What was your highlight of 2024?
Professionally, it’s got to be publishing our new business plan and sustainability strategy. Both are heavily focused on the impact that UK Export Finance has in the UK and overseas and give very clear indications of how we expect to take things forward and hold ourselves to account.
This is truly an exciting time for us as we get to implement the objectives of our business plan. In particular, we’re doing more to support small businesses and underrepresented communities. It’s fantastic to see how these have been embraced by our teams and our stakeholders.
As for a personal highlight, it’s seeing my daughter graduate from Manchester University – a proud parent moment for sure!
What was the hardest part of being a leader in 2024?
There have been many things to consider this year including (but not limited to) growing geopolitical challenges and conflicts, and changes of government both here and abroad. In this context, export credit agencies are increasingly looked at both to fill a market gap but also to support their governments’ wider international and domestic policy objectives.
While these factors have a significant impact on global business, as leaders it is important to keep our teams focused on our core objectives and on our customers.
What are the main challenges facing your organisation in the coming year – and how are you planning to meet them?
Our foremost challenge is to keep innovating at pace so we can meet the needs of British exporters and provide them with the services they need to be successful on the international stage. We’re confident that we can do that, and it’s a journey.
Concurrently, the risk environment is challenging and we have significant changes to navigate in our organisation – take for example major IT projects we have planned.
What was the best Christmas present you’ve ever given or received? And the worst?
I am easy to please on the gift front. For me it is not about the presents but ‘presence’, so getting people together and eating very well. Experiences like trips to the theatre and visits to European cities stick in my mind.
In terms of the worst, I hate to admit but I have resorted to money or gift vouchers which I always think are uninspiring, but I am told that they land well!