Dinner

Our evening dinners (5th Wednesday of a month) are intended to provide more scope for working members to attend, more time to address deeper subjects, and more opportunity to invite guests or spouses.

The dinner is 2 courses (main & pud) at a cost of £16 and it will operate in the same way as our lunch in as much as we pay at reception and then meet in the bar. Wine orders can be taken there or at table. If anybody has dietary needs they can be accommodated.

The past few months have see heightened interest in what our future holds:

1. The UK Brexit vote has raised questions over the nature of our future trading relationships and implications for Financial Services, coupled with wider 'Fintech' innovations.
2. The States Committee for Policy & Resources has called for plans to support its vision of Guernsey becoming "one of the healthiest and happiest jurisdictions, underpinned by a strong and diversified economy."
3. The Dandelion/Thrive 2020 Conference promoted numerous innovations, ranging from legalisation of pot (a short-cut to short-term happiness?), new approaches to aged community living (no segregation of 'old people in homes'), 'The Shedders' for male mental health, new approaches to education and much more.
4. The annual external 'Professor Wood Review' of Guernsey and its Government has emphasised that substantial change is necessary to address looming threats.
5. BWCI's Island Global Research Monitors have placed Guernsey as moving from an era of extended 'Fine-Tuning' into an era of 'Crisis.'

Our speaker starts with the proposition that we need another generation of successful and growing businesses, with related skilled employees, as the foundation to underpin whatever island we aspire to be. He assumes that we do not wish to retire quietly to become "a dormitory parish of Jersey" through a failure to invest in transport connectivity, digital connectivity, infrastructure, employment-generating industries and our heritage.

Guernsey resident Roy Tilleard will offer a perspective on what Guernsey should do now to begin to secure our future, followed by Q&As. Roy has an interesting background of running major businesses for one of the world's multinationals, then creating and running his own substantial businesses, and island-based residence in the Isle of Man before settling with his family in Guernsey. John Hollis will provide a brief introduction for Roy on the night.

Please plan to attend and invite guests; there should be something for everyone to ponder, including those who hold very diverse opinions about what our future should hold.