Chris Lee, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Own Homes, joined business leaders from the Isle of Man as a guest panellist at the Interceltic Business Forum 2025 in Lorient, France, on 4 August 2025.
The Forum, held during the internationally recognised Festival Interceltique de Lorient, brings together leaders, entrepreneurs and policymakers from Celtic nations to explore innovation, collaboration and economic opportunity.
The Isle of Man delegation featured representatives from across the Island’s business community. The panel was moderated by Kirree Gooberman, Head of Business Development at Business Isle of Man, and included:
- Chris Kissack, Acclaim Limited.
- Brendon Kenny, Ellanstone Limited.
- Tim Sayer, Isle of Man Creamery.
- Chris Lee, Own Group.
The discussion focused on innovation in the Isle of Man and how the Island’s unique characteristics shape business growth and creativity. They also explored what innovation means in the Isle of Man and how the Island’s UNESCO Biosphere status influences business thinking.
For Chris Lee, innovation on the Island is about solving real-world challenges in a way that reflects its values, balancing growth with sustainability, and progress with responsibility. Own Group’s homeownership model was highlighted as an example of technology supporting financial resilience and positive social impact.
The conversation also focused on the Isle of Man as a place where tradition meets transformation. The Island’s strong heritage, close-knit communities and openness to new ideas create a distinctive environment where businesses can move quickly while building trust. This balance supports innovation while maintaining governance and credibility.
The Isle of Man’s scale, collaborative ecosystem and accessible regulators make it an effective testbed for new ideas. Businesses can work closely with policymakers and industry leaders to refine solutions before scaling internationally, particularly valuable in sectors such as FinTech and proptech, where consumer protection and trust are essential.
The Forum provided an opportunity to highlight the Island’s strengths as a place to live, work and innovate. Its combination of global ambition and supportive community continues to position the Isle of Man as a forward-thinking centre for responsible innovation.
Chris Lee’s involvement reflects Own Homes’ ongoing commitment to contributing to the Island’s innovation ecosystem while developing scalable housing and technology solutions with international relevance.
Chris’ article, written in support of the event, explores how access to a home unlocks more than security, and what it means to belong: From rent to roots: why ‘home’ matters in economic growth.
