From Athlete to Senator
Serena Guthrie has secured a seat as a senator in Jersey on her first attempt, finishing fifth in the island-wide vote announced overnight. The Jersey-born netball gold medallist garnered over 12,000 votes in total.
Her campaign focused on key issues such as the cost of living, preventative healthcare, and childcare provision. Guthrie outperformed established politicians including Tom Binet and Alan Maclean.
Guthrie is widely recognized for her illustrious netball career. Over 15 years at the elite level, she earned 110 caps for England and served as team captain. She competed in three World Cups and two Commonwealth Games, achieving gold in Australia in 2018.
In 2019, she was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for her contributions to netball, an honor presented by then Prince Charles, now King Charles III.
In 2020, Guthrie appeared on the BBC quiz show Mastermind, selecting 'the island of Jersey' as her specialist subject and correctly answering five questions. She had also previously participated in the sports quiz programme A Question of Sport.
In 2022, she announced her retirement from professional netball and revealed her pregnancy with her first child. Subsequently, she returned to Jersey, where she has engaged in various sporting, business, and charitable activities while welcoming a second child.
Pivot to Politics
In May 2026, Guthrie declared her candidacy for senator, marking her initial entry into politics. Her campaign messaging drew heavily on her sporting background, emphasizing themes of 'winning and losing,' 'teamwork,' and 'performance.'
"After 16 years in elite sport, I know when performance suffers, you dive into the core of the issue, change the culture and you build a team that can deliver,"she wrote.
Guthrie was among several candidates affiliated with the political movement Value Jersey, which prioritized addressing the island's cost of living challenges.
During the campaign, she reflected on her 2022 return to Jersey and expressed surprise at the increased cost of living.
"It was way more expensive than when I had left."
She described the difficulty of meeting mortgage payments, acknowledging that while "Jersey is a brilliant place to live... it is expensive at the minute."
Guthrie frequently highlighted the pressures faced by families.
"It is too expensive here, housing is a constant concern, and work life balance is harder than it should be. I have questioned whether staying here is sustainable. I have seen friends leave, not because they wanted to, but because they felt they had no choice,"she stated.
Her election platform included proposals to reduce the cost of living by introducing more affordable supermarkets, expanding childcare accessibility, and investing in preventative healthcare and sports.
Magda Chmielewska, who proposed Guthrie for election, described her as
"a woman of action, vision and real substance."
Chmielewska added,
"Serena has built her life and career on discipline, accountability, collaboration and results... she brings fresh thinking, energy and the courage to challenge what is no longer working for Jersey."
Linda Andrews, president of Jersey Netball, praised Guthrie as
"an outstanding ambassador for the island."
Regarding her role in the States Assembly, Andrews said Guthrie
"will take responsibility for her decisions and actions... and will be dedicated to delivering results."
Guthrie was born in Jersey and attended Le Rocquier School while pursuing her sporting ambitions. She holds a Master's degree in Business Administration.
