Let's Yarn: Rebels With A Cause with Justice Dina Yehia (Part 1)

Elena Lambros, our ESG and Sustainability Partner, delves into the heart of corporate sustainability with Sarah Downie the CEO of the Shared Value Project.

Introduced by Harvard’s Michael Porter and Mark Kramer in 2011, shared value is a concept that can have an impactful role in today’s corporate world. In this episode, guest Sarah Downie delves into the concept and how companies social and environmental challenges can become powerful opportunities for growth and innovation.

The podcast also shines a light on the critical role of executive support and board engagement to advance the shared value agenda, advocating for a vision where business objectives and societal needs are not just aligned, but mutually reinforcing.

To stay informed and catch-up on our Game Changers and Transition Makers mini-series subscribe to Ashurst ESG Matters on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your preferred podcast platform.

The information provided is not intended to be a comprehensive review of all developments in the law and practice, or to cover all aspects of those referred to. Listeners should take legal advice before applying it to specific issues or transactions.

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In this episode, Elena Lambros, Ashurst’s Risk Sustainability and Climate Change partner, sits down with Christiaan Jordaan, founder and CEO of Sicona, a battery materials technology and manufacturing company.

Christiaan shares his journey in founding Sicona, a company dedicated to increasing access to high-performance, cost-effective battery materials. He speaks about how this technology revolutionises lithium-ion batteries and enables electric vehicles to go further by reducing upfront costs and speeding up charging times.

Discover how Sicona is driving the sustainability agenda through innovative clean tech solutions and making strides in transitioning to a sustainable energy future.

To stay informed and catch up on our Game Changers and Transition Makers mini-series, subscribe to Ashurst ESG Matters on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your preferred podcast platform.

The information provided is not intended to be a comprehensive review of all developments in the law and practice, or to cover all aspects of those referred to. Listeners should take legal advice before applying it to specific issues or transactions.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Discover how social analytics is shaping the communities of tomorrow with Elena Lambros, Head of Ashurst's Risk Sustainability and Climate Change practice and Neighbourlytics CEO and Founder Jessica Christiansen-Franks.

This Game Changers and Transition Makers episode delves into Neighbourlytics' transformative technology and its positive impact on town planning. Jessica shares how social analytics are creating thriving communities and the role that data can play to empower the property sector to make informed decisions in real-time. 

The discussion expands on social and environmental sustainability in the property sector, highlighting data's pivotal role in creating thriving communities.

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Four female professionals of South Asian heritage share stories of their family, their upbringing, and their careers in the UK. Along the way, they discuss the battles fought and won, and take an unflinching look at the challenges still ahead.

Ashurst PR Manager Varsha Patel leads a discussion about the past, present and future for people of South Asian Heritage in the United Kingdom.

As the episode unfolds, Sunita Harley from Collective Insight and Ashurst colleagues Rabinder Sokhi and Aisha Azim, each share the stories of how their families came to be in the UK.

Together, the women marvel at their parents’ struggles and triumphs; reflect on their own upbringings and careers; and consider the life and career prospects for the next generation coming up behind them.

Their conversation also explores the ongoing challenges of racism, the importance of education, and the need for representation and equality in the workplace. Finally, the group picks out some of their favourite South Asian role models – from famous trailblazers to close family members.

The information provided is not intended to be a comprehensive review of all developments in the law and practice, or to cover all aspects of those referred to. Listeners should take legal advice before applying it to specific issues or transactions.

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Is it possible to transform financial markets to reward organisations for positive impacts on people and planet? Absolutely, explains filmmaker and social entrepreneur Rupert Pearce.

To conclude Ashurst’s 30 For Net Zero 30 podcast series, we’ve saved one of the best for last. Our final special guest is Rupert Pearce, who is seeking to rewire the financial markets to reward organisations for positive impacts on people and planet.

Together with regular host Anna Marie Slot, Rupert reflects on how to drive behavioural change among corporates, governments, and individuals to achieve social and environmental progress. Along the way, they talk about how to harness technology, education, the UN Sustainable Development Goals, and more.

Rupert also shares his learnings from working on the first Olympic Ceremony to be co-produced by a group of individuals with learning disabilities. He explains how Rewired.earth is building consensus for sustainable action in financial markets. And he emphasises the need for a shared language for ESG that gives people a voice – and businesses a reason – to change.

Listen back to the complete 30 For Net Zero 30 series – featuring an array of inspiring change makers – by 

subscribing to ESG Matters @ Ashurst on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.

This is the thirtieth episode in our 30 For Net Zero 30 series. In each episode, Ashurst Global Sustainability/ESG Partner Anna-Marie Slot speaks with climate action champions across the globe about real steps to take now towards 2030 goals.

The information provided is not intended to be a comprehensive review of all developments in the law and practice, or to cover all aspects of those referred to. Listeners should take legal advice before applying it to specific issues or transactions.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, Jeff Ovens, Managing Director UK, Europe and Middle East a Fulcrum BioEnergy joins Global Sustainability/ESG Partner Anna-Marie Slot.

Fulcrum BioEnergy is a clean energy company pioneering the creation of renewable drop-in sustainable aviation fuel from landfill waste.

Jeff talks about his interest in the aviation sector with a focus on sustainable fuel for the last decade, the progress of energy transition in Asia and the impact of Covid-19 on sustainability.

