Jersey’s Population Policy, the concept of a local University and the employment landscape of the future will all be put to the test at this year’s IoD Jersey Annual Debate, which will take place on Thursday 19 September 2019.
Picking up on key themes to emerge from the Mid-Year Review earlier this year, the Debate will examine just how sustainable Jersey’s plans and models for the future are. Entitled ‘2050: Will Jersey Have Talent?’, the event, sponsored by law firm and long-term supporter of the event Carey Olsen, will take place at the RJA&HS with an expected audience of up to 500 business leaders and politicians.
Starting at 5.30pm with a drink’s reception, sponsored by HSBC, the event will feature a keynote speaker, dinner and the live debate with panellists. The format will be revitalised this year, with only one panel instead of the standard two, carefully honed discussion topics to allow for greater depth of discussion and technological input with the use of Polling Platform Sli.do.
A stellar line up has been secured for the panel this year including: Louise Bracken-Smith, CEO and Co-Founder of Fairway Group, Brendan Carolan, Head of Social Science for Victoria College and President of the Jersey National Education Union, Daniel Rowles, CEO of Target Internet and Lecturer at Imperial College & Cranfield School of Management, and Senator Tracey Vallois, Minister for Education.
Returning moderator and renowned news broadcaster Alastair Stewart OBE will ensure that the panel is put through their paces. He will be joined for the first time by local ITV anchor Jess Dunsdon who will be positioned to take questions from the audience.
The event is set to challenge panellists on interlinked areas such as Jersey’s approach to immigration control, the integration of AI and Robotics and the future of our Island’s schooling system. It will also focus on up-skilling for the future and what the local workforce might look like in 30 years’ time.
Commenting on this year’s Debate, IoD Jersey Chair Lisa Springate, stated: ‘It was really important to me to be innovative with the debate this year and ensure a truly engaging event for our audience. We have revitalised the format and will remain very focused on the topics to allow for in-depth discussion and analysis.
We are in discussions with a highly dynamic set of panellists and we know the debate will be both informative and lively. It is vitally important the we look to the future and start preparing businesses from all industries on what might be in store. We’ll be asking hard hitting questions on immigration and population, investigating options for up-skilling and educational reform and delving into the realms of AI, Automation and Robotics. It is going to be an excellent forum for intelligent debate and thought leadership.’
The IoD Annual Debate will take place on Thursday 19 September 2019 at the RJA&HS from 5.30 pm – 10.00 pm and is open to all Islanders who have an interest in Jersey’s future. Places and tables of 12 can be booked at £95 per person, including a two-course supper, through www.iod.je or Eventbrite. Further information is also available through the IoD Jersey LinkedIn and Facebook pages and by following @iodjersey on Twitter.
