IoD Annual Convention 2018

B: Directors of Tomorrow – Guernsey IoD Convention 2018

IoD Annual Convention 2018

I didn’t really know what to expect from the IoD Convention, but I have to admit that I was surprised and impressed by the amount of preparation and planning that went into staging the event. Not only was Beau Sejour’s sports hall transformed, it was filled with professional business people and the atmosphere had a buzz of excitement and anticipation.

The aim was to share thoughts and ideas about how to develop Guernsey as a brand, sparking a debate over Guernsey’s potential in the future, as well as the problems to overcome. There certainly was plenty of debate, and there’s no doubt that the event was a great success in terms of creating this discussion, but will it have a longer-term impact as well?

Simon Anholt, the keynote speaker, is a policy advisor to over 50 governments around the world. His background knowledge of so many different countries and governments contributed to a fascinating talk about Guernsey’s place in the future. I thought his words ‘Guernsey needs to look through a telescope, not a microscope’ were particularly thought-provoking. Guernsey doesn’t donate much international aid and rejected the idea of accepting refugees, so the idea that we need to focus more of our attention internationally, rather than internally, is a change that may be hard for some to accept by some. Maybe the States’ time would be better spent considering these larger issues than debating seemingly futile topics such as a new name for Aurigny?

Hanna Laikko from Moving Brands, shared a significant issue that their research in London had highlighted; Guernsey isn’t particularly well-known amongst younger people; responses ranged from ‘it’s a tax haven’ to ‘what’s Guernsey?’ We clearly need to work on raising Guernsey’ profile and Hanna suggested blockchain, renewable energy and marine conservation as areas we could develop to make Guernsey more recognisable to the global community. For me, the key issue that Guernsey needs to overcome along the way, to creating its new international identity, is to shake off the tax haven stigma. If we don’t, there’s a risk that businesses may be hesitant to invest in Guernsey’s economy if we continue to be tarnished by this false reputation.

The debate panellists, moderated by ITN newsreader Alastair Stewart, included the Economic Development President Deputy Charles Parkinson, Julia Hands, Richard Holmes, Andreas Tautscher and guest speakers Simon Anholt and Hanna Laikko.

The debate proved to be stimulating and as a moderator, Alastair added energy, neither did he hesitate to ask those difficult questions. Some of the more challenging questions were directed at Deputy Parkinson’s 20-Point Plan to promote economic growth. They resulted in disappointingly vague answers. Worryingly, only 20% of the audience were familiar with the plan for 2030. Even a fellow panellist, Richard Holmes, called it ‘a bit boring’. There were suggestions to cut down the number of ideas and instead just focus on developing the most realistic ones. I feel the discussion cast doubts over Deputy Parkinson’s plans. Might they even be detrimental to Guernsey’s image in the future? The audience raised concerns over the current state of the education system and the States’ apparent lack of ability to deliver on new policies quickly and efficiently.

The event really made me think; Guernsey needs to find new ways to diversify its economy to create a more stable future for all of us. The ideas discussed were certainly thought-provoking and it concluded on an air of optimism. Guernsey could have a strong place in the global economy in the future. A range of ideas were explored at the Convention, but I think there needs to be further research to investigate the most viable options. There’s not a single solution to boosting Guernsey’s brand, we need to move ahead with a range of ideas to help to grow Guernsey’s economy in different ways, rather than just focussing one area.