Funds, Focus and the Future
In Jersey’s thriving funds industry, excellence is often defined by technical capability, regulatory precision, and operational discipline. Yet at HIGHVERN—now operating across a broader international footprint following its combination with Permian—excellence is equally about people: how they collaborate, lead, grow, and support clients with integrity.
We sat down with three of Highvern’s leading women in the funds business – Julie Gallon, Gail Atamosa, and Emma Syvret, all Directors – to explore what exceptional service looks like, how leadership evolves, and what habits keep them grounded in a fast‑moving, highly demanding environment. Their perspectives reveal not only the depth of expertise within the team but also the culture that underpins HIGHVERN’s approach as the business continues to expand globally.
Leadership Lessons
Across all three directors, one theme consistently emerges: leadership is shaped over time by people, experiences, and values.
For Julie, confidence, resilience and persistence have been defining forces. “But staying grounded and keeping a sense of humour is just as important,” she adds.
Emma’s leadership style is rooted in her upbringing. Raised in a family of strong women – including an aunt who became editor of a major UK regional newspaper – she grew up seeing ambition modelled with integrity. “The women around me helped me define not only where I want to go, but the kind of leader I want to be.”
Her advice to aspiring leaders is simple but powerful: “Back yourself and know your worth.” With responsibility for HIGHVERN’s Fund Administration onboarding function, known internally as the Seed Team, Emma plays a key role in setting up new fund structures for long‑term success. Her days span a diverse client base across venture capital, private equity and litigation finance – each with its own complexities, timelines and stakeholders.
Reflecting on her own journey, Gail credits mentorship as a defining influence – from early professors to seniors and peers who championed excellence. Alongside hard work, she highlights adaptability, relationship‑building and continuous learning as essential to long‑term success in the industry.
Creating Balance
Leadership brings inevitable pressure – but each director manages it in her own way.
For Gail, the humble “to‑do list” is her non‑negotiable. “It sounds simple, but it helps me step back, prioritise, and maintain balance across work and life.”
Julie finds perspective in time spent with family, friends, and her new puppy. “Downtime is so important. Highvern gives me the work‑life balance to fully switch off, especially when I’m on holiday. That reset lets me return energised for clients.”
Emma also finds balance on the water. As an avid coastal rower, she often trains at dawn. “It sets me up for the day,” she says. And when she’s not rowing? “I’m usually reading – it’s my way to switch off and escape.”
Exceptional Service
For Gail, exceptional service begins long before a client signs an engagement letter. It starts with deep understanding and a commitment to designing a thoughtful, client‑centric approach.
“In practice, exceptional service means investing time in planning and creating open, transparent relationships,” she explains. “This allows us to discuss challenging areas early and resolve conflicting priorities effectively.”
But even the best plan depends on the strength of the team. Training and talent development at Highvern, she notes, are not optional extras – they are central pillars of the delivery model.
“Having been here for three years, I continue to be impressed by how collaborative the environment is,” Gail says. “It’s easy to consult with peers and experts across the group. The culture sets people up to deliver their best work.”
This focus on talent, culture and cross‑team connectivity becomes even more important as Highvern integrates with Permian, expanding capability and geographical reach.
A New Chapter: The Highvern–Permian Combination
Julie, who has led client teams in Jersey for years, sees the combination with Permian as a natural and exciting evolution.
“Permian has an excellent reputation in the Nordic market, and the cultural alignment is striking,” she says. “Meeting their teams, it was immediately clear that they share our mindset and ethos.”
For her, the greatest opportunity lies in learning not just individually, but as a combined group.
“Having new jurisdictions full of people whose experiences we can learn from is invaluable. We can bounce ideas off each other, innovate together, and elevate the client experience even further. I’m genuinely excited about what we can achieve.”
This expansion reinforces what clients already value about HIGHVERN: global expertise delivered with a personal, partnership‑driven approach.
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