The 2024 IoD Jersey Director of the Year Awards winners have been announced at a gala black-tie event to celebrate the island’s most inspiring and ethical leaders.
The annual awards are one of the premier business events in the Jersey calendar, and the 2024 event was a different experience to previous years. Actress and comedian Sally Phillips hosted the awards which were made possible by Gold Sponsors, Appleby, and Silver Sponsors, Lloyds Bank International Limited.
400 members and guests were joined by the Bailiff, Sir Timothy Le Cocq, Kathryn Lady Le Cocq, Ministers and some key members of our island community.
The Awards celebrate excellent leadership across a range of sectors and organisations in Jersey. Nine categories, plus the discretionary Chair’s Award, were announced on the evening. The Chair of IoD Jersey, Alex Ruddy, opened the event with a speech challenging members to “Find your purpose. Make a difference”, noting the importance of community and business support for the third sector. During dinner, Sally Phillips entertained guests with a hilarious speech summarising her understanding of the island. Sally is recognisable from numerous hit shows, including, Alan Partridge, Smack the Pony, Miranda, Bridget Jones and Taskmaster.
Sally and Alex, as a well-tuned double act, then introduced the Awards, inviting judges, sponsors and winners to the stage in a deviation from previous Award format. Chair of IoD Jersey, Alex Ruddy said: “Listening to the feedback from the Awards it is clear that not only was this an opportunity to celebrate the leaders in our community who have inspired their teams, it was also an opportunity for island leaders to participate in an upbeat, positive, community focussed event. Sally Phillips unique humour certainly made the night! Each and every finalist was a winner in my eyes but particular congratulations are extended to the winners. Phil Horsley was a worthy winner of the Chair’s discretionary award, not only for his leadership of Geomarine but for his unfailing contribution to society through his focus on education, NextGen, gender equality, social mobility and the third sector. He truly has found his purpose and most definitely makes a difference.”
This year’s judges were: Lisa Springate (Head Judge), Daragh McDermott, Heather MacCallum, Fiona Vacher, Helen Ruelle, Kevin Lemasney, and Phil Slatter.
The Winners in the 10 Award categories are:
- Director of the Year – Large Business sponsored by Sure (Jersey) Limited – Dean Blackburn (Formerly JTC Plc and currently ZEDRA Group)
- Director of the Year – SME Business sponsored by Natwest International – Paul Every (Solitaire Consulting Limited)
- Family Business Director of the Year sponsored by Park Executive – Julia Williams (FS Group)
- Start-up Director of the Year sponsored by Digital Jersey – Jennifer Winspear (MyAnova)
- Third Sector Director of the Year sponsored by UBS – Alex Morel (Jersey Trees For Life)
- Public Sector Director of the Year sponsored by IoD Jersey – Tricia Warwick (Visit Jersey)
- Young Director of the Year sponsored by Clarity Limited – Ali Awan (Project Accountants Limited)
- Director of the Year – Equity, Diversity & Inclusion sponsored by Viberts – Robin Smith (States of Jersey Police)
- Director of the Year – Sustainability sponsored by Jersey Electricity – Tamsin Raine (Ocean Culture Life)
- Chair Award – Phil Horsley (Geomarine Ltd Channel Islands)
Pictured: Left to right – Alexandra Ruddy, winners Ali Awan, Tamsin Raine, Paul Every, Dean Blackburn, Tricia Warwick, Robin Smith, Jennifer Winspear, Phil Horsley and Alex Morel (not in photo, Julia Williams).
