Carol Dixon Qualifies As Chartered Director
Carol Dixon has qualified as a Chartered Director.
A spokesperson said, “The Institute of Directors Bermuda [IoD] is delighted to announce that an eighth local resident has qualified as a Chartered Director, after welcoming the seventh just a month ago.
“Carol Dixon is the latest person to complete all three stages of this internationally recognised Directorship qualification. She passed the first [Certificate] and second [Diploma] stages in 2016 and 2018 respectively, and this year achieved the third and final stage, the Chartered Director qualification, following a successful interview and assessment of business experience.
Ms Dixon said, “My reason for pursuing Chartered Director status is because it is an exclusive qualification held by some of the world’s best business directors and leaders.
“Once I became eligible to apply, it took me about 14 months from application to interview. However, I was delayed by various curveballs, including Covid and a family death, which forced me to postpone the final interview. Others should find the process significantly faster!”
Despite the delays, Ms Dixon says the process has been “a really good experience” and describes the level of training provided by IoD Bermuda as “very professional and supportive”.
“I have not only learned a lot, but also built my confidence and connections,” she says.
In particular, she notes the support of Neil Glass, the IoD ambassador for director development and member support in Bermuda, and Tina Hobrough, the assessment manager for Chartered Directors at the Institute of Directors in London. She also acknowledged the value of having a branch of the IoD right here in Bermuda.
“I first heard about the IoD courses through the local grapevine,” she recalls. “That prompted me to attend an IoD presentation by Rochelle Simons during the Centre on Philanthropy’s Third Sector Conference in 2016. Rochelle, who has since stepped down [as IoD Bermuda Chair], was a fantastic leader and ambassador for the local IoD branch in its formative years.”
With a varied career that began in information technology before shifting into philanthropic work, Ms Dixon says she looks forward to using her new designation to help earn new positions on corporate Boards and to enhance the work she is doing on her current Boards. Those Boards include Bermuda Engineering Company Limited [trading as BE Solar] and the Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute, for which she was Chair from 2018-2020.
“The demand for professional non-executive directors is increasing for various reasons, such as to help corporate Bermuda to demonstrate economic substance,” she says. “Traditionally, companies have sourced NEDs from among seasoned former executives. The Chartered Director is a professional and recognised qualification which may allow me to credibly compete for some of those roles.”
Ms Dixon’s work also extends beyond Bermuda’s shores as the co-founder of the national foodbanking network in South Africa.
“Beginning in 2000, I played various roles, including as co-founder and board member, for the NGO which is now known as FoodForward SA,” she explains. “During its latest financial year, FoodForward SA distributed 48 million meals and reached 875,000 people daily through a network of over 2,200 beneficiary charities across South Africa.
“My career has given me a continuing fascination with technology and a passion for CSR and ESG. Looking beyond these areas of direct experience, I would enjoy working on Boards seeking an innovative, independent, strategic and critical thinker who is diligent and organised and has a strong understanding of governance.”
To learn more about IoD Bermuda’s professional development opportunities, please visit www.iod.bm or email info@iod.bm.