This is the twenty-nineth episode in our 30 For Net Zero 30 series. In each episode, Ashurst Global Sustainability/ESG Partner Anna-Marie Slot speaks with climate action champions across the globe about real steps to take now towards 2030 goals.

The information provided is not intended to be a comprehensive review of all developments in the law and practice, or to cover all aspects of those referred to. Listeners should take legal advice before applying it to specific issues or transactions.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, Ashurst's Global Sustainability/ESG Partner Anna-Marie Slot is joined by James Harayda, skipper and team principal at the Gentoo Sailing team.

James is the youngest skipper currently entered in the next Vendee Globe race, and in November, 2024 will become the youngest competitor to embark from France on this 25,000 nautical mile solo nonstop round the world yacht race. Not only is James going to skippering throughout this competition but also taking water samples to collect data for scientific research to help provide a greater understanding of what's happening with our waters and help give scientists fundamentals, to decide what actions we really need to take, the combat the adverse impacts of humans.

James and Anna-Marie discuss what sustainability means to him as a sailor, the importance of learning more about the ocean for sustainability purposes and what needs to happen around ocean stewardship.

Ashurst are delighted to have partnered with Gentoo Sailing Team whose innovative vision and sustainability ambitions reflect our own. To find out more about our partnership, visit our partnership page.

The information provided is not intended to be a comprehensive review of all developments in the law and practice, or to cover all aspects of those referred to. Listeners should take legal advice before applying it to specific issues or transactions.

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Ashurst First Nations Lead, Trent Wallace, turns the tables and interviews one of Australia's most distinguished and respected journalists, Kerry O'Brien, to discuss Kerry's allyship origins, his new book co-authored with Thomas Mayo, "The Voice to Parliament Handbook: All the Detail You Need", and the media's role in mitigating risk to First Nations societies.

In this special Let's Yarn episode, Trent talks with Kerry O'Brien about his allyship origins, his new handbook with Thomas Mayo about The Voice, and the media's role in mitigating risk to First Nations societies.

The conversation also includes Kerry's personal experience in witnessing key moments of Australian history up close, from how the governments of the past have tried to provide an Indigenous Voice to Government, being in the room when Hawke announced the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody, thoughts about past referendums, his reporting of land rights, Mabo, the ATSIC establishment and abolishment, to witnessing the Whitlam Dismissal. All of which have shaped and influenced Kerry's interest in Indigenous issues in Australia.

This is not intended to be a comprehensive review of all developments in the law and practice, or to cover all aspects of those referred to. Listeners should take legal advice before applying it to specific issues or transactions.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ashurst First Nations Lead Trent Wallace continues his yarn with advocate and trailblazer The Honourable Judge Dina Yehia SC. They discuss high-profile cases, diversity in law, and a refreshing new approach to sentencing.

In the second part of this illuminating podcast interview, Justice Dina Yehia SC reflects on her practice in the Supreme Court, which included murder and terrorism trials. In 2013, she appeared as lead counsel in the High Court case of The Queen v Bugmy. “We wanted to move the law along,” she explains. “We wanted to say [that] the High Court should endorse a position whereby judges should take into account – when sentencing an Indigenous person – the systemic disadvantage brought about by colonisation and dispossession.”

Justice Yehia also talks about the overrepresentation of Aboriginal people in custody and her work to establish an Indigenous sentencing court as part of the NSW District Court. The Walama List commenced operating in the District Court on 31 January 2022. “It’s a very different approach to sentencing,” she explains, emphasising the involvement of Aboriginal people in several instrumental roles. “We conduct conversations that really are a deep dive into the underlying issues that give rise to people’s offending and, equally importantly, what do we do about it?”

Her Honour also shares some advice for young lawyers and discusses her role as Chair of Diverse Women in Law, which encourages women from diverse backgrounds to enter, remain and progress in the legal profession. “I do believe that if you love the law [then] you need to give back,” she says.

Note: The Hon. Justice Dina Yehia was appointed as a Supreme Court judge as of July 4 2022. References to Justice Yehia as "Her Honour Judge Dina Yehia SC" refers to her previous position at the District Court. We apologise for not using her new title. 

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Ashurst First Nations Lead Trent Wallace yarns with advocate and trailblazer, Justice Dina Yehia, where they discover they share a similar rebellious streak.

In this episode, Justice Dina Yehia reflects on her life and times working in Australia’s criminal justice system and being an advocate for First Nations justice. In conversation with Ashurst First Nations Lead Trent Wallace, Justice Yehia explains how a rebellious, non-English-speaking girl from Egypt ended up pursuing criminal and social justice in remote Australia.

The conversation covers her early career as a junior solicitor working in remote Australia, the late night bus journeys to Broken Hill, and defending Aboriginal people in court. “I don’t have any recollection of being apprehensive or scared or afraid of what might come,” she recalls. “I always got on that bus with a sense of excitement… We had some extraordinary Aboriginal people who filled positions at the Western Aboriginal Legal Service and they expected 100% of us, and rightly so.”

As well as talking about self-doubt, camaraderie and persistence, Justice Yehia and Trent share a commitment to assisting mob and tackling gaps in justice – and both admit to having a bit of a rebellious streak! 

Note: The Hon. Justice Dina Yehia was appointed as a Supreme Court judge as of July 4 2022. References to Justice Yehia as "Her Honour Judge Dina Yehia SC" refers to her previous position at the District Court. We apologise for not using her new title. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.