FOR more than three decades, Lisa Springate has been a familiar figure in Jersey’s business, legal and public life.
A qualified English barrister and Jersey advocate, she has built a career spanning commercial litigation, leadership roles in key Island organisations and work supporting economic development and tourism.
Now, she is preparing to take on a very different challenge. In April, Mrs Springate will become the new president of the JSPCA Animals’ Shelter, stepping into the voluntary role at a time when the charity is looking to modernise its operations while continuing to provide vital services to the Island.
“The charity is now approaching its 160th anniversary,” she said.
“We have been part of Island life now since 1868 – we’ve survived two world wars, we’ve survived the pandemic and everything in between.”
The JSPCS plays a wide-ranging role in the Island, something Mrs Springate said she only fully appreciated after spending time at the animal shelter.
“I hadn’t appreciated until I did a walk around with Pam, how many types of animals we cover and what we do,” she noted.
The organisation employs around 50 staff, including veterinary professionals, behaviourists, animal carers, reception staff, ambulance drivers and administrative teams. Its animal ambulance service operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Running the shelter and delivering its services costs more than £4,000 a day. In 2025 alone, the charity cared for more than 1,200 wildlife animals – including over 190 hand-reared babies – and successfully rehomed more than 120 domestic animals.
Mrs Springate said there would be a “huge gap” in the Island without the charity.
However, she added that funding remained the “biggest challenge” and said there was also an opportunity to modernise the organisation’s operations.
“It’s got huge potential, we’ve got a really exciting five-year strategy, we’ve got a really good team as well, the volunteers are passionate and we’ve got an excellent chief executive onboard – Pam Aubert is phenomenal.”
As part of efforts to raise funds and awareness, the JSPCA will later this month host its first ‘Bark Run’ fundraiser, described as a “fun and inclusive 5k race raising vital funds for animals in need”.
In addition to fundraising, Mrs Springate said the charity was also planning to focus on public education.
“We’re basically embarking on a myth-busting campaign to help inform and educate Islanders in terms of what we do,” she said.
Looking ahead, she said she would like to see the development of a dedicated centre highlighting the organisation’s work.
Her vision includes a “JSPCA centre” showcasing its activities, with an educational area as well as merchandise and a “tea and coffee” space.
Alongside her new voluntary role, Mrs Springate has also recently launched a consultancy business focused on executive coaching.
“I’m going to be doing executive coaching, because I suppose I’ve got to a point in my career where I just really enjoy trying to support others and helping them,” she said.
“And I suppose that when I look back over my own career, I’ve been very fortunate with people that have been mentors to me. So that’s pretty much where my focus is now.”
Her professional background includes more than two decades as a commercial litigator, as well as senior leadership roles – including head of the legal and technical team at Jersey Finance, chair of the Institute of Directors, and chair of Visit Jersey.
During her time with the latter organisation, she also helped support the return of one of the Island’s most recognisable television exports.
The first series of the revamped Bergerac – offering a modern take on the hit 1980s detective drama of the same name – drew 2.4 million viewers across U and U&DRAMA in 2025, with a second season due to air this spring.
Visit Jersey was among the main stakeholders backing the project and helping to promote the show.
Mrs Springate said: “I remember when we went to the London premiere and then also the Jersey one, it was just a lovely energy.
“It was wonderful to see the Island shining so much and it was a really proud moment.”
She acknowledged that some negativity surfaced on social media before the first series aired but said attitudes appeared to be shifting.
“I think the more that we can try and shift that default setting of negative comments to more teamwork, to more positivity, to what’s that North Star for the Island, that’s when we can really start to move the dial.”
The theme of collaboration is something she believes Jersey has historically done well.
Mrs Springate was part of the 16-strong group of community and business representatives that formed the Economic Council, which produced a paper in 2020 outlining a vision for the Island’s economy in the wake of the pandemic.
“Jersey in the past, what it’s done well is to sit around a table and actually have all the key stakeholders, to discuss what their thoughts are and how we can try and make that into reality,” she said.
“When you look in the Island, we have got a wealth of talent.
“Obviously you’ve got 14,000 [people] within the finance industry, but you look at the entrepreneurial spirit we’ve got here, the high-net-worth residencies, you’ve got a sandbox of phenomenally smart people.”
With the next election approaching, Mrs Springate is also involved with the local Women for Politics group, which encourages more women to stand for office.
“We’ve actually met a few ladies now, new candidates, so I’m hopeful that they, with the necessary support, can push through,” she said.
“We just hopefully provided that safe space for people to say, I’m thinking about it, I’m not completely sure, but I’d like to talk it through with you.
“We can then say, okay, well if you’re concerned about speaking in public we can link you with this trainer to help you with that. Or if you are concerned about social media posts, again, we can link you with such and such.
“So we’re kind of there as a bit of a network facility, but to support people.”
Despite acknowledging that there is “work to be done” after the Island’s next elected officials are chosen, she believes Jersey has strong foundations.
“A stable economy compared to most, political systems fairly stable compared to most, you look across the board – coastlines, beaches, stunning Island and the quality of lifestyle – I think we forget how fortunate we are.”
After more than 30 years in Jersey, she remains optimistic about the Island’s future.
“As a small Island, we’ve always punched above our weight. So let’s continue to do that and let’s continue to hear from people.”
“If you think how Jersey has grown this finance industry over the years, then it can do it.
“It can do anything this Island, if it puts its mind to it and it has the right players in place.”
