I S S U E 7 GOVERNMENT OF LONDON OFFICE

NEWSLETTER DATE: Q4 2017 JERSEY HOSTS 29TH BRITISH IRISH COUNCIL INSIDE STORIES SUMMIT The 29th Summit meeting of the British-Irish Council (BIC) was hosted in Jersey by Chief JERSEY HOSTS 29TH BRITISH Minister, Senator on 10 November at the L’Horizon Hotel in St Brelade’s Bay. Formed IRISH COUNCIL SUMMIT in 1998 as a direct result of the , the British Irish Council is made up of eight member administrations: the UK, Ireland, , , , , Jersey and , working together on issues of common interest to citizens from across Page 2 these islands. NEW CHIEF EXECUTIVE APPOINTED Over 100 delegates, including Heads of Governments and representatives from the eight member administrations arrived in Jersey on 9 November to attend the ’s Page 3 Reception and Welcome Dinner.

The following morning, Ministers representing the Creative Industries, met in advance of the MINISTERIAL BUSINESS Summit, to consider a report prepared by the BIC Creative Industries work sector, which is chaired by the . The Creative Industries contribute approximately £98.6bn per year to the economies of the eight BIC member administrations. This meeting provided an Page 4 important opportunity to look at examples of good practice in addressing the skills gaps within the sector and the relationship between grass roots culture and professional creative activity. JERSEY IN THE UK BREXIT EVENT Following these discussions, Ministers endorsed a proposal for future collaboration on a pipeline of development through education; measures to encourage diversity among employees within

DIGITAL JERSEY TO CREATE A the sector, and initiatives to maximise inclusivity for audiences. NEW INTERNET OF THINGS ‘LAB’ Creative Industries Ministers were also present at the Summit meeting and shared feedback on their discussions to Heads of Governments & Principals around the table. Next on the agenda JERSEY SAILOR SECURES 3RD PLACE IN INTERNATIONAL BOAT was a discussion of political developments across the BIC administrations, including the ongoing RACE dialogue between the power sharing parties regarding the restoration of devolved government in Northern Ireland and an update on Brexit developments. This was the first BIC Summit to be Page 5 held since the UK’s negotiations with the EU officially began earlier this year and was the first meeting attended by head of the Irish Government, Leo Varadkar TD, who replaced Enda Kenny SUPER LEAGUE TRIATHLON COMES TO JERSEY as in June. A communiqué was released at the conclusion of the meeting, reaffirming the Council’s shared LEADER OF UK WOMEN’S commitment to its role in promoting harmonious and mutually beneficial relationships across EQUALITY PARTY GIVES TALK IN JERSEY the British-Irish administrations, as set out in the 1998 Agreement.

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Local producers showcased

Event organisers were keen to ensure Ministerial delegates natural, unrefined sea salt without who travelled to Jersey for the BIC Summit were given a using artificial heat, which is free taste of the Island’s best produce. Ministers sampled local from chemical additives. They use low specialities including fresh seafood and Jersey black butter energy and low waste processes to during their stay and were presented with gifts, sourced turn local waters into pure salt from Jersey-based businesses, to take away with them. This crystals. BIC Ministers were each year, Jersey Sea Salt, the first producers of solar salt in given a pot of Jersey Sea Salt to take Jersey for 300 years, stood out as a highlight. Creators home, along with a jar of La Cremière David Miles and Matthew Taylor are the most Southerly salted caramel and newly produced, Credit: Jersey Sea Salt solar salt producers in the British Isles. They produce Jersey hemp oil.

Home-grown talent enjoyed by BIC delegates songs and light jazz during the opening reception.

