Isabella Blackwell from The Ladies’ College has won first place in the 2026 IoD Guernsey Leadership Shadowing Awards.
Isabella, who shadowed Cerisse Fisher of Collas Crill, presented insights from her time at the firm, where she learnt about Guernsey trust and private client law.
A total of 70 students participated in this year’s programme, sponsored by KPMG, with ten shortlisted for the finals.
Edith Montague of The Ladies’ College took second place, having shadowed Helen Glencross MBE of Guernsey Museums (States of Guernsey). Hannah Falla of The Guernsey Institute came third, after shadowing Iain Davidson of Sure.
The evening also featured a joint talk from guest speakers Paul Gurney, CEO of BecomingX, and Drew Jonkmans, founder of Project Endure. Drawing on experiences of desert ultramarathons and polar expeditions, they shared lessons on self-belief and authenticity with the finalists.
Linda Johnson, Advisory Partner at KPMG, and Lindsey Hart, Commercial Director at Fox Trading, co-led this year’s programme, which brings together businesses, students and teachers.
Linda said: “Congratulations to our winner, Isabella Blackwell, our finalists and all 70 students who participated in this year’s scheme. Each student embraced the opportunity with enthusiasm and professionalism, and it was inspiring to see the insights they gained from their leadership shadowing experiences reflected in their presentations.
“The Leadership Shadowing Scheme continues to provide a valuable bridge between education and the world of work, giving students a unique insight into leadership in action while helping them develop confidence, communication skills and career aspirations.
“We are extremely grateful to the Guernsey leaders and organisations who continue to support the scheme. Their commitment enables us to offer this rewarding experience to local students year after year, and KPMG is proud to continue supporting a programme that has such a positive impact on our island’s future talent.”
Glen Tonks, Chair of the IoD Guernsey Branch, said: “It was a brilliant evening and a real celebration of what these students have achieved over the course of the programme. The presentations were all of a very high standard, which made the judging panel’s job a difficult one. I’d like to thank every leader who opened their diary to a student this year, and the programme’s sponsors for making this event possible.”
Pictured: Left to right – Lindsey Hart, Commercial Director at Fox Trading, Isabella Blackwell, and Linda Johnson, Advisory Partner at KPMG. Picture Credit: John Fitzgerald
