ONLY a handful of tickets remain for the Institute of Directors debate next month. The 15th annual event will focus on the island in the future. Entitled Which Way for Guernsey?, the evening promises to deliver much food for thought.

The panel will include former PricewaterhouseCoopers chief economist Rosemary Radcliffe, head of strategy, planning, finance and enterprise risk management at Assicurazioni Generali Spa Mel Carvill and NP Group chief executive and former IoD chairman Tony Gallienne.

Carey Olsen will sponsor the evening that will mark Advocate Ian Kirk’s last opportunity as IoD chairman to introduce the debate before handing over to a successor next year. He believes the island must look to the future, assessing its options and how it can shape its prospects.

‘Once we know where we might be going, deciding how to get there should be a little easier,’ he said.

Narratives relating to the growth of globalisation, social issues and how capitalism was king would be used as a series to try and look at the Guernsey of the future.

Carey Olsen managing partner John Greenfield said the debate had become a major event on the Guernsey calendar and this year’s topic would ensure its success.

‘Guernsey can never be complacent and decisions taken now will determine whether we will successfully meet the challenges of the future.’

Cable & Wireless is providing the pre debate drinks from 4.45pm and for the first time people are being invited to submit questions beforehand to a dedicated mobile number or email address set up by the company.

Advocate Kirk said inviting people to do so in that way would hopefully encourage some of the shyest people in the audience to make a contribution to the evening.

Joy’s will again provide the production services on the night. Production manager Ian Allsopp said the event was now one of the island’s premier business occasions and it improves year by year

Brochures designed by Carey Olsen have been sent to IoD members and demand for tables has been strong.

* The debate takes place on Thursday 5 October and the ticket price is £45 per person, which include pre-debate drinks and supper.