Governance Guernsey 2023: Resilience in Governance

Tony is a Senior Academic and Programme Leader for MSc Corporate Governance at Bournemouth University since 2017, and had 5-year work experience as a Chief Accountant. He is also a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (SFHEA) and a Fellow of the Chartered Management Institute (FCMI). Tony holds a PhD in Accounting and Finance, a MSc in Risk Management, both from the University of Southampton, and a BSc in Economics with First Class Honours from Damascus University. His PhD thesis is entitled ‘Corporate Governance, Firm Performance and Efficiency: Three Empirical Analyses of the UK Insurance Industry’.

Tony has presented his research at prestigious academic conferences, such as the British Academy of Management (BAM) and the British Accounting and Finance Association (BAFA), and published papers in peer reviewed academic journals, such as ‘International Journal of Finance and Economics’, ‘International Journal of Accounting and Information Management’, and ‘Society and Business Review’. He has also served as a reviewer for several peer reviewed academic journals, such as ‘British Journal of Management’, ‘Corporate Governance: The International Journal of Business in Society’, and ‘Accounting Research Journal’. Tony is also a Trustee/Treasurer at a local charity (Southampton Sight) since 2018 and contributes to the smooth running of the charity in the best interests of its members.

Wayne Bulpitt founded the Active Group Limited in 2002, now Aspida Group, following its merger with Optimus in 2019. He has over 35 years’ experience of business leadership in banking and investment administration services and is currently a director of a number of operating and investment companies.

In 1998 his experience was to prove crucial for the CIBC where, as Director of Offshore Investment Services, Global Private Banking & Trust Division, his main priority was the restructuring and delivery of its investment management services outside of North America.

At the same time as successfully building his career and business Wayne has been a passionate supporter of philanthropy and volunteering, both locally and in the UK. He was at the centre of the strategic leadership of the Scout Movement in the UK culminating in his appointment in 2009 as the Movement’s first UK Chief Commissioner.

In addition, Wayne currently chairs The Diana Award, is a Trustee of UK Youth and Young Enterprise and was a member of the Prime Minister’s Champion Group on Dementia. Closer to home, Wayne has co-founded several charities including the Youth Commission for Guernsey & Alderney, the Guernsey Community Foundation, Dementia Friendly Guernsey and more recently Art 4 Guernsey.

A highly regarded inspirational leader and philanthropist, Wayne’s contributions to the community were recognised in the 2017 Birthday Honours when he was made a Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (CBE).

DFM was established in Guernsey 2013, and has evolved into an actuarial technology business with offices in Cambridge (UK) and Guernsey employing six people. DFM services over 170 private equity and listed funds around the world with governance and regulatory documentation.

Outside of funds DFM supports several large investment consultants with asset allocation and cashflow modelling services. Clients supported include the States of Guernsey policy unit with demographic and economic modelling, and local governments in the middle east with tax and population modelling. Some of the most enjoyable and engaging work Martyn undertakes is professional witness work for contentious trust matters.

Prior to DFM Martyn began in the investment industry in 1996 for large London investment consultants Bacon and Woodrow, Aon and River and Mercantile. Whilst at River & Mercantile Martyn was also a board director of CAMRADATA, a financial technology subsidiary.

Wendy is an experienced Director and Non-Executive Director, with over 25 years’ experience in the financial services industry in the UK, France and Guernsey. She is currently Director of Dorey Financial Modelling, an investment consulting firm, and a Non-Executive Director of Schroders (CI) Limited, Weiss Korea Opportunity Fund Ltd and Twentyfour Select Monthly Income Fund Ltd. She has multi-sector experience across investment, banking and pensions, occupying senior posts in business strategy, governance and marketing & distribution for a number of leading institutions in the City of London. During that period, she was responsible for external risk reporting to the Financial Services Authority and embedding new "Treating Customers Fairly" processes.

She was also responsible for the launch and on-going promotion of the Guernsey-domiciled M&G Property Fund to the UK Market. A strong advocate of continuous learning, she assisted the Investment Management Association in developing a new investment management syllabus for Independent Financial Advisors and, in 2018, gained the Institute of Directors Certificate and Diploma in Company Direction. She was admitted as a Chartered Director and Fellow of the IoD in 2019, before becoming Chair of the Guernsey IoD Committee in 2021.

Emma Priestley is Chief Marketing Officer at Board Intelligence. Emma has been with the business since 2011 and has set-up and led teams across the firm, holding roles such as Chief Operating Officer and Chief Customer Officer. She was a founding member of the governance think tank ‘The Board is Dead. Long Live the Board’, which saw her lead dinners with FTSE 100 Chairs, NEDs, CFOs and Company Secretaries, and she has co-authored a fortnightly column in the FT.

