Inside the Regulator – An introduction to the Guernsey Financial Services Commission

The Q4 event from the IoD Next Gen Forum invites you to step inside Guernsey’s regulator and discover what life is really like at the Commission.

The Guernsey Financial Services Commission (GFSC) plays a vital role in maintaining confidence in the island’s finance sector — but what does the work of a regulator actually involve? This session will lift the lid on the Commission, offering a unique opportunity to hear directly from senior leaders about their work, their career pathways, and the reality of life inside the regulator.

Run as a panel discussion, the session will feature three of the GFSC’s Directors — Gillian Browning, Katherine Jane, and Alice Joy — and will be guided through an engaging, interactive, and myth-busting conversation with open dialogue and active audience participation.

This session will demystify regulation and provide rare insight into life inside the Commission. Attendees will:

• Gain an introduction to regulation, covering everything from supervision to international engagement.

• Hear personal stories of career pathways and the transferable skills that lead people into regulation.

• Learn what it’s really like to work within the GFSC, directly from senior leaders.

Meet the Speakers

Gillian Browning – Co-Deputy Director General, Director of Investment, Fiduciary and Pension Division

Gillian joined the Commission in July 2014, initially as Director of Fiduciary and Innovations, before becoming Director of the Investment, Fiduciary and Pension Division in 2018. In December 2022, she was additionally appointed as Co-Deputy Director General.

She leads the supervision and policy development of several sectors and has a strong interest in supervisory technology, supporting initiatives that enable the Commission to more effectively regulate firms using data-driven approaches.

Gillian represents the Commission internationally through the International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO) and the Group of International Finance Centre Supervisors (GIFCS).

Before joining the GFSC, she worked at the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and began her career in the Cabinet Office as a Minister’s Private Secretary and Policy Officer. Gillian is a graduate of the University of Exeter, where she read History and Politics.

Katherine Jane – Co-Deputy Director General

Appointed as Co-Deputy Director General in December 2022, Katherine is responsible for finance, IT, risk, and financial stability. She joined the Commission in June 2016 as Chief Risk Officer from Deloitte London, where she provided prudential and risk support to a wide range of FCA-regulated firms, including working with firms following regulatory issues.

Before Deloitte, Katherine spent five years at the UK Financial Conduct Authority, supervising a wide range of firms, including FTSE-listed companies, and played a key role in implementing CRD IV for FCA firms. She began her career in internal audit services for building societies and mutual organisations and is a Fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (FCCA).

Alice Joy – Director of External Affairs and Commission Secretary

Alice joined the Commission in March 2014 and, as Director of External Affairs and Commission Secretary, advises the Chairman, Director General and Board on corporate governance, oversees enforcement case decision-making, and leads the Commission’s approach to human resources and data protection.

Before becoming a Director, Alice spent seven years in the Fiduciary Division, helping embed PRISM for the supervision of trust and corporate service providers.

Earlier in her career, she worked in London at a charity providing legal advice to disabled people and at a law firm specialising in community care and education law. Alice holds a degree from the University of Exeter and completed her legal training at the College of Law, London. She is also a member of the Guernsey Employment and Discrimination Tribunal and serves on the Office of the Data Protection Authority’s Guidance Advisory Panel.