A significant cataclysmic solo cycle ride

I enjoyed a stable upbringing, infused with creativity and a lot of laughter! I grew up in suburban London, our garden backed on to school fields, which in turn was on the fringe of Surrey’s countryside, my rural playground if you wish. Whilst that is where I grew up, Jersey is very much where I call ‘home’.

A solo cycle ride in 1997 led to a significant gear change in my career path. Up to that point, I was following in my Father’s footsteps, working in advertising. …I had cycled to a derelict granite property in St John’s owned by ‘Mr V A Cant’ that I had looked at longingly, previously. Its front door was in the ‘garden’, its roof had partially collapsed through arson, and the garden was completely overgrown. Yet it was a phenomenal project which made me think “What would I have to achieve, to be able to afford, then renovate such a home?” This led to me cycling home and, writing a reverse order plan, starting at “what would I need to earn in five years’ time”, then working backwards in a straight line to understand what incremental steps I needed to take to achieve that goal. Detailing annual increases, exams I would need to pass, and what hours I would need to invest, to make myself the best I could be, to achieve an enabling level of income. Nothing was certain, but I realised that only I could influence my future! So this was the catalyst to the growth mindset that I needed to re-skill from a career in advertising to one where technology, and subsequently, a lifelong passion for continuous learning, would ultimately help me to realise my aspirations. In 2004 we purchased a derelict granite property which we rebuilt, and still live in today.

It feels like a long time ago, and it certainly felt like I put in quite a ‘shift’ of nigh-on ten years as a Committee Member wearing various hats for the IoD Jersey, learning ‘quiet diplomacy’ and patience throughout! There were many proud moments, achieved by working closely with Government Departments for the benefit of the Island. I always appreciated the gravity of the role, namely that as Chair of the IoD, you act both as custodian and figurehead for an Institution that has existed for over 120 years. Quite a legacy and a significant responsibility. Your role is to ensure you continuously nurture talent, evolving professional standards across Directors. All the while being mindful that your tenure is limited to three years, therefore for the Institute itself, it is fundamental to hand over a relevant organisation, in a stronger financial position than when you started, ensuring that the entity is sustainable, well respected and appreciated as being able to act both as the voice for Industry and as a critical friend to Government. Whilst the Island was, and has continued to sail in choppy waters, possibly my greatest achievement was to move the IoD forward sustainably, with a far more diverse committee structure spanning both gender and age, ensuring we would categorically not be a ‘dinosaur entity’ – one which Natasha is leading excellently today.

If I start with Digital Jersey, I feel that everything we evangelised, regarding the pervasive nature of technology, has been proven 100% and this choice has proven to be a phenomenal investment for Jersey PLC. The foundations the IoD helped to lay, continue to deliver for our wider economy in more ways than I have words available, so that was an incredible achievement.

Regarding University College Jersey, you know how to push my buttons! I think that to have a diverse economy, we must support the development of both of our homegrown talent, whilst also encouraging inward talent to experience our wonderful hospitality and expert professional services, enriching our local talent pool with the diversity of thought and experience. This is still an area I am passionate about today, as a voluntary Director of JICAS, which has attained the status of being a local campus for Exeter University, enabling International Students to study an MSc in Island Biodiversity and Conservation in Jersey – I could not think of a more relevant course at this time in our history with ESG and nature related risk at the absolute top of mind in any forward-looking boardroom. I hope to continue to support JICAS  and the expansion of their relevant ‘we do Islands’ programmes for the benefit of many more students, to help Jersey to be seen as a leader in this area.

Ah, one from my ‘how to make friends and influence people’ series of speeches. Thanks for digging that one up! For over 60 years, Jersey has been an international finance centre of excellence. Our forward-thinking & robust regulation has continuously set us apart, positively contributing to the development of global policy on diverse matters such as AML or the introduction of enabling legislation for both the Trust and more recently, the Fund Industry. This enables businesses to expand beyond our shores and lead the charge in the professionalism of Financial Services. We are seen as a leader, but at the time I spoke the above, I was no doubt frustrated that we were not effectively promoting the Island as such, but more a somewhat embarrassed and conservative laggard – not owning our own story and suffering from an inferiority complex at a politically sensitive time. My concern was that this could lead to the degradation of our global position which I felt so many had invested so much to amplify, positively, and that we were at risk of moving into the sunset as a relevant jurisdiction of choice.

Today? Well, just take the Sustainable Finance consultation that is under way. We once more find ourselves at a cross roads… Do we want to be on the front foot, an exemplar, an Island that attracts new, green, sustainable and high growth business with all the enabling talent, financial flows, assets, administration and legal services that will sustain the Island’s wider economy for the next 20 years plus, injecting energy like a shot of ethically sourced caffeine into our veins, or are we at risk of saying ‘no thank you’, sitting back, enjoying a cup of tea, whilst watching the sun set on us whilst we don our rose tinted glasses?

I know, if I was a thirty year old professional looking to make my life choice of where to work in a global market, I would want to work in a jurisdiction that was forward looking. Much like we invested in and continue to invest in Digital Jersey, to ensure our digital capability as a jurisdiction of choice. Surely, we need to invest in an economy that is led with purpose and impact as its guiding north star? Ethically, and effectively expanding upon our professional ecosystem, managing sustainable investments that will ultimately ensure our children’s, children have a planet to live in, safely.

We have to support the transition to a greener economy – the sooner, and the more scientifically, the better. To ensure we avoid the risk of an ‘authenticity gap’ Jersey PLC, must be on board and Government must align, not just the Finance Industry and our wider ecosystem of support services. If we are to be an exemplar to the World as an Island economy, attracting talent and innovation, we need to have the agility we often talk of so proudly.

Cycling was not only a catalyst for my career but I also see it as the bedrock activity for both my physical and mental well-being. I really respect the need to look after oneself so you will often see me cycling or running in our beautiful lanes, or sea swimming, all year round – in truth, on that point, you will often hear me before you see me, squealing like a child in whichever bay is sheltered from the prevailing wind at any given time – no doubt my swimming choices are a metaphor for how to run an effective business!

Jersey, as an Island, is an incredible place to build a business and technology consultancy. We always punch well above our weight regarding professionalism and ethics, potentially driven by the fundamental reputational situation of ‘one degree of separation’ enabling good businesses to prosper. Prosperity 24/7’s purpose is simple ‘if we look after our colleagues, our clients and our community, we will prosper’ and it is this purpose-led culture that has seen us grow to 65 people across Jersey, Guernsey and most recently, Scotland – ensuring that we can deliver our impeccable levels of impactful ‘digital transformation’ driving productivity gains to clients operating, in some cases, in over 30 jurisdictions.

Remarkably, there are very few UK or European-based business and technology consultancies of our size, who have such a reach. Nor can they enjoy our investment in our flagship headquarters by the marina in St Helier – a phenomenal place that we all get to call our ‘home’.

I feel lucky that I chose to change my path all those years ago, and am incredibly proud to be able to reflect on where a simple cycle ride has taken not only me, but my family and all our wonderful colleagues and clients, whom we thankfully, can help prosper, every day.