Phil is the founder of Leaders Consultancy, based in Guernsey, Channel Islands. Phil has an enthusiastic and inspiring outlook on leadership, drawing on his experience in business, academia and social sectors to help any leadership team to achieve phenomenal performance.

Phil has significant expertise in sophisticated psychometrics and in the application of human data for individual, team and organisational success. He has trained with and been mentored by, global leaders in this field - notably Dr Chuck Coker in the US.

Phil began his career in the UK offshore finance industry in 1994 working for a wealth management company, Canaccord Genuity Wealth International. From 2000, Phil was executive director and head of the company's Guernsey division, with a staff of 120 and assets under management of £4.5billion before resigning from executive responsibilities in 2008 and becoming non-executive director until 2016. During this 16 year period, Phil was director of Canaccord's International Fund range.

Since launching Leaders in 2017, Phil has worked with many senior executive leaders and boards, primarily in the Channel Islands and City of London. He regularly writes for a variety of business publications and is often invited to speak at events for institutions such as the IoD and the British Army.

Phil works closely with clients on focused projects and long-term retainers to raise leadership standards. He is a popular and inspiring speaker and mentor who, with the insights gained from psychometrics, is able to accurately detect the strengths and weaknesses in leadership teams and boards.

Phil has served on the boards of various charities, ran the Guernsey hub of a national theology college, received accreditation as a pastor in the Baptist Union of Great Britain and is accredited in various motivation and behavioural techniques.

Chris Hutley-Hurst is a Partner in Walkers' Investment Funds & Corporate Practice Group in Guernsey.

Chris is a Guernsey Advocate with more than 20 years' experience in private practice in Guernsey, London and New York, specialising in investment funds, corporate matters, tax law and financial services regulation.

Chris advises on all aspects of investment fund and corporate transactions, including private equity fund formation, listed fund formation, capital markets transactions, acquisitions, disposals and special purpose acquisition companies (SPACs).

Having worked as a tax lawyer whilst practising onshore, Chris has a unique experience in a broad range of international tax matters, and frequently advises on Guernsey tax, economic substance requirements, FATCA, the OECD Common Reporting Standard, the OECD Country-by-Country Reporting Regime and OECD initiatives.

He also advises on all aspects of regulatory matters in Guernsey, covering financial services (including the licensing regimes under the Lending, Credit and Finance (Bailiwick of Guernsey) Law, 2022), data protection and GDPR, beneficial ownership, anti-money laundering, FinTech and virtual assets.

Chris spent six years working with another leading offshore law firm in Guernsey before joining Walkers' Guernsey office in January 2021.

Prior to that he spent a combined 12 years working in the London offices of two leading US law firms, Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom (UK) LLP, and Cleary, Gottlieb, Steen & Hamilton LLP, spending a year in the New York office of the latter.

Sasha is a Deputy of the States of Guernsey elected in 2020 and a member of the Committee for Economic Development and the Development and Planning Authority. She leads on Digital, Skills and Entrepreneurship policy development, chairs Digital Guernsey and is the co-chair of Skills Guernsey.

Sasha's career started in FMCG marketing and quickly moved into technology working for Google and Agoda. Over the past decade, she has been actively involved with all aspects of the startup cycle as an investor, co-founder, advisor and Non-Executive Director. She became interested in public office through her efforts to promote sustainable development and innovation after she helped launch the Chamber of Commerce Sustainable Business Initiative and Transition Islands, a podcast on sustainable development. She holds an MBA from INSEAD and has lived and worked in Singapore, Bangkok, London, Spain, Moscow, Madrid, Guernsey and Ulaan Bataar.

Her experience working around the world in both the public sector and a diverse range of businesses in the private sector gives her a unique perspective on governance issues and challenges. In her current role as a States Deputy, Sasha has taken a special interest in the machinery of government work as well as the adoption of ESG frameworks in economic design and thinking.

Toni is a passionate and driven young professional, with a background in the funds, insolvency, and third sector organisations. During 2023, at the age of 26 Toni was appointed chairperson of the Guernsey Disability Alliance where she hopes she can bring a fresh perspective to the organisation and is dedicated to promoting inclusivity and advocating for equal opportunities of individuals impacted with disability in Guernsey along with campaigning for wider equality issues relating to race, sexual orientation gender-identity and religious belief.

Toni is currently completing her doctorate degree in business administration, with a focus on fintech and increased regulatory scrutiny in the funds industry. She holds a master's degree in professional accounting from University College London and is a member of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA). She also has an interest in fraud investigation and insolvency matters, holding the INSOL foundation certificate in international insolvency law and is a member of the Association of Restructuring and Insolvency Experts.

