Michelle Ryan

As a mother, small business owner and passionate advocate for sustainability and equality in Jersey, I feel I can bring to the Coop a balance of business experience, deep passion for our unique islands and a commitment to improving outcomes for all members.

My recent roles include founding and running an advisory business, True, that helps companies operate more sustainably.  This includes their environmental sustainability but also their labour practices and supply chain decisions alongside issues such as waste, energy efficiency and organisational governance.  It is this deep understanding of the interconnectedness of all these issues and their impact on products, customers, employees and business viability that I can bring to the Board.

Prior to this I worked for 18 years in the finance industry, advising people on their investments and then leading teams of advisors.  I have developed significant expertise and undertaken many qualifications in this area, becoming a Chartered Fellow of the Securities Institute.  Commercial strategy was also my focus on the board of medical technology start up and in a number of other Director or Board Advisor roles.

I volunteer for a number of charities in my spare time, including being the Chair of the Jersey Association of Sustainability Practitioners and for Jersey Maternity Voices.  The latter is a non-profit dedicated to representing service-user voices to the health department to improve maternity and peri-natal care.

It was in this latter role that I gained experience in representing member voices to influence decisions and I am passionate about ensuring all voices are heard and considered.  I believe it is through hearing from diverse groups that we can design products and business lines that meet the needs of all people.  I have extended this endeavour through my role as a NED for Jersey Finance and as an independent advisor to the New Healthcare Facilities Programme for Government. In both cases I advocate for stakeholder engagement and represent the interests of members in decision making.  

Lastly as a mother to two young boys, I would like to be part of a business that is dedicated to being a force for change in our food system, getting healthy and nutritious food to our tables, at a reasonable price and doing so in a way that makes a positive contribution to our local economy and community.  I think all those can be achieved in harmony, and I would like the opportunity to represent all members and to help the CI Coop to thrive.

Proposed by: Claire Brown
Seconded by: Sabrina Sherry