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After four years at the board table, former President of the Chamber of Commerce Elaine Gray recently stepped down.
Before she handed over to Stephen Rouxel, Chamber asked her to reflect on her time as President:
Q: Can you tell us about your professional life outside the Chamber?
In my day job I am a court lawyer at Carey Olsen. I head up the litigation and employment team, which means that no day is ever the same!
We help individuals and businesses in Guernsey and abroad across a huge range of sectors. The work ranges from international and business disputes about business matters, to trust and family disputes, as well as helping people in Guernsey comply with the myriad of rules and regulations that apply to so much of what we do in business. It’s a fascinating job because you get to work really closely with people, often at challenging times.
Q: What were the biggest successes and challenges during your tenure at the Chamber?
At the start of my term as President I wanted to streamline and bring clarity to Chamber’s operations.
The aim was to identify the common issues facing industry and ensure that we could take targeted, specific action to support those industries. This was particularly key as my term of office coincided with the challenges brought by lockdowns and the need for extensive business support.
During this time, I saw firsthand and repeatedly how much time, effort and support each and every one of the Board and the industry heads gave to the business sector in Guernsey. Chamber’s success is dependent on people being willing to do that, for the greater good. It was a genuine privilege to work alongside all of these people.
Q: What does the Chamber mean to you?
Chamber truly is the beating heart of Guernsey business and industry. Until I became involved, I had no appreciation of just how diverse our business world is in Guernsey; it’s amazing!
I love Chamber’s unique ability to pull in people from across the sectors and work together, collaboratively, to find solutions to common problems.
Q: How does the Chamber create value for the business community?
Chamber’s value comes in so many ways.
It is in the connections you make at events. It is in the information you get from leading speakers, on key issues affecting business. It is about the support for businesses experiencing issues. It is about the learning and training sessions available to members. It is about the ability to liaise direct with government and regulators.
Most of all, though, it is about the people in Chamber. The members are brilliant and that is what makes Chamber so good.
Q. What’s next for you – now you have all this free time?
Did someone say free time?
This article first appeared in the July edition of CONNECT, Express' sister publication.
The latest edition of CONNECT can be read HERE.
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