Allyson Maynard-Gibson QC is a Bahamian barrister, politician, and community rights advocate, particularly with regard to laws affecting women and children and access to justice. She has served twice as Attorney-General and Minister for Legal Affairs of The Bahamas (from 2006-2007 and 2012 to 2017). During the second term, she was the leader of government business in the Senate of the Bahamas. From 2002 to 2007, she was the member of parliament for the Pinewood constituency and from 2002-2006 the first ever Minister of Financial Services and Investment.

Her work has included significant legal reforms. In the financial services arena these include the Bahamas becoming the first jurisdiction to provide for common law foundations. Reforms affecting women and children include: statutory maternity leave with guaranteed employment upon return to the workplace after confinement; protecting the identities of rape victims; and, domestic violence and sexual harassment laws. In the international legal arena she was a member of the First People’s Tribunal on Economic Crime, Johannesburg, South Africa – February to November 2018; Member of the Executive Committee of the Caribbean Council of Legal Education 2012 to 2017 and Chair of Caribbean Financial Action Task Force 2013–2014.

Currently, she serves The Links, Incorporated as National Assistant Director of International Trends and Services. She was president (2009–2011) of the International Women’s Forum and of the IWF Leadership Foundation (2003-2005), a past president of the Nassau (Bahamas) chapter of The Links, Incorporated (2001), and is regularly involved with voluntary work connected with the empowerment of girls and women and a variety of social issues. She has been associated with many voluntary groups including: the Chance Foundation (working on education reform); the Anglican Church Women; and, as founding director, the Yellow Elder Community Library Association; the Senior Citizen’s Centre; and the Bahamas Financial Services Board.

In 2011, Maynard-Gibson was honoured by the All-China Women’s Federation for “Outstanding Contributions to Women’s Leadership”. In 2013 she featured on a list celebrating the top 100 women of influence from diverse backgrounds working in fields ranging from government to philanthropy across the major international financial centres (IFCs). The following year she was named again on a similar list, “The 2014 IFC Power Women Top 200”, which focuses on influencers and professionals, and “recognizes women of achievement who are opinion formers, helping to promote business excellence in their home jurisdiction and consolidating the reputations of the financial services industry globally.” In 2013 she was inducted as an honorary member Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. In January 2015, she became the first woman to be appointed a Queen’s Counsel in the Bahamas. On 19 February 2015, she was honoured with Barry University’s Distinguished Alumni Award, recognizing “distinguished professional achievements and contributions to society through service”. She is currently a member of the board of trustees of Barry University and the youngest person to have graduated from Barry University at age 18. In December 2017, Celebrating Women International, award her as a Woman of Distinction – Global Leadership in the Legal Profession.

Currently, Maynard-Gibson, a Consultant with Clement T. Maynard and Company, continues her work on access to justice as a member of the Justice Leadership Group; the Pathfinders, Task Force on Justice and as a Visiting Scholar at the Harvard T. C. Chan School of Public Health.