Insights from our Interim President, Eliot Lincoln, July 2026

It is both an honour and, I must admit, something of a surprise to find myself once again serving as President of the Jersey Chamber of Commerce. I completed my previous term in 2018 and, as is customary for past presidents, stepped back for a period from the day-to-day machinery of Chamber. In recent years I returned first to chair the Digital Committee, and then to support Lee Madden as he took on the presidency following Adam Budworth’s term of office.

I want to begin by thanking Lee for the time, energy and enthusiasm he brought to Chamber, both as Vice-President and President. The role is voluntary, demanding and often unseen, and Lee’s commitment to the organisation was clear. Following his resignation in June, I was asked to consider stepping back into the role in an interim capacity until next year’s AGM in May. This was not something I had planned or sought, but I have agreed to do so because Chamber matters, and because continuity, stability and confidence are important at this moment.

Chamber is one of Jersey’s oldest institutions. Founded in 1768, it has served the Island’s business community for more than two and a half centuries. It has seen change, uncertainty and challenge before. Given its origins in Jersey’s maritime economy, the analogy of weathering storms feels entirely appropriate. Chamber has endured because it has adapted, but also because it has remained anchored to a clear purpose: to represent, support and give voice to Jersey’s businesses.

That purpose must guide everything we do. Chamber is, first and foremost, a membership organisation. It is funded by its members, strengthened by their participation, and given authority by the breadth and diversity of the sectors it represents. Our members rightly expect Chamber to work tirelessly on their behalf: sometimes visibly, through events, consultation responses and public engagement; and sometimes less visibly, through conversations with ministers, States Members, officials, regulators and other bodies whose decisions affect the conditions in which businesses operate.

For that work to be effective, Chamber must be trusted. It must be, and must be seen to be, apolitical, balanced and independent. Its credibility depends not only on the strength of the arguments it makes, but on the confidence members and policymakers have in the way those arguments are formed. Perception matters. Governance matters. Process matters. Over the coming months, one of my central priorities will therefore be to continue the work already begun to review and strengthen Chamber’s governance, structures and ways of working, so that the organisation can stand up to scrutiny and operate with clarity, consistency and transparency.

That does not mean turning inward. Good governance is not an end in itself; it is what enables Chamber to speak with authority and confidence. My intention as Interim President is to work closely with our Chief Executive, Executive Council, committee chairs, committee members and wider membership to listen carefully, represent fairly and engage constructively. Chamber must continue to provide a forum where different sectors can be heard, where difficult issues can be discussed responsibly, and where the common interests of Jersey’s economy can be articulated clearly.

Jersey faces significant challenges and opportunities: economic resilience, workforce pressures, housing, infrastructure, transport links, digital change, skills, sustainability and the overall competitiveness of the Island. Chamber will not have all the answers, but it has an essential role in bringing practical business experience into those conversations. It must do so professionally, constructively and without fear or favour.

My commitment for this interim period is simple: to steady the organisation, strengthen confidence, listen to members, support the Chamber team, and ensure that Chamber’s voice remains relevant, credible and effective. I am conscious of the responsibility that comes with returning to this role. I will approach it with humility, focus and a clear belief that a strong, independent and well-governed Chamber is good for business and good for Jersey.