AGENDA

Appointed King’s Counsel in March 2022, Sultana is a highly experienced human rights, international law and criminal justice barrister, advising States, NGOs and individuals. She also advises large multi-national corporations on Diversity & Equality. She is Chair of the Bar Standard Board’s Taskforce on Religious & Belief. Sultana's unique expertise in high profile counter terrorism & national security cases spans across the Criminal Courts, Coronial Courts, Administrative and Family Divisions of the High Court and the Appellate Courts. She is part of the Organisation of Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Roster of Criminal Justice Sector Experts dealing with Counter-Terrorism. She advises on international human rights, international criminal law and humanitarian law issues. She is currently on the Advisory Board, Influencing Corridors of Power (ICOP), School of Oriental & African Studies, University of London; Member of Legal Expert Advisory Panel for Fair Trials International (LEAP); Special Advisor on Human Rights for the Oxford Initiative for Global Ethics and Human Rights; and on the Advisory Council for JUSTICE. Sultana is an award-winning barrister, winning Barrister of the Year 2022 at the Inspirational Women in Law Awards; appearing in the HERoes Top 100 Women Future Leaders, 2021; Winner of the Professions Category, Asian Women of Achievement, 2021; Finalist in BSN Lawyer of the Year (Chambers), UK Legal Diversity Awards; and Finalist, in Outstanding Woman in Professional category sponsored by Baker McKenzie, Precious Awards 2021. She is also the Founder & Director of Modest Fashion Festival which attracted a global audience of 1.56 billion.

From life and death crisis to international kidnaps, Katey Martin has negotiated where every word mattered. Lead trainer in the UK and EU adviser for Counter Terrorism Negotiation, she taught negotiation globally to government agencies, including the FBI. With a background of over 30 years in law enforcement, Katey inspires audiences worldwide with powerful lessons on leadership, communication, and resilience — revealing secrets from the world of police negotiation on how to think clearly and lead decisively when the pressure is at its peak.

I am currently full time seconded representative at Unite the Union and still employed at the Bank of England, dealing with employment rights and DE&I issues, part of the Bank’ People Directorate.
Previously I spent close to 5 years in bank regulation, supervising banks in governance, remuneration structures and internal audit. I am regarded as a subject matter expert in governance and remuneration at the Bank, having delivered training and having participated in cross- industry working groups aimed at informing regulatory policy.
Before the BoE I spent some time working in senior/ executive roles in small companies and also as a consultant. During this time I also volunteered to work in a legal advice centre.
Previous to that I had a 10-year career in corporate and investment banking.
I am a CFA and CAIA charter holder, and an accredited workplace mediator.

Kelly Stricklin-Coutinho is a barrister and mediator at 39 Essex Chambers. She is Chair of the Civil Mediation Council. She has been appointed as a member of the Civil Procedure Rule Committee, which makes rules of court for the Civil Division of the Court of Appeal, the High Court and the County Court. In her mediation work, she is a member of CEDR’s Panel of Mediators and Faculty of Trainers, as well as Sport Resolution’s panels of mediators and arbitrators, and the Specialist Mediation Panel at IAMC Hyderabad. 

She acts in commercial disputes, including those involving international law, financial services, competition law, commercial public disputes, sports, and high value tax disputes. As counsel, her recent cases include the landmark Churchill v Merthyr Tydfil CBC [2023] EWCA Civ 1416, in which she represented the CMC, CEDR and Ciarb, led by Edwin Glasgow KC. She is called to the Bar in England and Wales and in the Republic of Ireland. She has EU Rights of Audience. 

 She is ranked in the Legal 500, Chambers & Partners and International Tax Review’s guides.

Global Director of Development

Susanne Schuler is an accredited mediator in the U.K., Germany, and Switzerland, with over 25 years of experience in dispute resolution. She has successfully facilitated more than 150 mediations, primarily for corporate clients, while also specialising in Business & Human Rights, community, and family business mediation. Susanne is dedicated to transforming conflict into trust, fostering purpose-driven relationships, and promoting peace-centered equity across diverse regions, from Mongolia to the USA and Finland to Rwanda.