Drawing on the theme of the The Musical Original Singers, Jersey’s premier youth choir who Creative Industries meeting, a were selected by the BBC to participate in the finals of the 2017 number of cultural elements European Broadcasting Union’s international competition, Let the were incorporated into the BIC Peoples Sing in Helsinki, also performed for senior BIC delegates event, providing an opportunity at the welcome dinner. to showcase some of Jersey’s local talent. Georgina Sutton, a The evening concluded with an inspiring performance by Jersey celebrated concert pianist from poet Christian Foley who recited a piece he had written to mark Jersey who studied at the the occasion. Heads of Government and Ministers from across the British Isles were entertained by Christian’s humorous and Royal College of Music - graduating with a BMus First insightful take on the enormous value of strong and positive Class Honours degree – played British-Irish relations, which left delegates enthused for their a mixture of classical, popular discussions the following day. Credit: Georgina Sutton

NEW CHIEF EXECUTIVE APPOINTED

The Government of Jersey will Investment for English Partnerships, and Executive Director for welcome a new Chief Executive Regeneration at Liverpool City Council. in the New Year. The Chief Minister, Senator Ian Gorst, said of the appointment Charlie Parker, currently the “Mr Parker brings with him a wealth of experience in successful Chief Executive of Westminster leadership, transforming local government organisations and City Council, will officially take attracting inward investment. His proven success in running up the post in January 2018. effective services for children and vulnerable adults and a high quality education service makes him a particularly suitable Mr Parker said “I am delighted appointment at this time in Jersey’s history, when we have Credit: itv.com to be taking up this unique committed to working together to make substantial changes to opportunity as Chief Executive for our services and our organisational culture. Mr Parker has the States of Jersey. I am looking forward to the exciting achieved these outcomes by building strong teams that work challenges of contributing to the continuing growth of the effectively together to achieve successful transformation. economy and supporting businesses in Jersey. I will con- tinue the work of transforming the public sector to deliver “I am confident that with his record of leading successful public great public services for the Island, maintaining Jersey as sector organisations, Mr Parker can support this government’s a prime tourist destination and supporting local communi- ambition to maintain Jersey’s successful economy, improve our ties.” productivity and invest in priority areas like health and social services and education to provide world class services for Mr Parker’s previous appointments have included Chief islanders.” Executive of Oldham Council, Clerk to the Greater Manchester Waste Authority, Director of Finance and I S S U E 7 Page 3

MINISTERIAL OVERSEAS TRIPS

Middle East India

As part of the Government of Jersey’s Jersey’s Minister for External Relations Jersey’s commitment to maintaining and undertook his first official visit to India Minister for developing its strong commercial links earlier this month, travelling to New Delhi External with the Gulf region, Chief Minister and Mumbai, to discuss the growing Relations & Senator Ian Gorst undertook his first relationship between India and Jersey and India’s Minister official visit to the Kingdom of Saudi the opportunities for developing closer of State for Arabia and Kingdom of Bahrain in ties. At present, Jersey has well- Environment, November. In Bahrain, the Chief established commercial relationships with Forest and Minister met with the Governor of the Indian businesses, and has in recent Climate Change Central Bank of Bahrain and the years, seen an increasing use of Jersey Minister of Finance, whilst in the investment vehicles to conduit representatives, including those from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia he held high- international capital into India for Ministry of External Affairs, the Ministry of level meetings with the Minister of infrastructure projects. Jersey also hosts a Finance, and the Ministry of State, Culture Foreign Affairs and the Vice-Minister number of successful companies of Indian and Tourism. of Finance. Discussions covered the origin including the Bharti Enterprise In Mumbai, the Minister participated in positive existing commercial and Group: Airtel Vodafone, InfrasoftTech, and the 2017 International Taxation regulatory cooperation between Jersey Minerva TCSP. Conference, hosted by the Foundation for and the Gulf, as well as exploring During his visit to New Delhi, Senator International Taxation and IBFD, in possibilities for strengthening and Bailhache was hosted by British High cooperation with the Organisation for developing these mutually beneficial Commissioner to India, Sir Dominic Economic Co-operation and Development relationships in the months and years Asquith KCMG. He met with government (OECD) and met with companies in the ahead. Ministers, senior officials and business banking and financial services industry.

