IoD Isle of Man has named the finalists for the 2026 IoD Isle of Man Director of the Year Awards, sponsored by SW Legal, which recognise leadership across the Island’s private, public and third sectors.
2026 saw a record number of entries, with an exceptional calibre of entrants. Finalists were selected by an independent judging panel, and applications were rigorously scored in line with the IoD’s Director Competency Framework.
Steve Billinghurst (pictured), Chair of IoD Isle of Man said: “The Institute of Directors 2026 Director of the Year Awards has received a fantastic response from leaders of Island organisations, with more nominees than in previous years. It’s great to see continued interest in celebrating the achievements of outstanding leaders in our society who have excelled in areas such as sustainability and innovation across all sizes of organisations. It didn’t make our judges’ jobs any easier to select the shortlists in each category, and so I wholeheartedly congratulate the finalists.
“I would like to thank everyone who took the time to nominate: it’s always a pleasure to learn about the exceptional entrepreneurialism, leadership and commitment that is happening across the Island. I’d like to thank our judges too for their rigour, diligence and insight throughout the process.
“I am now looking forward to the gala awards night on 19 June when we come together to celebrate these very talented people from the Isle of Man.”
SW Legal is the main sponsor for the awards gala. Stephen Savage, Director, SW Legal said: “We’re incredibly proud to support the IoD Director of the Year Awards, recognising the individuals and organisations whose leadership, innovation, and commitment continue to raise the bar across the Isle of Man.
“This year’s finalists are of an exceptionally strong calibre, reflecting the depth of talent and ambition across the Island. To be shortlisted among such high-quality peers is a significant achievement in and of itself. These awards shine a spotlight on the talent and dedication that drive our community forward, and it’s inspiring to see such a strong group of deserving nominees.
“Congratulations to everyone recognised – you represent the very best of excellence on the Island.”
Finalists by category:
Large business (>50 employees) sponsored by Canaccord Wealth:
- Haseeb Qureshi, Conister Bank
- Nina Johnston, Equiom Group (Isle of Man)
- Sandra Robertson, Momentum Pensions Limited
Medium business (11- 49 employees) sponsored by Crowe Isle of Man LLC
- Captain Kuba Szymanski, Ramsey Shipping Services
- Gillian Christian, Whittles
- Jayne Hartley, Noventre Limited
- Sara Collister, FIM Capital Limited
Small business (<10 employees) sponsored by Atla Group:
- Gail Yeowell, Smart HR Solutions Limited
- Nic Le Merle, Afundi
- Tom Gough, Proofdesk
Aspiring sponsored by Appleby:
- Adam Belfield, AstroPay
- Dominic Wall, UNESCO Biosphere Isle of Man
- Juliet Gomes, KPMG in the Crown Dependencies (Isle of Man)
Sustainability sponsored by SW Legal:
- Graham Makepeace-Warne, Manx Wildlife Trust
- Mark Emmington, Comis Hotel & Golf Resort
- Ty Smith, Carn Advisory
Innovation sponsored by KPMG in the Crown Dependencies:
- Antony Kelsey, Capital International Limited
- Chloe Chau, The Galpals Collective Ltd
- David Cox-Cooper, Koops & Co
- Donald Edwards, Atla Fiduciaries Limited
Public and Third Sector sponsored by Conister Bank:
- Cathryn Bradley, Sight Matters
- Paul Healey BEM, Craig’s Heartstrong Foundation
- Victoria Hotchkiss, Isle of Man Football Association
