2018 Brexit (half-day) Forum

Chris is a proven senior executive with 30 years’ experience of leadership, strategy and operational planning in political, military and commercial environments. As the previous Director of Government Relations to the British Prime Minister, he led one of the key directorates at No 10 Downing Street, working in close alignment with both the No 10 Policy Unit and the Communications Directorate. Through this close collaboration, he presented clear, coherent narratives at the centre of national decision making.

As the Prime Minister’s relationship director with leading businesses and trade bodies he drew upon an extensive network of politically attuned stakeholders to deliver effective solutions to policy objectives. Exposed to the inner workings of government, he has experience of working in high pressure and time critical environments, with a proven ability to step back and keep the strategic goal in focus while managing operational decisions.

Chris provides a deep and unique understanding of the political processes surrounding BREXIT. He specialises in the political deconstruction of a situation and in his interpretation of the factors influencing UK government policy. He provides insight, analysis and interpretation to decision makers. Prior to joining No10, he was a career soldier in the British Army.  He is a former Commanding Officer, instructor in leadership at RMA Sandhurst and Staff College graduate.

Chris is a graduate of the University of Surrey and Kings College London as well as being educated at RMA Sandhurst, Joint Services Command and Staff College and Manchester Business School.

He founded Kingsgate Political Communications, providing bespoke political risk advice to clients and is a Senior Partner on Public Policy at Brexit Partners (www.brexit-partners.com). He is an advisory board member of UK Policy Group (www.ukpolicy.co.uk) a unique research consultancy bringing campaign style research to corporate clients.

Devising recommendations and representing the voice of members on EU reform matters and helping to provide the link between business and Government on increasing international trade. She also routinely provides advocacy for the IoD on a range of regulatory issues in Brussels.

She was previously Research Director at Business for Britain, the campaign focused on renegotiating the UK's relationship with the EU. Prior to that, she advised a number of parliamentarians in both Houses on EU legislative issues, with a particular focus on trade and employment policy areas.

Allie holds a Master’s Degree in the political economy of emerging economies in the post-Soviet space.

Chris has over 20 years’ experience in international financial services, working both in the UK and offshore, for major financial institutions such as Barclays Wealth and Santander.

Formerly an International Investment Manager he advised both individuals and corporate entities on complex investment scenarios. He now specialises in delivering training in investment management, taxation and regulatory matters in international finance centres around the world.

Chris is a specialist chairman of a number of high-profile events, including conferences such as the Annual Compliance & Economic Crime Symposium and the International Taxation Conference. As an expert in the financial crime risks posed to international offshore financial centres, Chris was invited to speak at the Association of Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialists (ACAMS) conference on the topic of ‘Understanding the Criminal Vulnerabilities of Offshore Products and Services’.

From 1969 to 1999 Colin Powell was Adviser to the States of Jersey on the Island’s economic development including as an international finance centre. From 1999 to September 2009 he held the position of Chairman of the Jersey Financial Services Commission, the body responsible for the regulation of all financial services in Jersey. He is currently Adviser on international affairs to the Chief Minister, and in this capacity advises on and participates in the implementation of the various international initiatives on transparency and information exchange.

He represents Jersey on the Global Forum on Transparency and Exchange of Information for Tax Purposes. From 2009 until the end of 2013 he was a vice-chair of the Global Forum Peer Review Group, following which he was appointed and remains a vice-chair of the Global Forum’s Working Group on Automatic Exchange of Information.

Christopher is a partner and heads the commercial and fiduciary team at Viberts. 

Christopher has an in depth knowledge of the legislation and practice that apply to Jersey companies, Jersey trusts (whether set up in life or in a will) Jersey partnerships and Jersey foundations. He advises people planning to establish such arrangements, the regulated financial services providers who administer them, third parties dealing with them and those shareholders or beneficiaries who question whether their interests are being well looked after.