Washington Brussels

Following the success of his last visit As part of the Government of Jersey’s continued in 2016, Chief Minister Gorst commitment to maintaining close engagement returned to Washington DC this and promoting Jersey's interests in Europe, Chief autumn to represent Jersey at the Minister Senator Ian Gorst and the Minister for International Monetary Fund (IMF) External Relations, Senator Sir and World Bank Group annual have conducted a number of visits to Brussels meetings, attended by several with their counterparts from Guernsey, including thousand delegates, travelling from Chief Minister Deputy Gavin St Pier. During these around the world. Chief Minister Senator Gorst with high-level visits, the Channel Islands Bonnie Watson Coleman, U.S. representatives met with the UK’s EU In the margins of the main Representative for New Jersey’s Commissioner Sir Julian King, European conference, the Chief Minister had congressional district diplomats and senior officials from the European the opportunity to meet with senior Parliament, and the UK Permanent representatives of global banking government ministers from across the Representative to the EU, Sir Tim Barrow. groups, a number of which have globe. Discussions covered Brexit and its implications banks residing in Jersey. The Chief for Dependencies. Minister was also pleased to attend The Chief Minister also had the an official reception hosted by the UK opportunity to attend the Annual The visits form part of a regular programme of Chancellor of the Exchequer Philip Commonwealth Finance Ministers’ engagement by the governments of Jersey and Hammond, and held bilateral Meeting which focused on the future Guernsey with the EU Institutions and Member meetings with the British Ambassador of digitisation and economic States’ representatives, co-ordinated by the to the United States, His Excellency development, exploring ways of Channel Islands Brussels Office (CIBO), Sir Kim Darroch KCMG, senior boosting employment through established in 2011 to strengthen the Channel members of the US Administration, innovation. Islands’ direct engagement with the EU in order members of US Congress and to better protect and promote joint interests.

GOVERNMENT OF JERSEY LONDON OFFICE Page 4

JERSEY IN THE UK BRE X I T E V E N T With the set to leave the chaired by the Head of the Government with panel members fielding wide-ranging European Union in under 18 months' time, of Jersey’s London Office, included a questions from the audience who were the London Office held another successful number of senior officials from the keen to understand the potential panel discussion on Brexit and its Ministry for External Relations (ER) who implications for Jersey of the UK’s implications for the Channel Islands, for look after Brexit co-ordination, Global departure from the EU. There was also an members of the Jersey in the UK Markets engagement and ER opportunity for guests to network and to community. Communications. The Law Officer’s catch-up with other members of the Department, who are leading on Jersey diaspora in London. The panel, led by Minister for External Jersey’s Brexit legislation, were also Relations, Senator Sir Philip Bailhache and The Jersey in the UK group will be represented by Legal Adviser, Advocate meeting again for another event in Victoria Bell. The panel outlined the March, so keep your eyes peeled for work being undertaken to ensure that updates on the social media pages! Jersey’s position and interests are being appropriately considered and Follow the Jersey in the UK Facebook and LinkedIn represented throughout the UK’s pages for further updates and news about upcoming events. negotiation process with the EU. Lively and interactive discussions took place

DIGITAL JERSEY TO CR EATE A NEW INTERNET OF THINGS ‘LAB’ Digital Jersey has secured funding to Digital Jersey has been working closely large data sets collected from IoT create a dedicated ‘Internet of Things Lab’ with its members to develop an IoT sensors around Jersey, and communal which will aim to promote the growth of strategy to advance problem-solving workshop space for building and testing the local digital sector and create capabilities, improve efficiencies and IoT devices”. opportunities for innovative product create a testbed for various new IoT Digital Jersey already has experience of development. initiatives in this area. developing and supporting other At its most simple, the Internet of Things is Tony Moretta, CEO of Digital Jersey said dedicated work spaces, including the about connecting devices over the internet “We are delighted to be given the go Digital Jersey Hub and the Barclays so that they are able to communicate with ahead to create a facility that will offer a Eagle Lab. By introducing an IoT Lab to us, applications, and each other. An focal point for businesses to collaborate complement these existing facilities, example of this is a thermostat in your and share resources, apply research to Digital Jersey is aiming to drive forward home that is connected via Wi-Fi and real-life scenarios, and turn IoT ideas Jersey’s proposition as a compelling controlled by an app on your phone. It into commercial ventures. The IoT Lab and innovative digital business centre, learns when you’re home and adjusts the will offer access to world-leading internet providing an exciting environment for temperature accordingly, and you can speeds, a data platform for analysing the development of new technology. operate it from anywhere.

