Shaping a brighter future

Hardworking. Resilient. Honest.

For many, these adjectives epitomise the North East and its people.

And if one individual personifies these values in spades, it is Irene Dorner.

Her remarkable career took her from growing up in Whitley Bay to becoming the first female chief executive of HSBC Malaysia, and, in 2012, being named ‘Most Powerful Woman in Banking’ by New York-based trade publication American Banker, after taking over HSBC’s US operations in 2011.

Now retired and living in London, Irene, who was born in Middlesbrough and moved to Whitley Bay when she was 11, attending what was then the grammar school in the town, is determined to “give back” to the region that she still regards home.

A fundamental part of that is her support for Community Foundation North East.

Irene, who went on to study law at St Anne’s College, Oxford, before being called to the bar at Middle Temple and then embarking on her career at Midland Bank and HSBC, has always attributed much of her success and “inner drive” to her upbringing.

She says: “I wasn’t from a rich family; my mum was a nurse and my dad was a salesman.

“Yet even though we did not have much money, we had lots of love and encouragement to do well at school, get involved in sport and participate in the community.

“I was fortunate to be very well taught in Whitley Bay and went on to Oxford.

“I feel very fortunate that coming from the North East made all of that possible, providing me with opportunities that I never took for granted.”

Irene says her “Northern values” have always held her in good stead, including her willingness to “ruffle a few feathers” when required.

She says: “I tend to be quite plain-speaking, honest and direct, which I think comes from my Northern roots.

“People know they can ask me to speak truth to power, and I hope I’ve always done that in a fair and straightforward way.

“My upbringing shaped my values – helping people, being fair, standing up for what’s right, even when it takes courage or resilience.

“It has also given me inner drive, an appreciation for what you have and a strong work ethic.

“And there’s a warmth and politeness in the North that stays with you too.

“You learn respect and a sense of fairness and decency.”

Nothing exemplifies that more than when Irene reflects on her career.

Far from any personal accolade, she says her proudest achievement is helping pioneer an LGBTQ+ movement within HSBC, culminating in 2016 with the installation of two rainbow- painted lion statues – called Stephen and Stitt – outside the bank’s Hong Kong headquarters, a moment that still makes her feel emotional.

She says: “I always believed the biggest pleasure in my career came from helping people develop and thrive, rather than the bottom line or share price.

“If you help people achieve their full potential and create an environment where they can succeed, the profits and customers will take care of themselves.

“That was always what gave me the most satisfaction in my career.

“I was quite invested in diversity initiatives, particularly supporting my LGBTQ+ colleagues.

“One of my proudest moments was when HSBC’s building in Hong Kong lit up with rainbow colours in recognition of LGBTQ+ employees; it was a real statement of support.”

And while Irene’s career took her around the world, her enduring attachment to the North East remains undimmed.

She says: “Even though many of my friends now live in London, there’s always a pull back to the North East.

“When I travel back, I usually go by train from London, and every time I cross the Tyne, I feel a special, almost unique, sense of coming home.

“As soon as the train nears Newcastle, I stand to take in the view across the river, seeing the bridges, the football stadium, the Baltic – it will always feel like home.”

It is for this reason that Irene, and her late husband Jack, reached out to Community Foundation North East to offer their support.

For more than 35 years, it has worked with individuals, families and businesses to direct funding and resources to charities and grassroots organisations, ensuring donations make a meaningful and lasting impact.

One of its new initiatives is the North East Roots Fund, designed to engage expats and former residents who have found success elsewhere – the “North East diaspora,” as Irene calls them – and encourage them to give back, not only through financial contributions, but also by sharing their time, expertise and professional networks.

By connecting donors with local projects that match their interests, the initiative allows them to have a direct and tangible impact, something Irene describes as a way of “paying forward” the opportunities her North East upbringing gave her.

She says: “When my husband and I retired, we were looking for ways to give back.

“I discovered the foundation as a way to make a real difference.

“I was particularly interested in numeracy and girls’ education, and my husband in music.

“We could choose areas that mattered to us and see the impact our support would have.”

She adds: “I want to help young people have the opportunities I was lucky to have, so they can realise their full potential, and the North East Roots Fund is a brilliant idea.

“It is about keeping talent in the region, supporting local projects and using our experience and resources to create lasting change.

“My hope is that those of us from the diaspora can create real opportunities, so that talented young people can stay, thrive and help shape an even brighter future for the North East.”

 

Community Foundation North East

To find out more about Community Foundation North East, its work and how you could support the North East Roots Fund, visit www.communityfoundation.org.uk.

LinkedIn: Community Foundation North East