A Culture of Volunteering: the shape of effective volunteering in a post-pandemic world

Lewis Alexander Baxter is a second-year law student at Durham University, and an award-winning non-profit founder, mental health advocate, and public speaker. At only 22, Lewis has delivered several TEDx talks on the topics of mental health, social activism, and the charity sector, and is regularly invited to speak at events, conferences, and on podcasts. In March 2020, Lewis launched chit-chat, a project connecting people and communities through conversation, which is currently in the process of becoming a national charity. Lewis’ insight and passion comes from over 4-years’ experience working with pioneering and disruptive non-profits, leading cutting-edge campaigns and building sustainable (and fun!) volunteering models!

Melanie Hall QC was awarded “Tax Silk of the Year” for both 2018 and 2019 (Legal 500 UK 2018 and Chambers UK Bar Awards 2019), shortlisted as Tax Silk of the Year 2020 by Legal 500 and ranked as a ‘Star Individual’ in 2020 – 2021 by Chambers UK.

She has been an acknowledged leader in the field of VAT for decades and has appeared in many of the key cases which have shaped the structure of the Tax. There are very few areas of VAT on which she has not advised.

Melanie is a member of the editorial board for The Tax Journal, a Trustee of Somerset House and co-founded the charity The Circle with Annie Lennox to support disempowered women and girls. She is an Honorary Fellow of Law at Durham University.

Katie Stobbs, International Studies, Hild Bede College, 2011

Katie Stobbs joined Hatfield College in July 2020 as Assistant Master. Prior to her role at Hatfield, Katie was Assistant Principal at Ustinov College. Katie grew up in County Durham, read Politics at Newcastle University and then studied for a Master’s degree in International Relations at Durham University. After graduating in 2011, she worked for the Anne Frank Trust UK, a national anti-racism charity, followed by a five-year stint in the Middle East working on cross-boundary research and development in renewable energy, water conservation, as well as wastewater treatment and reuse and sustainable agricultural innovation. Katie also managed DFID’s international volunteering programme in the West Bank. From 2016-2019, Katie oversaw DU Student Volunteering and Outreach and led the department in securing the Queen's Award for Voluntary Service, the MBE for voluntary groups.

Yasmin Waljee OBE, Econmics & Law, Trevelyan, 1991 

Yasmin Waljee OBE helped establish a pro bono culture within Hogan Lovells designing and delivering the firm’s pro bono practice. The practice covers EMEA and Asia and delivers 48,000 hours of pro bono advice a year mobilising over 1000 lawyers across the firm. Yasmin is an international human rights lawyer and has advised on issues relating to compensation for victims of crime and terrorism. She has worked on human rights issues relating to sexual violence in conflict. She is undertaking a ground-breaking case in the New South Wales Court of Appeal to seek reparations on behalf of Yazidi women survivors of acts of genocide perpetrated by Islamic State fighters. Yasmin co-leads the firm's award-winning Social Impact Practice, HL BaSE https://www.hoganlovellsbase.com/ which advises purpose-led business and social enterprise focussed on delivering impact on the UN Sustainable Development Goals.