JERSEY SAILOR SECURE S THIRD PLACE IN INTERNATIONAL BOAT RACE Jersey-born sailor Philip Sharp and his boat Imerys Clean Energy crossed the battles that they had endured Spanish co-skipper Pablo Santurde finished the finish line at 04:33am after 17 against the other boats and in facing third in the 13th edition of the Transat days and 15 hours on the water. some challenging weather conditions Jacques Vabre, a 4,350 mile transatlantic They led the race for 12 out of the along the way! race which traces a traditional coffee trading 17 days and set a new boat speed route from Le Havre in France to Salvador in record, powering Imerys Clean the state of Bahia in Brazil. Energy to 25.5 knots.

The Transat Jacques Vabre course was Speaking after he’d crossed the drawn up in 1993 and the race, which takes finish line Sharp reflected on the place bi-annually, is seen as a major ‘incredible fight’ that had taken international event in the sport’s schedule. place on the water over the previous two and a half weeks and Sharp and Santurde and their zero emission Credit: Phil Sharp Sailing

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SUPER LEAGUE TRIATHL ON COMES TO JERSEY

Britain’s Olympic silver medalist Jonny Brownlee and Jersey’s

own Dan Halksworth, as they took on the course at the Waterfront in St Helier. The competition was televised and streamed around the globe.

Norwegian triathlete Kristian Blummenfelt took the men’s title, finishing just ahead of Jonny Brownlee, and Katie Zaferes of the USA topped the women’s podium.

Jersey’s Minister for Economic Development, Senator Lyndon Credit: Super League Triathlon League Super Credit: Farnham said that he was delighted that Jersey was able to Earlier this year, Jersey was host to an exciting new sporting host such an exciting and entertaining event and the weekend event, drawing top athletes from around the world. was a huge success. He added that Jersey would be staying in Following a successful debut in Australia in March the close touch with organisers regarding opportunities to host Super League Triathlon came to Jersey in late September. again in the future.

Co-founded by two-time Ironman world champion Chris McCormack and businessmen Michael D’Hulst and Leonid Boguslavsky, Super League Triathlon has revolutionized the traditional swim, bike and run format of triathlon to create two days of short, fast racing. Over the course of the weekend, 50 of the world’s leading male and female triathletes, including 25 Olympians, travelled to Jersey to compete for the Super League crown. Thousands of spectators turned out to watch the athletes, who included Credit: Super League Triathlon

LEADER OF UK WOMEN’S EQUALITY PARTY GIVE S TALK IN JERSEY

just a few months’ time, in May 2018. UK. The Women’s Equality Party

fielded seven candidates in the 2017 During her speech Ms Walker spoke General Election, making gender passionately about the need to change equality a bigger part of the politics positively by improving the conversation and forcing the issue gender balance in Government. She onto centre stage.

urged everyone to ‘take action and Credit: Getty Images Getty Credit: make changes’ in order to create an The Chief Minister, Senator Ian Gorst, environment which makes standing for who is a member of the States of elections more accessible for women Jersey Diversity Forum, a group On Tuesday 28th November, Sophie Walker, on the Island. recently established to encourage the leader of the Women’s Equality Party in more women and people from the UK, gave a highly engaging talk at the Ms Walker, a former journalist, became minority backgrounds to stand for Jersey’s first Women in Politics event. the leader of the Women’s Equality election in 2018, introduced the Party in July 2015. The party was The event, held at the Royal Yacht Hotel in St event. Recognising that there is work co-founded by Catherine Mayer and Helier, was organised by the States of Jersey to do in raising awareness about this Sandi Toksvig in April 2015 when they Diversity Forum and the Jersey Community issue in Jersey and shifting the status concluded that there was a need for a Relations Trust. It provided a welcome quo, he commented: ‘If we are really UK political party to campaign opportunity to discuss the importance of going to see progress and change, specifically for gender equality. The equality in politics and to encourage a greater then we have to do it together as a party now has over 65,000 members share of women to stand at Jersey’s next community. We must do better.’ and more than 70 branches across the General Election, which will next be held in