I grew up in an extended family of teachers and public servants, then stumbled into public relations quite by accident, while waiting to sit the Foreign Service exam on completing a BSc in International Relations. I expect my approach to public relations has probably been influenced by the role education and service played in my life. It may even be the reason I came to specialise in financial services – arguably the sector most in need of education in Britain today!

Although I have worked with clients in other sectors – manufacturing, tourism, construction, as well as NGOs and government agencies – I continue to find financial services a unique challenge because many of our clients offer what is both a product and a service. These products can be complex and technical, but then, so are computers, electronics and pharmaceuticals. But while we can see, touch and feel those products, financial services really are intangible. What’s more, many of the financial products we buy are actually promises that we hope will be delivered in the future.

People sometimes ask me why I left the Caribbean to live in the UK. I often joke that I came here for the weather! But every day I find that my years of experience in Jamaica’s financial sector were excellent preparation for the events that have unfolded in UK financial services since I moved here in 2000. In Jamaica, I lived through not one banking failure but several during the 1990s. I emerged with a renewed intent to question everything, become more knowledgeable about financial products, more thoughtful about providing communications advice, particularly where consumers are involved. It has even led me to pursue a PhD in Public Relations, examining financial services and the public trust.

I am passionate about building teams who bring questioning minds and enthusiasm to financial and professional services. At Flagship, we follow issues keenly – such as the debate around pensions. Some of the team may be a long way off from retirement, but our parents aren’t, so we make sure we get their perspectives first hand! Above all, I am keen on developing a team who approach public relations as relationship management – adopting this approach when working with clients and stakeholders, as well as the media.