Root and branch

Philippa Evans-Bevan met Sarah Bartram-Lora Reina, gold medalist in the Professional Woman of the Year awards

Sarah Bartram-Lora Reina is flying the flag high for Jersey and for the Jersey trust company, Ocorian.

In recognition of her special qualities, Sarah has been awarded Gold in the Woman of the Year - Professional Services, at the Citywealth Powerwomen Awards, 2022. The awards recognise individuals and companies who maximise the potential of women in wealth management.

Rural genes run in her family and Sarah has inherited a great interest and love of gardening and growing vegetables.

Her maternal grandmother, Philomène, was a Breton farmer’s daughter. After dodging the Germans by hiding in trees during the Occupation of France, she arrived in Jersey. Here she helped harvest potatoes after the Second World War. She married a Jerseyman, and they raised a family.

Sarah’s father, Richard Bartram, attained gardening qualifications and a natural ability and passion for plants and gardens. He was head of Parks and Gardens for the States of Jersey over a long and successful career.

Aged four, Sarah and her family moved into a house with her maternal grandparents. Sarah recalls her earliest memories of the bounty of a garden. ‘Granny loved her herbs, and was a gifted gardener, growing flowers and fruits. My father would cultivate the vegetables and my sister and I would potter about and help. It was amazing how much they produced. Fresh rhubarb, all kinds of vegetables and apples galore. As I grew older, I was often asked: “Sarah - can you cook an apple pie?” There was always a glut of something fresh from the garden. We were so lucky.’ Being outside, exploring Jersey beaches, and developing her own garden are some of Sarah’s favourite pastimes. Since she has an enduring enthusiasm for nature and the garden, she was asked what had taken her in the different direction of wealth management.

Sarah recalls that from around the age of 15/16 she became increasingly aware of Jersey’s growing reputation as an international finance centre and the opportunities that this offered for a good career.

At the age of 22, Sarah was working at Midland Bank. By this time Sarah had become a single mother and when her son was four years old, Sarah started her banking qualifications in conjunction with a university degree in financial services. Sarah’s career trajectory had started to take off.

New positions and moves to RBC, Zedra and Ocorian as a private client executive director, were paralleled with a growing list of qualifications. To date, Sarah has five significant and specialist finance qualifications and 30 years of experience.

Sarah is president of the Jersey Association of Trust Companies, and in her second term as chair of the Jersey Charity Tribunal. ‘I’m very lucky I’ve had a good career and strategically, I want to help to navigate our industry, so that Jersey remains a top-quality finance centre for future generations.’

The Citywealth Powerwomen Awards evening shines a light on the advancement of women's careers in the private wealth industry.

‘Credit must also go to the team I work with at Ocorian for all their dedicated hard work,’ Sarah said. ‘I will continue to encourage and champion women in the workplace. If you don’t think you have all the skills, don’t be afraid to ask for help. Many people have helped me on my way. But you also have to look and see what’s out there and drive forward.’

Today Sarah also carefully cultivates and harvests prolific vegetable crops and fruit in her own garden (with a helping hand from Dad).

Sarah is good at growing - growing things with a strategic plan and purpose; growing opportunities, for herself, her clients, her industry, women in the workplace and Jersey’s financial reputation.