From Without Prejudice to Until Proven Innocent

Description

Nicola Williams FRSA

From Without Prejudice to Until Proven Innocent

There is so much to admire about Nicola. Certainly successful, and rightly so, in the legal profession, and also as an author. Broadcaster too – I listened to her recent interview on BBC R4 Woman’s Hour which was illuminating. However, she has encountered enormous challenges and almost inevitably prejudice along the way.

How has she dealt with it, fought it and accomplished what she has done? The title of her presentation are not only the titles of her 2 most recent books, which whilst not actually autobiographical, will nevertheless give us a flavour to what will be a brilliant and moving event

Biography

Nicola Williams is a part-time Crown Court Judge, author and NED/Board member. She has been listed as one of the 100 most influential Black people in the UK.  

After a successful career at the Bar (including as a legal commentator on the OJ Simpson verdict) she served as an Ombudsman both in the UK and internationally, including as a Commissioner at the Independent Police Complaints Commission and as the Complaints Commissioner of the Cayman Islands. She was the first Service Complaints Ombudsman for the UK Armed Forces,  one of the most senior women and the most senior Black person in UK Defence. 

Nicola also holds a number of Board and Trustee positions. She is Chair of the Independent Complaints Panel for the Portman Group; Chair of the Disciplinary Committee and a Regulatory Board Member of the IFoA; co-Chair of the EDI Forum for the Association of Chief Executives; and a Trustee of Bridge Support, a mental health and drugs charity. She is also an active volunteer for Speakers for Schools.