Jersey Appointments Commission: appointment of Commissioners

STATES OF JERSEY

JERSEY APPOINTMENTS COMMISSION: APPOINTMENT OF COMMISSIONERS

Presented to the States on 15th April 2019 by the Chief Minister

STATES GREFFE

2019  R.45

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REPORT

1. The Jersey Appointments Commission ("JAC") consists of a Chairman and up to 4 other Commissioners, appointed for a period of up to 9 years. The tenure was increased from 8 years to 9 years under the recent amendment to the Employment  of  States  of  Jersey  Employees  (Jersey)  Law  2005, (the "2005 Law") which was agreed by the States Assembly under P.11/2017, the Draft Employment of States of Jersey Employees (Amendment No. 8) (Jersey) Regulations 201-.
2. The terms of reference for the JAC are set out in the 2005 Law. It is the duty of the JAC to oversee the recruitment of certain States employees, appointees and members of independent bodies, to ensure that as far as practicable –

1. the recruitment of persons as States employees, appointees or members of independent bodies is fair, efficient and conducted in accordance with best practice principles and procedures;
2. States employees, appointees and members of independent bodies are appointed on merit;
3. Members of the States are only involved in the recruitment of States employees,  appointees  and  members  of  independent  bodies  in accordance with guidelines made under Article 24 of the Law or other circumstances  where,  in  the  opinion  of  the  Commission,  it  is appropriate that they be involved.

3. JAC workload is high at present, with Commissioners involved in a number of appointments  at  a  senior  level,  both  within  the  States  of  Jersey  and  in independent bodies. The JAC Annual Report 2018 (R.23/2019) set out the range of work undertaken during an exceptionally busy year.
4. The current terms of office are as follows –

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5. Appointment of Advocate Helen Ruelle as Commissioner for a 3-year term

1. The post of Commissioner became vacant upon the expiry of the term of office of Ms. Gailina Liew in December 2018. The role was advertised in the JEP in October 2018 and again in November 2018. Nine applications were received, and 4 candidates were shortlisted and interviewed by a Panel that included Deputy G.J. Truscott of St. Brelade , Rt. Hon. Dame Janet Paraskeva, D.B.E., and Commissioner Louise Read.  Following the interviews, the unanimous decision of the Panel was to offer the role to Advocate Helen Ruelle.
2. Advocate  Ruelle  is  a  highly  regarded,  high-profile  Jersey  Advocate  with extensive experience gained predominantly in Jersey, but prior to that, in the UK. She is currently Director of Local Legal Services at Ogier, and she has held senior positions at Mourant Ozannes. She also holds the roles of Chairman of the Employment Forum, Chairman of the Jersey Community Relations Trust, as well as Vice-chairman of the Jersey Employment Trust.

6. Re-appointment of Louise Read as Commissioner for a 3-year term

6.1  Ms. Read has an accountancy background, and has been employed as a Director and Secretary to the Board of the Channel Islands Competition and Regulatory Authorities. She is a member of the States Members' Remuneration Review Board, the advisory Panel that makes recommendations to the States, through the  Privileges  and  Procedures  Committee,  on  any  matters  relating  to  the remuneration and expenses of elected States Members; and is a Governor of the Jersey College for Girls. Ms. Read is a fellow of the ICAEW and a Chartered Director. She was appointed as a Commissioner in May 2015 for a term that runs to 30th April 2019, and it is requested that she is re-appointed for a 3-year term, bringing her total term of office to 7 years.

R.45/2019