Amy Diehl, PhD

Award-winning Information Technology Leader | Author | Chief Information Officer - Wilson College in Chambersburg, PA

Amy Diehl, PhD, is an award-winning information technology leader, currently serving as Chief Information Officer at Wilson College in Chambersburg, PA. She is also a gender equity researcher and author of the new book Glass Walls: Shattering the Six Gender Bias Barriers Still Holding Women Back at Work. 

Her writing has appeared in numerous scholarly journal articles and book chapters as well as in Harvard Business Review, Fast Company, and Ms. Magazine. She is also a sought-after speaker, consultant, and lawsuit expert witness. You can visit her online at https://amy-diehl.com.

Karl George

Partner and Head of Governance | RSM

Karl is the Head of Governance for RSM and has over 25 years of combined experience in accountancy, business and strategic development. Karl works with boards and senior executives in the private, public and voluntary sectors. He has held several board positions across a number of sectors over the last two decades, and is a current board member of the Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce and Co-Chair of the West Midlands Branch of ICSA.

As an experienced chair and committee member, Karl has led organisations through mergers, developing and redefining their corporate strategies and completely redesigning governance structures. He has acted as a consultant to chairs and CEOs of companies of all sizes.

Karl has exceptional insight into corporate governance solutions. A seasoned non-executive, Karl’s expertise in governance alongside his qualified accountant status makes him a sought-after adviser and board member both locally and internationally. He is a fellow of CGI: The Chartered Governance Institute (the global international body for governance professionals), and the author of several books on governance issues. Karl also wrote the RACE Equality Code and has been instrumental in its development nationally.

He has developed a unique governance framework and quality mark that was endorsed by the late Sir Adrian Cadbury and that has been delivered to more than 100 organisations across the UK.

Karl is well respected in the business community, and regularly features on power lists. He was one of the first winners of the Birmingham Young Professional of the Year award, was among the founders of the Young Directors Forum at the Institute of Directors, and is a founder member the Association of Corporate Governance Practitioners.

Karl is married with three boys. With the youngest just leaving his teenage years, Karl and his wife are looking forward to the next season of life where they can enjoy more travel, more fine dining and more new experiences. 

Nirad Tewarie

CEO | AMCHAM T&T

Nirad Tewarie is the CEO of AMCHAM T&T. He has more than twenty-five years of experience in media, communications, management, education, and international relations. Nirad is also the Chairman of C15 studios, a Member of the Board of Directors of Aspire Fund Management, and the Loan For Enterprise and Network Development.

Passionate about youth development and using his expertise for good, Nirad is the Chairman of the 50-year old, San Juan Jabloteh Sports Club and Manager of the Hillview College Football Teams, where he oversaw the promotion of the Senior Team to the Championship Division of the Secondary Schools’ Football League after just one season.

Nirad is a past Chair of the Business Integrity Country Agenda sub-committee of the T&T Transparency Institute. He was formerly the CEO of the T&T Coalition of Services Industries (TTCSI), Chairman of the Caribbean Network of Services Coalitions, a member of the Communications and Public Affairs Division of the Commonwealth Secretariat in London, UK and a columnist for the Trinidad Guardian. 

A keen supporter of the arts, Nirad is an Associate Producer of Bazodee the Movie and the former Chairman of the Cabinet Appointed Fashion Industry Development Committee. He has also served on the board of US-based FinTech startup Fintanium, of the Telecommunications Authority of T&T, the Indian Caribbean Museum and Vision on Mission Prisoner Rehabilitation Programme among others. 

Nirad holds a BSc. in Mass Communications from Florida International University and an MSc in International Relations from the Institute of International Relations, UWI. He regularly speaks at regional conferences on matters related to technology & economic development. Most of all, Nirad is trying to be a good husband and father to his three kids and is hoping to leave the world a little better than he found it.  

