Island Influencers

Welcome to Island Influencers, where we share stories of successful business owners, experienced professionals, entrepreneurs and community leaders based or with influence in the Isle of Man.

This podcast is brought to you by Thornton Chartered Financial Planners because great financial planning has the power to change your life. My guest on the podcast today is Leigh Morris.

Leigh is the recently appointed CEO of the Manx Wildlife Trust, and I'm thrilled to have the opportunity to have him tell you his story so far.

It's a distinguished career in the pursuit of his true vocation; I hope you enjoy listening as much as I did, hearing about the lightbulb moments in his life and the pivotal part of his career which has brought him here to the Isle of Man.

Here's my conversation with Leigh Morris in episode 13 of the Island Influencers podcast.

My guest on the Island Influencers podcast this week is Andy Cooper.

Andy is originally from the North East of England and moved to the Isle of Man having been a General Brand Manager for Whitbread.

Sometime later, he found himself in the role as General Secretary of the Manx National Farmers' Union, which may seem a strange step.

But do listen to his story to hear how this impassioned individual is making a positive change within the farming community in the Isle of Man.

Here's my conversation with Andy Cooper in episode 12 of Island Influencers.

Welcome to this episode of Island Influencers, where my guest today is Martin Hall.

Martin is one of the voices behind The M Word Podcast, the Manx Sports Podcast, offering listeners insights into the lives of the island's elite sportsmen and sportswomen.

Having been an elite cyclist, Martin draws on his personal training experience to emphasis with his guests about their physical and mental wellbeing.

He also draws on his business experience to help interviewees with the challenges they face in their professional careers.

Here's my conversation with Martin Hall in episode 11 of Island Influencers.

Welcome to this episode of Island Influencers, where my guest today is Colin Partington.

Colin is the owner and founder of Laxey Dental Surgery.

Originally from Orpington in Kent, Colin and his family have made the Isle of Man their home since moving here in 1996.

I hope you enjoy listening to Colin's powerful story, in which the words 'tenacity' and 'determination' come to mind as he pursues his life's purpose.

This is an episode packed full of actionable ideas for any aspiring business owner, entrepreneur, or organisational leader.

Here's my conversation with Colin Partington in episode 10 of Island Influencers.

My guest today on Island Influencers is Jen Kneale.

Jen is a highly experienced dinghy and keelboat racer, with a proven track record as a GBR Laser sailor and now as a Race Coach.

She holds an honours degree in Maritime Leisure Management and has over 20 years of experience as an RYA Instructor.

In 2017, Jen crossed the Atlantic, teaching herself celestial navigation along the way.

After sitting an exam in Antigua, Jen gained the RYA Yachtmaster Ocean qualification. She is also a Powerboat Instructor and Yachtmaster Instructor (sail) and the first Manx female coxswain with the RNLI spending 15 years with Port St Mary Lifeboat.

Presently working as Activities Manager at Necker Island in the British Virgin Islands during this winter season, her normal day job is as entrepreneur and business owner of the very successful 7th Wave sailing school in Port Erin.

Here's my conversation with Jen Kneale in episode 9 of Island Influencers.

My guest today on the Island Influencers podcast is Paul Hotchkiss.

Paul is managing director of Hotchkiss Associates and is one of the founders of the Manx Solidarity Fund.

Born of Manx parents, Paul is a Chartered Accountant, Chartered Tax Adviser, Chartered Director, and also a Trust and Estates Practitioner.

Throughout this episode, there are valuable lessons and stories that you can apply to many aspects of your life or business, as good practice generally, but especially as we now live in lockdown.

And don't forget to listen to the end where Paul shares his perspective of the main challenges the Isle of Man faces, but crucially the opportunities.

Welcome to the latest episode of Island Influencers, where experienced professionals, entrepreneurs and community leaders based on the Isle of Man are invited to share their stories with us.

I'm joined today by Dr Fenella Bazin.

Fenella has pioneered academic research into Manx music as director of postgraduate studies at the Centre for Manx Studies.

Her doctoral thesis on Manx music up to 1896 opened up areas of research for other students and helped put Manx music on the map. Without her work, we would know little about the development of traditional music, West Gallery music, or even the National Anthem.

Fenella's expertise in the spirit of max music is internationally recognized.

She's contributed articles, papers, and chapters to leading publications, spoken at numerous conferences and led workshops. Her research has consistently promoted the Isle of Man and it's culture.

Fenella's accomplishments outside of academia are wide-ranging. She succeeded in making Manx music accessible to a wide range of people of all ages and has worked hard for festivals such as the Manx Music Festival and Yn Chruinnaght, which is now known as The Celtic Gathering.

She's also well known as an excellent musician; a fiddle player, a singer, and a pianist, as well as an arranger and composer and published author.

Fenella works hard for a local community of Ballaugh and she leads the church choir. She's a member of Ballaugh Heritage Trust and has acted as a governor for Ballaugh School.

And what's unique about Fenella is how she draws from all these achievements to be a major draw on prestigious heritage cruise ships throughout the world, particularly now into the Baltic and further North, promoting the story of the Isle of Man.

Here's my conversation with Dr Fenella Bazin in episode seven of Island Influencers.

Today I'm joined by Dr Richard Arning, Vice President of Business Development, and Director of Satellite Leasing Limited, part of SES, which is one of the world's leading satellite owners and operators.

I was curious to learn what brings a rocket scientist to the Isle of Man, but also to find out more about Richard's various roles here.

Richard works as a business angel, is co-founder of IsleofMedia, and a non-executive director of the Digital Isle of Man Executive Agency, part of the Isle of Man Department for Enterprise.

Here's my conversation with Richard Arning in episode six of Island Influencers.

My guest on Island Influencers today is Martin Sewell.

Martin is a Henley Management College and Templeton College, Oxford graduate. He's also a Freeman of the City of London.

He's a proven high achiever at all levels, having worked across the public, private and third sectors.

Martin has completed a number of worldwide assignments, visiting more than 30 countries in 15 years.

He's a former marketing consultant to blue-chip businesses such as Sainsbury's, M&S, Tesco, IBM, Cathay Pacific and British Airways, and even the Scottish Prison Service.

On the Isle of Man, Martin has put his effort into fundraising for Sailing for the Disabled, and Manx Carriage Driving 4 Disabled.

He's been a regular and generous contributor over the years, sharing his ideas, free advice and good practice with many local businesses, governments and Manx charities.

Here's my conversation with Martin Sewell in episode five of Island Influencers.

In episode four of Island Influencers, I speak to Ravina Talbot.

Ravina came to the Island in 1975, initially for two years, but ended up staying for 45 years (and counting!).

She's well-known in the online community and has worked in the private, public, and third sector; tourism, hospitality, management, charities, churches, you name it!

In 2012, Ravina founded the Island's branch of the University of the Third Age (U3A), and in 2018 formed the U3A ukulele group.

Ravina's main work these days is for the Open University where she tutors students in the health and social care faculty. This specialism makes it particularly great to have Ravina as a guest for this episode, as we face the coronavirus pandemic, with the Isle of Man on lockdown.

Here's my conversation with Ravina Talbot in episode four of Island Influencers.