Our People Series

Donna Beadle, Acting Head of Talent, talks to us about how the first GoJ wide intern programme which launched in summer 2021, came to fruition, the selection process and what our hopes are for the next intake this summer. We then hear from Emily Grace and Charles who we interviewed in Summer 2021 about their intern experience with us. Emily, former head girl for JCG, gained experience in Jersey General Hospital where she was able to observe in theatre and develop a report on Jersey’s approach to Covid19 vaccinations for under 18s. Charles got his teeth in the complexities of Customer Experience and continuous improvement strategies within Government of Jersey. 

Janet Hall and Collins Shambare join us in this episode to tell us more about the diversity networks that are being launched or are already established within Government of Jersey. We find out a little bit more about both Janet’s and Collins’s experience in setting up and establishing these networks and what they hope these networks will bring to our organisation, and our island.  To find out more about Government of Jerseys Diversity networks please visit www.ourpeople.je or you can email [email protected]

In this episode we find out what attracted Jonathan Van Neste, a law graduate and qualified solicitor, to the public sector where he is now a senior policy advisor. Jonathan talks about the diversity of employment opportunities available within the public sector, why it appealed to him, the greater impact one can have being a civil servant in a policy role as opposed to the private sector, and his current role which sees him pursuing an extremely broad range of digital economy policy objectives from engagement with Meta (Facebook) and brining Instagram Reels to the Island, to the creation of new laws to allow for the use of new technologies.

Laura spent 10 years specialising and building experience in the UK before the right opportunity became available in Jersey. We find out about the benefits dieticians have on patient recovery, and how the pandemic has impacted eating disorders looking at the psychosocial aspects of eating.

Paul Wylie, Group Director of Policy for Government of Jersey, talks to us about how his experience of ‘failure’ has influenced his leadership approach. Paul had previously worked projects in the UK that set out to encourage illegal immigrants to volunteer to return home rather than face arrest. Paul reflects on this time and shares his views on how empowering staff to take measured risks and appreciate failures as opportunities can result in a growth mindset and can be good for business. 

Alessio Agostini, Consultant Chartered and Registered Psychologist, Honorary Visiting Research Fellow and Consultant Clinical Psychologist for Jersey’s Pain Clinic, tells us of his career journey, from paratrooper, to chef, to clinical psychologist. We talk about the challenge’s psychology students face in finding employment in their chosen field, and reflect on the impact the pandemic has had on our own experience. 

From filing checks at Barclays, business development in America, to overseeing the day-to-day administration and operational functions of Government of Jersey, John Quinn, Chief Operating Officer for the Government of Jersey, walks us through his career journey where we explore the significance of risk taking and networking to move up the ladder. 

After failing his GCSE’s at school, Rob Sainsbury, Managing Director for Health and Community Services, talks us through where his passion for nursing began and how he moved up the ladder to the position he is in today. We hear about Robs experience with gender and age bias throughout his journey. 

Julie Mesney, Head of ‘Nurses & Midwives’ and ‘Allied Healthcare Professionals’  Education at Jersey General Hospital, shares with us her story of 40 years in health care. Whilst working full time and raising two children, Julie has gone on to complete a degree and masters degree and has since introduced a range of training programmes to the island, supporting the development of our future health care professionals. Hear about multiple health related on island vocational training programmes, Julie’s advice on how to manage change, and the support network needed to balance both work and family life to be successful in your career. 

Georgia, winner of the Rising Star of the Year Awards in 2019 Talks to us about her journey from project trident student stamping gluten free vouchers in the Social Security Department, to a Continuous Improvement Practitioner involved in the complete transformation of services. Georgia has been pivotal in the successful delivery of many projects during the Covid19 pandemic which made the Customer and Local Services department accessible to customers and made sure that those who most needed financial support received it. Georgia talks to us about her career progression so far, challenges along the way, becoming a Prince 2 Practitioner and, of course, her experience of the One Gov Awards, both as a winner and then as a judge.