Most recently, she worked with the World Bank on regional transmission line projects to enable post-conflict countries, such as Liberia and Sierra Leone, to import electricity.

Ambitions

I had wanted to be a singer, but as my father was an academic, you were expected to go to University. University just completely broadened my horizons, as it does. Keele had a very broad base. You had to do lots of different subjects, a liberal arts agenda and liberal sciences too. As a result of which I felt I could learn anything. At Keele, the Professor of Law arranged for me to do a Diploma in Comparative Law at Strasbourg University. You learnt about everybody else's laws, using legal tools to solve problems. So the feature and focus of my career has been global from the start.

Of course parents are role models. My mother came from a poor family, and in her day you needed money to go to University.  So instead she wound up a nurse at Bart's Hospital and was completely captured by all the history, in the City around her, that was accessible and free.  She taught herself.  She became an amateur Historian.  She wound up writing books, papers, and articles on embroidery and tapestries. Followed by an honorary degree, and an MBE.   You can do a lot to teach yourself.

My Teacher

I had several teachers who were role models.  Miss Shaw had been a journalist in Moscow.  She taught us French and Russian.  Her great friend was Andrei Gromyko, the Russian Minister for Foreign Affairs.  She was a real Global Citizen and had been a journalist all over the world. She taught us current affairs as well as languages, which was unusual in those days.

As a child I never really knew girls were different.  I had two older brothers; you could say I was brought up as a tomboy.  I was given a doll's pram for Christmas and by Boxing Day it was converted into a tank.  I didn't really know I was a girl at all ... why would you?

Two Interesting Incidents

In my role as Lord Mayor, at a reception for the Irish President, we were introduced to a dignitary.  I shook his hand first, then he turned to my husband, Nicholas, and he said, "I knew your predecessor, Roger Gifford".

Another one in India, my Sheriff Sir Paul Judge came with me.  When we went on a visit, I introduced myself.  By that time I'd been given a bouquet of flowers.  I introduced Paul, as my Sheriff and the dignitary said, "Sir Paul, I'm delighted to meet you", took him by the arm and walked him around, and I had to walk a step behind!

My programme:

As a lawyer, the role of law, human rights and anti-corruption are key. I really don't think that society can progress on any agenda, whether it's economic, social or environmental, if you don't have all those in place. With that goes a strong sense of responsibility for the others.  I am thinking of my three granddaughters.  Responsibility for, not just prosperity but, the planet and society on an intergenerational basis.

Working Chance

My other programme Driving Diversity, supports Working Chance, one of my four charities.

My Mayoralty was an opportunity to focus on diversity in the widest sense.  This is very appropriate for me as a lawyer, we can only rehabilitate offenders if we find work for them.  It is the work place where we can integrate them back into society and build their self-respect. It is so important to do this for women offenders for these reasons. The Government is focused on men, they don't really do anything for women because the numbers are so small - 95% men to about 5% women.

Many of them are single mothers, and we want turn them back into role models for their children. The final reason is that every candidate that they put into the work place, has not re-offended - 100%, against a national average of 85%.