Island Influencers – Détails, épisodes et analyse

This week’s Island Influencers podcast features John Webster, Chairman of Manx Technology Group. From his early days growing up near Liverpool and spending summers on the Isle of Man, to becoming an accomplished economist, entrepreneur, and leader in both public and private sectors.
John has been a key figure in shaping the Isle of Man’s economic landscape. During the 1970s and 1980s, he played a crucial role in establishing the island’s finance sector, laying the groundwork for its modern-day success. Transitioning to the private sector, John co-founded prominent businesses, including Web Tech and the Manx Technology Group, while continuing to make significant contributions to the community through his involvement with the Island Games Association and the Chamber of Commerce.   John’s philosophy and business insights bring a practical and motivational edge to this episode. He shares his perspectives on the Isle of Man’s future, how he stays grounded, and his vision for quality-driven progress. With a mix of wisdom, humour, and a deep love for the Isle of Man, John’s perspective is as thought-provoking as it is inspiring.

Join us for episode 122 of Island Influencers as we delve into the life and career of John Webster.

In the inaugural episode of Island Influencers for 2025, Sharon chats with Dr. Karen Wilson, who shares her remarkable life story from growing up in Glasgow to settling on the Isle of Man and founding Mannin Doctors, the island's first private healthcare practice, while detailing the challenges she faced, the successes she achieved, and her vision for creating patient-centred, accessible healthcare.   Karen has excelled in various roles, including GP, motorsports medic, and hospice doctor. She reflects on the influence of her pioneering mother, one of the few female doctors in post-war Scotland, and her education at St. Andrews and Manchester University. We explore Karen's efforts to introduce holistic care, such as acupuncture, to the Isle of Man’s healthcare system and her volunteering experience with Tibetan refugees in India, which enriched her patient care approach.    We also explore Karen's insights on balancing life, business, and personal fulfilment. Dr Karen Wilson merges her passion for medicine with a commitment to community well-being, hear her story in episode 121 of Island Influencers.  

Welcome to episode 112 of Island Influencers. I'm honoured to introduce this week's Island Influencer, Derry Kissack, BEM.

Derry is known to thousands, especially as a key member/frontman of the world-famous Purple Helmets motorcycle display team. Many of you will recognise him as the energetic commentator who guides awe-struck spectators through their breathtaking performances. He is a favourite at the TT and shows worldwide.

You'll immediately notice from his accent that Derry was born and raised here in the Isle of Man. In our conversation, Derry opens up about his life experiences, sharing his childhood memories, education, and profound passion for motorcycles. We also delve into the development of the Isle of Man TT's pit lane and discuss the crucial role of supporting local businesses and individuals who contribute to the island's vibrant tourism industry.

Derry's journey hasn't been without hardship. He lost both his parents by the age of 24, and he reveals how a motorbike accident led him to write his first book!

Despite his challenges, Derry's wonderful sense of humour, spirit and resilience shine through, especially in the fascinating story of how the Purple Helmets were formed (he proudly takes credit for getting them into show business!). He even shares some exclusive tales for you, our Island Influencers listeners.

This episode is packed with great yarns and unforgettable moments I hadn't heard before.

Here's episode 112 - the incredible life and adventures of Derry Kissack BEM.

My guests this week need little introduction. They are husband and wife team Pippa and Miles Pettit of Noa Bakehouse.

Noa Bakehouse is the sourdough baking, pastry shaping, doughnut filling, flat white slinging, coffee roasting, pizza stretching, local living, community loving bakers based in an old furniture warehouse in the centre of Douglas.

I hope you enjoy listening to how they've come to set up their fabulous bakery business and hear all about their path to fulfilment of a great work-life balance.

My guest this week is Chris Callow.

Chris is a former Isle of Man advocate, but a change of tack to include the running of a French ski chalet and volunteering for Manx National Heritage and the Leonard Cheshire Disability Centre are just some of the things he's done on his journey towards his pathway to running and owning Island Heritage Tours.

Chris is a qualified Blue-Badge Tourist Guide with a first class honours degree in history and heritage, offering bespoke tours of his beloved Isle of Man.

Welcome to Island Influencers, where my guest this week is Dawn Jones.

Dawn has been one of the most high-profile lawyers on the island, involved in many headline-making cases over her 30-year career as an Isle of Man advocate.

I hope you enjoy hearing her story, including what she is up to now and her hopes for the future.

Here's my conversation with Dawn Jones in episode 22 of Island Influencers.

Welcome to the latest episode of Island Influencers, where my guest today is Jane Prescott.

Jane is a Chartered Landscape Architect and she's worked on various projects in the public and private sector over the years, including involvement with the Chelsea Flower Show Medal-Winning Gardens in 1984 and 1986.

She's the first person I've ever heard of outside of Warner Bros Studios to have a herbology diploma, so I hope you enjoy hearing her story.

Here's my conversation with Jane Prescott in episode 21 of Island Influencers.

Welcome to the new episode of Island Influencers, where my guest is Dr Breesha Maddrell, the Director of Culture Vannin.

Breesha works closely with the IOM Government agencies and members of the public to develop strategies and policies for the advancement of Manx culture and heritage.

Before Breesha joined Culture Vannin in 2008, she worked for six years as a lecturer at the University of Liverpool’s Centre for Manx Studies.

An active musician, singer and composer, Breesha has a BA in Music and Germanic Studies from the University of Sheffield, an MLitt in 20th Century German Literature and Society from the University of St Andrews and a PhD in sociolinguistics and Manx Studies from the University of Liverpool; her thesis looking at aspects of cultural revival in the Isle of Man.

She started playing traditional music at school, learning Manx Gaelic on her return to the Island in 1996. Breesha is an authority on key figures in Manx cultural revival such as Sophia Morrison and Mona Douglas.

Breesha plays flute and whistles and sings with groups including Caarjyn Cooidjagh and Clash Vooar.

She has served on the IOM Arts Council for eight years and has helped organise various festivals and events nationally and internationally.

Here’s my conversation with Dr Breesha Maddrell in episode 20 of Island Influencers.

Welcome to episode 19 of Island Influencers, where my guest is David Roberts.

David was born and raised in Guildford, Surrey. 

The son of a policeman and school teacher, David started his career by working as part of the marketing team for BP and Shell.

He progressed for 30 years where he was involved on the marketing side in a whole variety of different activities.

When the price of electricity was sky high on the Isle of Man because Shell was overcharging and over profiteering, David saw an opportunity to compete with Shell by approaching Total to become a fuel supplier on the Isle of Man. 

This led to a £2 million reduction in cost for fuel to the Isle of Man within one year. What a contribution to our Island's economy! 

David is currently retired and involved with many charities including Scripture Union, Care in Mann, Junior Achiever and the Isle of Man Beekeepers Federation. 

Here’s my conversation with David Roberts in episode 19 of Island Influencers.

Welcome to this week's episode of Island Influencers.

My guests on the podcast today are Northern Irishmen Mark Noble and Chris Suitor, who between them after what started as a bit of a joke about their combined names and occupations, formed The Noble Suitor now based at Tynwald Mills in the Isle of Man.

I hope you enjoy listening to their story.

Mark, a university-educated biology teacher, having followed his wife to the Isle of Man, found his way into tailoring bespoke suits with Chris Suitor of the Belfast based award-winning Suitor Brothers.

Let's meet Chris and Mark, in episode 18 of Island Influencers.