Professor Dr. Funke Abimbola MBE

Welcome to my website!

Why do I have my own personal website? To give you an accurate picture of me: who I am, my why, what and how.

So who am I? 

My name is Funke Abimbola and I am a senior General Counsel, board adviser and corporate lawyer with more than 25 years' experience across life sciences, healthcare and technology. I am also an award-winning inclusion leader, Non-Executive Director, author, public speaker and BBC media contributor. 

 Most importantly, I am a very proud mother to an exceptional son who is a software engineer.

I would like to invite you to browse through all the pages on my site under 'Home', 'Why join this journey?' and 'More'. There are several pages under the 'More' section so please be sure to scroll down fully so that you do not miss anything. Information in 'More' includes details of my external roles,  information about the medical scholarship established in memory of my father, links to videos and various editorial interviews, how to contact me etc. 

My hope is that, having browsed my website, you will not only understand me better but, importantly, also understand how I believe we can achieve a collective goal of leveling the playing field and improving diversity in our society.  

I often hear people refer to the mythical "they", saying "they need to do this" and "they need to do that" with reference to a societal issue or other challenge. The implication is that the issue is someone else's issue to resolve. 

The reality is we are "they" so let's work together to both celebrate and embrace our differences!

I hope you enjoy browsing my site.

**Photo credit: The above portrait photograph was taken by photographer Leonora Saunders and forms part of the Athena Project celebrating influential women leaders **

I am a corporate and commercial lawyer and senior legal executive, having practised as a solicitor since 2000. After 12 years in private practice, I moved in-house and have since held substantive General Counsel and C-suite leadership roles across pharmaceuticals, life sciences, healthcare, healthtech and technology, including as General Counsel for Roche UK & Ireland.

My experience combines strategic legal leadership, board and C-suite advice and hands-on legal delivery, alongside Company Secretary, Compliance Officer and Data Protection Officer responsibilities and commercial leadership with P&L accountability. 

More recently, I have undertaken embedded General Counsel and Chief Legal Officer mandates with PE-backed, high-growth and technology-enabled businesses. I am now focused on returning to a substantive, permanent General Counsel or Chief Legal Officer leadership role.

Alongside my legal career, I am a longstanding advocate for equality, diversity and inclusion, with a particular focus on gender, ethnicity and social mobility, as well as being an LGBTQI+ and disability ally. I have worked with organisations including the Law Society, UK Government, major corporates and law firms, Aspiring Solicitors and Speakers for Schools to help drive positive change.

I am also an experienced keynote speaker, mentor and sponsor, regularly supporting students and young professionals and speaking to school and university audiences. I have twice served as a school governor and am a regular media contributor, including to BBC television and radio.

Given the volume of approaches I receive, I am unable to accept every invitation or request for support. I therefore prioritise commitments where I can make the greatest contribution while protecting the time required for my professional and personal commitments.

My core mission is to level the playing field and help others maximise their potential.

I believe everyone deserves the opportunity to fulfil their potential, irrespective of background. Those of us with influence have a responsibility to help create opportunities for others, while embracing and celebrating the differences that strengthen our society.

“It is not our differences that divide us. It is our inability to recognise, accept and celebrate those differences.”
- Audre Lorde

I am deeply grateful for the awards and recognition I have received for this work. 

But I do it for a cause, not for applause. 

Improving diversity, widening opportunity and helping others maximise their potential remain central to my purpose.

For many years, I worked quietly behind the scenes. 

I later recognised the importance of visible, accessible role models, particularly for people from underrepresented backgrounds. 

Becoming more visible has enabled me to use my platform and influence to create greater impact and open doors for others.

Determination, courage, authenticity, continuous learning, giving back and maintaining my faith have all shaped my journey.

I hope that by sharing my experiences and using my platform purposefully, I can encourage others to maximise their own potential - and help create opportunities for those coming behind us.