Alderney’s most-senior politician will be a woman for the first time this century, and only the second time in recent memory.
Jeannie Cameron was elected unanimously to take over as Chair of Policy and Finance – the island’s top committee – “with immediate effect”, after previous Chair Bill Abel stepped down.
The last woman to hold Alderney’s top job was Dorothy Maud Leach in the 1980s, however this was under a different committee system, before P&F was formed.
Bringing people together
One of Ms Cameron’s main aims is to improve relationships between States members and get rid of “cliques or factions”, she said, after her election.
“Alderney needs leadership that brings people together, not further apart,” Ms Cameron added.
She will also break with tradition by keeping her role on Economic Development, whereas previous holders of the role have opted just to serve on P&F.
Ms Cameron also thanked her predecessor, who she said “stood up to do the job last year when no-one else wanted to do it” and had “kept the ship on course”.
She said her priortites now will be government reform, major projects like the runway, and the GST proposals.
Who is Jeannie Cameron?
First elected in 2025, Ms Cameron was born in Australia but has family ties to the Channel Islands.
Her mother – Marion Woodnutt – and grandparents emigrated from Jersey after the Occupation. Her great-uncle moved to Alderney in the 1960s.
She held various policy and civil service roles within the government of the – much larger – island that she previously called home, including Assistant Director of the Australian Prime Minister and Cabinet Department.
Ms Cameron, a Management Consultant, holds an undergraduate degree from the University of Technology Sydney and a Masters in Law from King’s College London.
She moved to Alderney from the UK and lists padel tennis, pilates and limestone pointing among her hobbies.