Clare Rice, service delivery manager in the Bar Council office, is a finalist in the Individual Advancing Diversity Award category of the 2023 Women In Business Awards.

The awards, which are in their 11th year, recognise, reward and celebrate the outstanding achievements of female business leaders from all sectors and industries across Northern Ireland.

Ms Rice has been the lead advocate in developing and implementing initiatives that are aimed at advancing diversity, particularly with regard to women at the Bar.

These include lobbying, financing and project managing the installation of a dedicated member breastfeeding suite; driving transformation of the Bar’s maternity leave policy; and introducing a maternity mentoring programme.

A spokesperson for the Bar said: “The impact of Clare’s efforts in advancing our commitment to diversity was recognised externally with the Bar being accredited with a bronze diversity mark in 2021.

“The award is a ‘mark of progress’ that publicly declares commitment to building a more diverse and inclusive workplace that benefits everyone. Not content with achieving this award Clare already has ambitious plans to secure the next level of award, the silver diversity mark.

“Everyone at the Bar wishes Clare well for the grand final which takes place on the 2nd of March.”