PwC events to examine how boosting opportunities for women would give the Channel Islands’ economy a huge lift

This week, PwC will host events in both Guernsey and Jersey to highlight the benefits of having a diverse leadership team in business and how this links directly to higher economic performance.

During a week which celebrates International Women's Day (8 March), the events, entitled ‘Women in Work: The Key to Economic Success in the Channel Islands’, will delve deeper into how more women participating in work, more women leading local businesses, more women creating new businesses and closing the gender pay gap would give a massive lift to our local economy.

PwC firmly believes that the untapped source of talent and key to our Islands' future success are women. Together with a diverse panel of both local and international speakers in both Guernsey and Jersey, PwC will explore how policymakers, educators and businesses can realise this untapped potential and, in doing so, bridge the skills gap and boost diversity, prosperity and growth in the Channel Islands.

The events, which now have a waiting list on both Islands, will be held in Guernsey on 6 March at St James and in Jersey on 7 March at the Radisson Blu. Keynote speakers across both events include PwC UK's Diversity and Inclusion Consulting Leader, Jon Terry, Global CEO at Equiom Group, Sheila Dean, and PwC Northern Ireland 'TechSheCan' expert, Narelle Allen.

In Guernsey, they will share the stage alongside PwC's leadership team and Deputy Gavin St Pier (President of the Policy and Resources Committee, States of Guernsey), Lucy Ann Kirby (Head of Digital, Economic Development, States of Guernsey) and Andreas Tautscher (CEO, Altair Partners).

In Jersey, Jon, Sheila and Narelle will be joined by Jess Dunsdon (ITV News Presenter, Channel TV), Rory Steel (Director of Beaulieu Institute of Technology), Becky Houze (4th Generation Dairy Farmer, Lodge Farm) and Nicolle Maltwood (Chairwoman, Women in Tech, Jersey).

The highly experienced panellists will discuss real examples of how the most successful organisations have managed to achieve and benefit from greater gender diversity in senior roles. As the use of automation and artificial intelligence gather pace, they'll elaborate on how it’s often the skills that can’t be replicated by machines such as creativity, empathy and adaptability that are the most prized.

Commenting on the staging of both upcoming events, Simon Perry, Senior Partner of PwC Channel Islands said:

Simon concluded:

During this week, PwC will also launch a key report, the “Women in Work Channel Islands Index 2019”, which further evidences how women are an important but still under-utilised source of talent and economic dynamism in the Channel Islands. For further information on both the Report and the upcoming PwC events, please contact Abigail Mcdermott.