Driving change for the stateless: Helen Lowe on Trusteeship and legal leadership
Helen Lowe, Vice President of Strategy & Operations at Springer Nature Limited, recently joined the European Network on Statelessness (ENS) as a trustee. With over 500,000 people in Europe currently stateless, ENS works to advocate for their rights through policy reform, legal change, and awareness campaigns. “Statelessness can deny these people their fundamental rights to access healthcare, education and to travel freely,” Helen explains. “It also makes it difficult to open bank accounts or be employed and exposes them to greater risk of exploitation and abuse.”
ENS’s work spans multiple areas, from campaigning and policy advocacy to storytelling through its ‘stateless journeys’ initiative, which brings personal experiences of stateless people to the forefront. “The statelessness index assesses how countries in Europe protect stateless people and what they are doing to prevent and reduce statelessness,” Helen adds.
Stepping into Trusteeship: learning the landscape
Helen is candid about the transition into her Trustee role, acknowledging the steep learning curve that comes with stepping into the not-for-profit sector. “Understand that the not-for-profit sector is very different to the corporate sector and that you will be on a very steep learning curve,” she says. “You’ll be learning about the nuts and bolts of a charity, a whole new language, as well as getting to know your Co-Trustees.”
She encourages new Trustees to be proactive from the outset. “I’d strongly recommend getting in touch with the chair in advance of the first board meeting so that you can understand what to expect, how things work, and any dynamics and expectations.” This early engagement, she notes, helps build confidence and clarity around the role.
Helen also emphasises the importance of mindset. “Your role is to be independent and to challenge the charity leadership on whether they’re delivering against their objectives.” For professionals used to operating within hierarchical corporate structures, this shift to governance and oversight can be a significant adjustment.
Applying legal operations expertise to the boardroom
Helen’s background in legal operations brings a strategic lens to her Trusteeship. “Legal operations is a world of strategy, problem solving and throwing yourself headlong into the unfamiliar!” she says. “All these skills are vital to being a valuable member of a Board of Trustees.”
In today’s complex and fast-changing environment, she believes adaptability is essential. “Being comfortable with ambiguity is vital, and being able to work at a strategic level is also crucial – both of which I bring as a result of my legal ops experience.”
Her professional network also enhances her contribution. “My network has someone who can answer almost any question and help in almost every way,” she notes. “The legal sector is heavily driven by relationships and any one of my peers in this space will have a network of people who are looking for an opportunity to deliver value into a not-for-profit.”
Making time for purpose
Balancing Trustee duties with a demanding career isn’t easy, but Helen finds it energising. “It’s something that, to me, ensures that I bring more to the table in my ‘day job’, and so I find a way to make time,” she says. “Busy hands get things done, as they say, and anyone who knows me, knows that I thrive on being busy!”
She credits good planning and flexibility for making it work. “Board meetings are scheduled well in advance which allows me to plan effectively, and half of them are virtual, which makes scheduling a bit easier.”
Beyond board meetings, Helen is also active in committee work. “There is an additional time commitment to drive that agenda forwards.”
Advice for aspiring Trustees
Helen encourages legal professionals to embrace Trusteeship. “Go for it! It’s such valuable experience,” she says. “You get exposure to a totally new group of people, totally different way of thinking and working and are part of a process and decisions that have a real-world impact.”
She advises aligning your passion with your purpose. “Choosing something you’re passionate about will come across in the interview process and ensure that it doesn’t feel like more ‘work’ but is something you look forward to.”
Helen’s personal framework for evaluating Trustee roles is simple but powerful: “Ultimately the role needs to tick three boxes for me:
- Being passionate about the cause
- Having an opportunity to make a difference
- Professionally fulfilling
“When these three elements align,” she concludes, “I have the motivation to put in the time and effort on top of my day job, and the charity and people they advocate for see tangible results – it’s a win for everyone.”
Helen’s journey into Trusteeship is a testament to the power of legal expertise applied with purpose. Her insights offer a compelling case for professionals seeking meaningful ways to contribute beyond their day jobs. Through the Taylor Root Trustee Network, legal professionals like Helen are not only finding opportunities to give back—but also discovering new dimensions of leadership, collaboration, and impact.
Interested in becoming a Trustee? Join the Taylor Root Trustee Network to access opportunities, resources, and a community of likeminded professionals ready to make a difference.
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