Bermudian lawyer Sara Schroter Ross has become the youngest member of the Institute of Directors in Bermuda to achieve chartered director status.

She was also the first and youngest woman in the branch to complete the certificate in company direction designation in 2014, and a year later became the first and youngest woman to complete the diploma in company direction with distinction.

Rochelle Simons, the IoD branch chairwoman, said: “I extend warm congratulations to Sara on her achievement of the chartered director designation.

“I have been looking forward to this moment for Sara who has been blazing a trail in the IoD Bermuda from the time we launched professional development programme exams on island in 2014.

“Sara is a wonderful woman, a leader in our community who brings insightful, strategic thinking and application to her roles. She manages a full portfolio — family, work, community service.

“I respect and value her insight and look forward to supporting and witnessing her further contributions to the advancement of leadership in the community.”

Mrs Schroter Ross, 37, has legal experience in the areas of financial services, private client, corporate governance, commercial and litigation.

Prior to her current role as general counsel for Meritus Trust Company Ltd, she was general counsel of the Bermuda Commercial Bank, and legal counsel at Axa UK plc.

She said she pursued chartered director designation because “Bermuda continues to set the gold standard in compliance and regulation.

“Given the recent EU requirements to demonstrate economic substance, it will become crucial for companies and directors in Bermuda to be able to demonstrate real mind and management in the jurisdiction.

“This means instilling best practices in corporate governance in the boardroom, and securing top talent in the key executive and director roles in Bermuda.

“The IoD chartered director designation is an internationally recognised achievement which evidences a culmination of learning and experience at the director level — in particular in governance, strategy, finance and leadership.

“It tells the market that the holder understands: the duties and responsibilities of a director; how to create value for a company or organisation; and, has a track record of excellence. I believe that these are skills that companies will be looking for when seeking to appoint a non-executive director to its board.”

She added: “From a personal perspective, I hope to provide an example to our future corporate leaders, be that female or male, of colour, under 40, or all of the above, that we have as much to offer to organisations as those historically favoured to fill board positions.

“This reflects the reality that we are talented and educated professionals working in this jurisdiction to uphold Bermuda’s sterling reputation and who are working within companies to create value for all stakeholders.”

Mrs Schroter Ross joins Bermuda chartered directors Roger Gillett, Alan Marshall, Neil Glass and Horst Finkbeiner.

Chartered director, the IoD said, is the professional qualification for directors and recognises the high standards, capabilities and values that are required to ensure that the profession of “director” is understood and placed at the heart of organisational life.