Nazmin Akthar, a Newcastle-based lawyer at international law firm Womble Bond Dickinson, has been named a Coronation Champion in recognition of her outstanding commitment to volunteering.
The Coronation Champion Awards, recognised by the Royal Voluntary Service, celebrate the work of extraordinary volunteers across the UK. Around 5000 nominations were received this year and 500 volunteers were selected as Coronation Champions. They will all receive an official Coronation Champions pin badge, a signed certificate from Their Majesties, and an invitation to Coronation Celebrations, such as the Windsor Castle Coronation Concert or a Coronation Garden Party.
Nazmin is an associate in the firm's real estate team and is a firm believer that sustainable housing and infrastructure are key to the promotion of good health, equality, and the eradication of poverty and abuse.
She is co-founder and co-chair of Nisa Global Foundation, an international grant-giving charity which supports groups working at a grassroots level in countries such as Bangladesh, Pakistan and Kenya, to promote health, education and livelihoods, and support victims of abuse. Recent examples of projects that Nazmin has been involved in include supporting the delivery of a menstrual hygiene management drive in Pakistan, a grant covering the salary of a caregiver, and the provision of dignity kits to women and girls residing at a women's shelter in Kenya.
An avid campaigner of law reform, Nazmin has given evidence to the Law Commission, Women & Equalities Committee and the United Nations on a range of issues; the most recent of which involved campaigning for law reform to protect victims of intimate image-based abuse. Her work with the Law Commission (along with other campaigners), led to the UK Government announcing, in November last year, its intention to introduce a comprehensive package of measures to better protect victims of intimate image-based abuse.
Nazmin also acts as co-head of Womble Bond Dickinson's CSR committee in Newcastle which focuses on delivering social value, working with local charities and organisations to create better places to live, work and do business. As part of her role at the firm, she has provided pro-bono support through the University of Law Small Business Clinic and acts as Co-Chair of the North East Pro Bono Committee. Nazmin has also volunteered for CILEx Foundation and the Human Rights Lawyers Association.
Nazmin is keen to pass on her passion for supporting charitable organisations with those around her, instilling the values of helping others in need. In 2023, Nazmin and her daughter will be running their 7th race together and to date the duo has raised funds for Cancer Research UK, Alzheimer's Society and Aydin Foundation. Last year, Nazmin's daughter, Amyra, won the Paw Patrol Award for Community Hero for her charitable fundraising achievements at the age of five.
Nazmin comments:
"I am honoured and humbled to have been named a Coronation Champion. I am very passionate about the causes I support in my community and, through the many charities and organisations I support, I hope to inspire others to get involved in charitable work. I also hope it will encourage more businesses to support employees to volunteer. I would like to thank the Royal Voluntary Service for this award, and in particular for celebrating the achievements of the third sector as part of the Coronation celebrations. I look forward to attending the Coronation Concert with my family."
