Geraldine Evans Achieves Chartered Director Status, Elevating Jersey’s Tech Leadership

When assessing the pulse of leading-edge business and technology leadership in Jersey, few stories resonate as powerfully as this: Geraldine Evans, Chief Operating Officer and Co-Founder of Prosperity 24/7, has distinguished herself by successfully attaining the Institute of Directors’ (IoD) flagship professional qualification, earning the prestigious Chartered Director designation. This achievement is far more than a personal milestone; it is a compelling signal of evolving standards and rising expectations in governance, leadership, and equitable progress within the Channel Islands’ technology sector.

The IoD Chartered Director: Raising the Bar for Leadership​

The Institute of Directors’ Chartered Director programme is widely recognized as one of the most rigorous professional benchmarks for business leaders. Attainment requires the successful navigation of a three-stage process:

• Certificate in Company Direction
• Comprising four intensive modules—each evaluated by exam—this stage demands in-depth understanding of governance, leadership, finance, and strategy.
• Diploma in Company Direction
• Delivered as an immersive three-day course followed by a demanding exam, this diploma tests candidates’ ability to synthesize and apply knowledge under pressure.
• Professional Experience Review & Interview
• Finally, candidates must submit a comprehensive summary of experience. This is rigorously assessed through both written evaluation and a searching interview with experienced IoD assessors.

This pathway is designed not merely to test knowledge but to evidence a leader’s capability to apply world-class corporate governance and contribute actively to organizational resilience and accountability. According to the IoD, fewer than 2,000 Chartered Directors are active globally—a testament to the selectivity of the accolade.

Context: A Strong Leader in Jersey's Tech Ecosystem​

Geraldine Evans does not fit the stereotype of a business leader content to rest on past achievements. Widely regarded for her commitment to lifelong learning and sectoral innovation, she stands at the intersection of operational excellence, progressive HR policy, and tech sector advocacy. Her recent recognition as a finalist in the Jersey TechAwards (Leadership category) adds further weight to her reputation.
Prosperity 24/7, which Evans co-founded, is a prominent digital transformation and business consultancy with deep roots in Jersey and an expanding international profile. The firm is known for championing high standards—notably, its recent attainment of ISO27001 certification, a global gold standard for information security management. Evans was a driving force in achieving this status, reinforcing a culture of structured, accountable, and effective data protection.

The Gender Pay Gap Report: Tackling Equity Head-On​

A sector still grappling with diversity challenges, technology in Jersey (and indeed globally) has traditionally been male-dominated, particularly in senior roles. Evans has been instrumental in leading Prosperity 24/7’s publication of the first gender pay gap report for the local technology sector. This proactive transparency directly addresses the underrepresentation of women in tech leadership and provides a benchmark for progress, encouraging other organizations to follow suit.
Such reports not only cast light on inequities but—when accompanied by an action plan—help cultivate an environment where advancement is based on merit, not historical prejudice. This is especially relevant as regulatory and market pressures for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) intensify in jurisdictions such as Jersey.

ISO27001: Embedding Best Practice in Information Security​

The challenges around data protection, particularly in increasingly digitized and highly regulated markets, cannot be overstated. ISO27001 is an international standard specifying the requirements for establishing, implementing, maintaining, and continually improving an information security management system (ISMS). It is highly prized by organizations handling sensitive client and financial information.
Prosperity 24/7’s achievement of this certification, under Evans’ stewardship, is a marker of commitment to robust risk management, accountability, and secure digital operations—qualities that are mission-critical for client trust and regulatory compliance.

The Voice of a Lifelong Learner​

Evans herself attributes the journey to her status as “a lifelong learner and someone who is passionate about continued learning and development.” In her own words: “This has been such a worthwhile journey for me as a company director and I would recommend this to anyone looking to improve their knowledge.”
Her comments reflect modern leadership values, emphasizing adaptability and humility—an acknowledgement that even at the highest levels, there is always more to learn.

Sector and Peer Endorsement​

Chris Clark, CEO and fellow Co-Founder of Prosperity 24/7, highlighted Evans’ achievement as “an endorsement of Geraldine’s professionalism and knowledge of corporate governance best practice.” This level of public, organizational endorsement is not purely ceremonial: for clients, partners, and colleagues, it reassures that the business’s strategy and governance reflect internationally recognized best practice.

Analytical Perspectives: What This Means for Jersey’s Tech Sector​

Strengths​

• Benchmarking Excellence: Evans’ Chartered Director status sets a higher standard for leadership not just within Prosperity 24/7, but sector-wide. By raising the bar, she encourages other leaders to pursue rigorous, externally validated development.
• Demonstrated Impact: The dual focus on gender parity and data security links governance reforms to outcomes that matter: organizational health, public trust, and fairness.
• Thought Leadership: Evans’ involvement in high-profile sector initiatives, such as the Jersey TechAwards and the gender pay gap report, positions her—and by extension Prosperity 24/7—as influential agents of positive change.

Risks and Challenges​

• Sustaining Momentum: Achieving a major qualification or launching a pay gap report are only the first steps; the harder task lies in embedding new practices and maintaining transparency year after year. There is a risk that organizational fatigue or resource constraints could undermine ongoing progress, particularly if not matched by systemic change.
• Diversity Backlash: Not all stakeholders or competitors will immediately embrace change. Gender pay gap reporting, for example, can provoke defensiveness or negative comparisons, especially where systemic solutions remain incomplete.
• Qualification Diffusion: As more directors seek Chartered status, the edge conferred by the qualification may diminish—unless accompanied by demonstrable business innovation and improvement.

The Global Context: Regulatory and Stakeholder Trends​

Regulatory and market environments continue to evolve, with increasing demand for director accountability. The IoD qualification aligns Jersey’s leadership with global standards, mitigating the reputational and legal risks of governance failures. Furthermore, with cyber threats on the rise, ISO27001 is fast becoming a baseline expectation rather than a differentiator for digital consultancies.

What’s Next: The Future for Prosperity 24/7 and Jersey Tech​

For Evans and Prosperity 24/7, the achievement ushers in a new chapter with raised expectations. As the company continues to advise clients on transformation and resilience, its own leaders must remain models of best practice, transparency, and responsible innovation.

Recommendations for Sector Peers​

• Pursue Accredited Learning: Other tech businesses in the Channel Islands and beyond should consider encouraging their directors to pursue Chartered Director or similar qualifications, ensuring their governance is robust and future fit.
• Act on Pay Transparency: Publish gender pay data proactively, and follow through with measurable action to close gaps. Talent attraction and retention increasingly depend on credible DEI commitments.
• Invest in Data Security: View ISO27001 certification not as a tick-box activity but as a foundation for trust and business continuity in a time of heightened digital risk.

Conclusion: A Signal of Promise and Challenge​

Geraldine Evans’ ascension to Chartered Director status is a signal moment for Jersey’s technology community. It encapsulates the evolving role of the modern executive: part strategist, part advocate, part guardian of business ethics and societal progress. Yet it is only one piece in a continually evolving puzzle.
Sector-wide leadership demands not only qualifications, but persistence and a willingness to engage uncomfortable truths—from board diversity to cyber resilience. As Prosperity 24/7 and its peers respond to these demands, the benefits will radiate beyond boardrooms, shaping the reputation and competitiveness of the Island’s digital economy for years to come.

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Source: Channel Eye Co-Founder of Prosperity 24/7 achieves the Institute of Directors’ flagship qualification