In addition to her work with the Guernsey Disability Alliance, Toni volunteers for a number of charities on the island and serves on the Guernsey committee for the Chartered Institute of Securities and Investment as the Young Professionals Network representative. She is a dedicated professional currently employed at Apex Group LTD, where she brings her extensive knowledge of accounting and fintech to support a wide range of clients and colleagues and is proactively working with the organisation to utilise and develop FinTech affairs to effectively service clients while continuing to adapt to evolving regulatory requirements.

Through her work and studies, Toni has developed an interest in resilience in governance, and is passionate about exploring practical solutions to help organizations thrive in uncertain times. Her unique perspective as a member of Generation Z lends a fresh perspective to her insights.

Toni has a passion for promoting inclusivity and good governance within the third sector and the financial services industry.

Colin Melvin is a thought leader and agent for positive change, who has been at the forefront of global developments in corporate leadership, stewardship and sustainability and responsible asset management for over twenty years. He has international experience from the investor and corporate perspectives in developing and challenging strategy, promoting effective risk management and corporate governance and creating well-aligned incentives.

He is Founder and Managing Director of Arkadiko Partners and External Lecturer at Copenhagen Business School and a Fellow member of the Royal Society of Arts. Previously he was Non-Executive Chair of InfluenceMap until April 2022 and member of the InfluenceMap Advisory Board and Advisory Council at The Inclusive Capitalism Programme on Purposeful Ownership, Saïd Business School, University of Oxford.

Until November 2016 he was Global Head of Stewardship at Hermes Investment Management and between 2004 and January 2016 Chief Executive of Hermes EOS, the world’s largest stewardship service, which he founded. He was formerly Head of Responsible Investment at Baillie Gifford, a Fellow of the Institute of Directors, a Board Member and Chair of the Principles for Responsible Investment, Chair of Social Stock Exchange, Chair of Future-Fit Foundation, a Member of the Corporate Advisory Group at The Future of the Corporation, British Academy and a Member of the 30% Club Investor Group. Between 2008 and 2013 he was a non-executive director and Chair of the Remuneration Committee at Aedas, an architectural firm.

He has a strong network of contacts at the most senior levels within the world's largest investment institutions and listed companies. He is an expert in building trust and adding value to boards in industries with stakeholder challenges having worked with many companies to improve their relationships and performance. He has a strong ability to steer complex and sensitive situations to positive action.

Colin qualified as a fund manager in 1996 and is and member of the CFA Institute. He holds an MA from Aberdeen University and an MPhil from Cambridge University, both in History, and Diplomas in Investment Analysis from Stirling University and Company Directorship from the Institute of Directors.

Jo is a Non-Executive Director and has a diverse portfolio of clients including Listed and Private entities, open and closed ended funds, and financial services and non-financial services entities.

Within Jo’s portfolio, she acts as Chair of the Board, Audit Committee, Management Engagement Committee and the Risk Committee. Jo has significant experience in the board room considering strategic, operational and compliance matters as well as responding to challenges and managing risk.

Prior to becoming a non-executive director, Jo worked for PwC for twenty years, including working in the Channel Islands, UK and Canada. Jo was an Audit Engagement Leader and was responsible for leading teams to deliver both audit and controls engagements to hundreds of reputable clients. Jo was also a Director in Risk & Quality for 10 years’, focusing on how businesses respond to the ever-changing regulatory requirements, risk assessments and assessing the internal control environment and also led the Innovation and Transformation team.

Jo is an FCA with the ICAEW, graduating with an Honours degree in Accounting and holds the IOD Diploma. Jo is the Vice Chair of Guernsey International Business Association Council (GIBA) and is the immediate past Chair of the Guernsey Investment & Fund Association (GIFA).

Jo is a wife, a mum (to two daughters and two dogs and a cat), and has a passion for health and fitness, including running, cycling, netball and hockey.

Alison has a degree in medicinal chemistry and after graduating worked for the UK Forensic Science Service. She moved to Guernsey in 2000 to take up post as a laboratory assistant for a pharmaceutical manufacturing company. In both roles she was given team management responsibility, sparking her interest in the world of people and human resources.

Alongside further qualifications in analytical chemistry, Alison gained her first management qualification before joining the GTA University Centre in a role that dealt with learning and development in business. During her time there she had two children and obtained an MSc in Management with HR and CIPD professional accreditation.

While working for a leading financial services provider in the Channel Islands, as their Senior HR Manager, Alison gained experience in strategic resource planning, coaching and mentoring, recruitment, disciplinary, grievance and conduct issues. In addition to her other qualifications, Alison has an ACAS Certificate in Workplace Mediation, is a certified motivational practitioner, and has served two terms on the Guernsey CIPD committee and holds NED posts for two local charities.

