Champion for Change

In his remarks accepting the ArbitralWomen 2018 Champion for Change Award, Professor Davis quoted Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. who said “You not only have the right to be free, you have the duty to be free” and encouraged women striving for success in international dispute resolution to bear in mind these words: "you not only have the right to have such dreams, but the duty to have such great dreams come to pass".

Among the great things about ArbitralWomen is that you make it easier for us to help each other. For example, ArbitralWomen currently maintains the only database that allows you to search for names by what prospective candidates have declared as their legal system of experience, their specific legal expertise, and their practice areas. If, as a party, you use this database to identify candidates, or encourage an institution to refer to it in making appointments, you can increase your chances of getting the best arbitrator for your case. Similarly, we often hear of colleagues, including women, who have been unwilling to accept the risk of appointing lesser-known women arbitrators. But did they consider the risks of ending up with an all-male tribunal? As an in-house counsel who can show that acting on diversity does not mean doing anyone any favours, I am especially honored to be recognized by ArbitralWomen. The work you do benefits us and our companies. And we are all more successful as a result.

When I started in arbitration 25 or 30 years ago you could count the number of women active in the field on the fingers of two hands; there was little doubt it was a male preserve. But it changed as so many other things have changed under feminine influence, and it changed for the better.

As an "old fashioned" engineer-arbitrator, I noted that I am in a minority within the increasingly specialized field of arbitration and could therefore understand the problems that women have faced. Ever since inviting Louise to speak at Boston, I have observed the development of ArbitralWomen. I hope, and like to think that I have played my part in encouraging women in their study of arbitration.

I do not know that I deserve this award. But I promise you I will try to live up to it.

The goals and achievements of AW command the profoundest respect and support from all those who seek a vibrant future for international arbitration. The conditions for promotion of essential features of international arbitration practice lie at the heart of the success of ArbitralWomen. Over the years since I first had the privilege of working with ArbitralWomen in the lead-up to the 2008 ICCA Conference in Dublin, it has become very clear to me that its work and aims have given support to many who wish to open the doors of international arbitration. Without the pioneering work of ArbitralWomen pursuing the goals of equality and diversity, it would be difficult to see how the extraordinarily rich seam of practitioners from all over the world would have decided to pursue a career in international arbitration. It may be reasonable to say now that anyone from anywhere who wishes to work in this field has a reasonably equal shot at success; all one has to do so see evidence of this is look at the diversity of practitioners globally. This is something for which we can all be proud, but particularly for ArbitralWomen whose contribution is substantial and ongoing.