Carol Dixon has become the eighth island resident to qualify as a chartered director, the Bermuda branch of the Institute of Directors has reported.

The IoD said Ms Dixon has completed 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”.

She added: “I have not only learnt a lot, but also built my confidence and connections.”

In particular, Ms Dixon 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 in Bermuda.

“I first heard about the IoD courses through the local grapevine,” she recalled. “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 chairwoman), 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 designation to help earn new positions on corporate boards and to enhance the work she is doing on her current boards, which include Bermuda Engineering Company Limited (trading as BE Solar) and the Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute, for which she was chairwoman from 2018 until 2020.

She said: “The demand for professional non-executive directors is increasing for various reasons, such as to help corporate Bermuda to demonstrate economic substance.

“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 is also the co-founder of the national food banking network in South Africa.

She said: “Beginning in 2000, I played various roles, including as co-founder and board member, for the NGO which is now known as FoodForward SA.

“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.”

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