She is passionate about people growth and development and strives to support businesses develop through good human resource practice. For Alison, the emphasis is in the word ‘human’ and the key is in understanding what motivates people and helping creating cultures of inclusivity and trust within organisations so that both can thrive.

Outside of work Alison ‘tries’ to keep fit through running and rowing and otherwise enjoys spending time with her family.

Stephen Rouxel is currently Managing Director of one of the largest fund management firms on Guernsey managing over $24Bln in assets as well as non executive chair on a number of international fund platforms and has worked in the fund industry for over 20 years. Stephen is a director and finance sector lead for the Guernsey Chamber of Commerce and has previously held positions on the Guernsey Investment and Funds Association Executive as well as the Guernsey International Business Association Executive.

Stephen is a professional member of the ICA holding governance risk and compliance as well as AML diplomas. Stephen has a passion for all performance art and regularly performs in musicals, plays, concerts and dance exhibitions.

Peter Swabey is Policy and Research Director at The Chartered Governance Institute UK & Ireland. He is responsible for developing the Institute’s profile to members, regulators, policymakers, employers and other stakeholders by delivering thought leadership and lobbying campaigns aligned to the Institute’s strategy and promoting strong governance as the vital ingredient for success in organisations.

Peter started working at the Institute in 2013 and has almost 30 years’ industry experience. Previously, Peter was at Equiniti where he was Company Secretary and Industry Leadership Director; he was also a Director of Equiniti David Venus, Equiniti’s Company Secretarial Services provider.

Peter is a member of the Institute’s Company Secretary’s Forum, the CBI Companies Committee, the QCA Corporate Governance Expert Group, as well as being an Alternate Member of the Takeover Panel and a past Chairman of the Institute’s Registrars Group. A history graduate, and Fellow of The Chartered Governance Institute UK & Ireland, Peter is a regular speaker at industry conferences and events, with an industry-wide reputation as an expert on shareholder and corporate governance matters.

Simon Le Tocq has been Chief Executive at the GTA University Centre since 2015. He has worked in higher and professional education since graduating and has held lecturing positions in the UK and abroad. Simon spent 7 years working as Senior Teaching Fellow at the University of Southampton where he taught undergraduate and postgraduate courses as well as co-ordinating the University’s International Foundation Year Programme before returning to Guernsey.

He is a Trustee of the Whittaker Trust which provides higher education bursaries in STEM subjects to local students and an Executive Director of the new Guernsey Institute.

Greg is Inclusion Manager at Rolls-Royce SMR, where he uses his Engineering background and his passion for diversity to help shape a more inclusive culture for the organisation. Greg graduated with a degree in Mechanical Engineering before later achieving an MSc in Engineering Management. After working in the Energy sector in his early career, he joined Rolls-Royce in 2006 and worked in multiple technical roles within the Civil Aerospace business. Greg was instrumental in the launch of Prism, the Rolls-Royce LGBTQ+ employee network, which he led from 2015 to 2021, stepping down on Rolls-Royce becoming a Stonewall Top 100 Employer.

Following his success with Prism, and combined with his ever growing passion for diversity and inclusion, Greg accepted the role of Group Inclusion and Diversity Lead in 2020, allowing him to support the global Rolls-Royce inclusion strategy. Just a few months ago, Greg moved to Rolls-Royce SMR where he now leads on delivering an inclusion strategy that will help the business achieve its ambitions to provide clean, affordable energy for all. Greg has been shortlisted for multiple awards, including Diversity Hero at the 2021 British LGBT Awards, and Inspirational Role Model at both the 2022 European Diversity Awards and 2023 British Diversity Awards.

Julian Winser MBA, FRSA, FIWFM, FCMI, FCISI, was educated at Radley College, Eurocentres Lausanne Language School, Exeter University, The Royal Academy Sandhurst and the Open University. He served in the military as an officer in the Royal Green Jackets and Army Air Corps. On leaving he spent ten years at Baring Asset Management in operations and investment management, and subsequently 23 years at Schroders working in investment and banking on behalf of both private clients and institutions.

Between 2005 and 2020 he was CEO of Schroders offshore private client business based in Guernsey responsible for the Channel Islands, Gibraltar, Malta and Bermuda, while also being part of the team managing Schroders personal wealth division worldwide including Cazenove Capital. He has been a Trustee of Youth Clubs UK, President of the Guernsey Chamber of Commerce and Chair of the Guernsey Youth Commission.

Currently he is director of a number of primarily financial services companies, Chair of the Commissioners of the Guernsey Financial Services Commission, and Chair of the Guernsey Friends of DofE. He is a CEDR trained mediator, and trustee of the Oxford Process, an international conflict resolution organisation.