Leading investor services group IQ-EQ is delighted to share the news that client services director Lorraine Wheeler has been elected President of the Jersey Association of Trust Companies (JATCo). Significantly, Lorraine is the only person ever to lead both JATCo, which represents the interests of trust companies, and STEP Jersey, which looks after individual trust professionals in the jurisdiction.
JATCo is Jersey’s trust industry trade association, representing the majority of the island’s trust companies. It has over 50 corporate members, ranging from small locally-owned businesses to large multinational financial services providers.
In her new remit, Lorraine will sit on various government advisory boards and work closely with States of Jersey, Jersey Finance and Jersey Financial Services Commission to drive policies affecting the sector. Before becoming president, Lorraine was JATCo’s vice president for four years. In fact, she was the first person to hold the vice-presidency, with the role having only been created in 2015.
Lorraine is well recognised for her significant contribution to the fiduciary sector in Jersey and beyond. Having been involved with the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP) since 1995, she has since served on its committees in Bermuda, Switzerland and Jersey and was elected Chair of STEP Jersey for 2014-16. She has also represented Jersey on the global STEP Council, and in 2015 Lorraine’s above-and-beyond commitment saw her awarded the prestigious STEP Founder’s Award for Outstanding Achievement.
With over 30 years in the industry spanning the UK, Bermuda, Switzerland and Jersey, Lorraine’s extensive fiduciary expertise has seen her regularly invited to take part in or chair panel discussions at conferences and seminars. On top of her STEP credentials, she is also a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Bankers (CIB, now IFS School of Finance) and holds a BSc Hons degree in Financial Services from the University of Manchester.
Commenting on her new JATCo role, Lorraine said: “I’ve thoroughly enjoyed shaping the role of vice president over the past four years in support of former president Ian Crosby, so am very excited to now be taking that final step up. I’d like to express my thanks to Ian for his superb leadership of JATCo since 2015 – he has certainly set the bar high! I look forward to continue working with our hard-working and dedicated committee in driving our strategy forward and making sure our members are fully represented and heard. This is an exciting time to be taking on this role and I’m looking forward to the challenge.”
Managing Director of IQ-EQ Jersey, Ben Newman, commented: “Over the years I have seen Lorraine dedicate an incredible amount of time to the industry, speaking at various events and regularly giving up her own time to tutor and support colleagues preparing for their STEP exams. Her drive, expertise and warm nature have proven to be an invaluable asset for our business and I am confident she will take JATCo to new heights. I can’t wait to see what she achieves over the next four years.”
