and inclusivity at the firm, so it is fantastic to see her work being recognised outside of the business.”