Laura Nicol has more than five years of experience in the legal field. Currently, Laura is head of the legal unit and company secretary of the Sierra Leone Maritime Administration, focusing on providing in-house legal advice and liaison with external legal consultants. She is secretary to the board of directors, management meetings, and disciplinary committee meetings. She volunteers at Legal Access through Women Yearning for Equality Rights and Social Justice (L.A.W.Y.E.R.S.) an all-female organization that provides pro bono legal representation for women and girls in Sierra Leone. She provides legal defense to women in detention through representation in court and liaises with agencies and organizations that work with vulnerable groups. Laura holds a Bachelor of Laws degree, a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science degree (Honors), and a Barrister-at-Law certificate. She is committed to improving Sierra Leone's governance structure and advocating for women's and girls' rights. After completing the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders, Laura plans to continue working with women and girls and to raise a strong voice against the issues surrounding gender equality and sexual and gender-based violence. She intends to be at the decision-making level to advise the government on policy development.