Jeannie Cameron was elected unopposed to chair the island’s Policy & Finance Committee in the States this week.
Current P&F chair Bill Abel had already confirmed he would not be seeking re-election as he had only one one year left of his four-year term as a States member and would be standing down from the assembly at the next election.
Ms Cameron said she was standing because Alderney needed leadership that brought people together, not forced them apart. ‘Good governance, sound financial management, and a respectful working culture are essential if we are to serve the island well,’ she said.
‘At present, the States is not working as cohesively as it should.
‘Too often, working together has been perceived negatively as cliques or factions, rather than as what it should be – people with different views collaborating constructively to get things done.
‘My aim as chair would be to help reset the culture of the States, away from division and suspicion, and towards collaboration, inclusion, and shared responsibility. Kindness in leadership is not about being soft, it is about being strong enough to listen, fair enough to include, and disciplined enough to lead well.’
Ms Cameron only moved to the island in 2021 and has had a rapid rise to the top position, having been elected to the States of Alderney in a by-election in March last year. She said that Alderney had a lot to focus on this year including the runway rehabilitation programme, tax reform, the Bailiwick Commission and overdue governance reform.
‘It is my intention to ensure that on those issues we deliver in Alderney’s interests,’ she said, ‘and I think that together collectively as a team we can do that.’
Despite being a relative newcomer to Bailiwick politics, Ms Cameron, who was born in Australia, has experience in policy development in Australia and the UK.
She said that throughout her career, she had worked in environments where views were strongly held, stakes were high, and disagreements were real.
‘My role has often been to bring people together, across political, institutional, and cultural divides, and help them focus on shared objectives,’ she said.
‘That is the leadership approach I will bring as chair – inclusive, disciplined, and fair, ensuring all voices are heard while maintaining clear direction and accountability.’
The other three committees all saw their current chairmen returned.
Iain MacFarlane remains at General Services, Kevin Gentle at Building & Development and Stuart Clark at Economic Development.