Her Excellency Helen Kilpatrick, CB, was in the spotlight today (Friday, 6 November, 2013), as one of the presenters at the Government Professional Development Week.

During the final afternoon of an informative week, the Governor was interviewed by Auditor General Alistair Swarbrick on the theme of Public Sector Governance.

In terms of good governance, Mrs. Kilpatrick said three priority areas are: core values and a good business ethos; having clear accountabilities and systems; and holding people accountable by measuring performance and outcomes. “The foundation of an efficient and trusted public service is good governance… without this bedrock we cannot have performance management, accountability or the trust and confidence of citizens or investors,” she added.

Noting that many leadership roles these days focus on influencing others to achieve outcomes, she said this is more satisfactory way than issuing directives. “It’s all about being proportionate and having good processes, structure, and regulation,” added the Governor.

She expressed particular interest in all performance measures – including citizen satisfaction, commenting, “It’s a huge mistake to think that ‘good governance’ only relates to finance, because everyone, including politicians and members of the public, have a role to play.”

The themes covered throughout the week included ethics, risk management, technology, project management, and the role of Chief Financial Officers.

Organised by the Cayman Islands Government and the Cayman Islands Society of Professional Accountants, the event was attended by managerial staff from government departments and authorities, as well as private sector employees, who heard from distinguished local and international speakers.

Photos:  Photo credits – Lennon Christian / GIS

1.  Governor Helen Kilpatrick, CB.

2.  Her Excellency Helen Kilpatrick, CB, was interviewed by Auditor General Alistair Swarbrick.