Dr. The Honourable Nyan Gadsby-Dolly

Minister of Education

Dr. Nyan Gadsby-Dolly attended San Juan S.D.A. Primary, Dr. Gadsby-Dolly completed her secondary education at St. Augustine Girls’ High School, then moved on to the University of the West Indies, St.  Augustine Campus, where she obtained her Bachelor’s degree in Analytical Chemistry, Post-Graduate Diploma in Educational Technology and her Doctoral degree in Organic Chemistry.  

Dr. Dolly served as an educator for 11 years- starting her career at St. Francois Girls’ College from  2004 – 2009, and moving to the tertiary level as a Senior Lecturer at COSTAATT for 6 years, where she obtained her certification as an Online Instructor. Following her years at COSTAATT, Dr Dolly was elected Member of Parliament for St. Ann's East in 2015, and served as Minister of Community Development, Culture and the Arts in the Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago from 2015 to 2020. As a part of her service at the Parliament, Dr. Dolly also chairs the Joint Select Committee  on Human Rights, Equality and Diversity from 2015 to present. A member of the acclaimed Lydian  Singers, Dr. Dolly is an avid reader and researcher, with a lively interest in history. In 2021 she wrote  her first book “Nyan Inside Out”, now earning her the title of Author.  

Born and raised in Newalloville, San Juan, where she currently resides, one of Dr. Dolly’s favourite  pastimes is interacting with young people. As a mother of three teenagers, she is passionate about  youth motivation and success. She is the last of 4 siblings.  
Dr. Nyan Gadsby-Dolly, having been re-elected as MP for St. Ann's East in 2020, now serves as the  Minister of Education of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago.

Racquel Moses

UNFCCC Global Ambassador & Chief Executive Officer |
Caribbean Climate-Smart Accelerator 

Racquel Moses is a dynamic leader with a track record of driving transformative growth and change worldwide. With an impressive portfolio of leadership roles, Racquel has consistently pushed boundaries and spearheaded impactful initiatives in various industries.
 
Currently serving as the CEO and a Director for the Caribbean Climate-Smart Accelerator, Racquel leads the charge in driving climate-smart solutions and sustainable development across the Caribbean region. Her visionary guidance and strategic leadership have positioned the organization at the forefront of climate action.
 
Her versatility enables her contributions which span many disciplines including currently serving as a Global Web3 Board member for Salesforce.com, as a Trustee for the Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee, and as a UNFCCC Global Ambassador. As a champion for global climate action, she actively advocates for change and promotes sustainability at a global level.
 
With a wealth of experience and expertise, Racquel has made significant contributions in previous leadership positions, including her roles as the Head of Microsoft Trinidad and Tobago, President of InvesTT, and Regional Vice President for Fujitsu. Her strategic vision and ability to drive innovation have propelled organizations to achieve remarkable success.
 
Racquel's passion for collaboration and coalition-building has played a pivotal role in shaping regional consensus on critical issues such as climate change, sustainability, and building resilience. Her ability to inspire minds and drive impactful change has made her an influential force in shaping the global agenda.

      

Omar Mohammed
Chief Executive Officer | The Cropper Foundation

Omar Mohammed is the Chief Executive Officer of the Cropper Foundation (TCF), a non-profit organization working to advance the trajectory of sustainability in the Caribbean for over 20 years. At TCF he leads work across multiple sustainability interventions that include data science and technology for sustainability, natural capital accounting and economics, and civil society governance and strengthening. 

He brings significant experience in the field of development and sustainability education and management, having served as the National Coordinator of the UNESCO Schools Network, leading national and regional efforts at sustainability and diversity in education. These include UNESCO’s global programme on bullying and school violence and UNESCO’s Caribbean climate change education agenda; Curriculum development for countering extremism in the Americas; and national whole school approaches on mainstreaming the Sustainable Development Goals.

He has also worked as a consultant with the University of the West Indies, various United Nations Agencies and other Civil Society Organisations. He is also currently a Director of the NGO, CAISO: Sex and Gender Justice and has previously served in other roles such as member of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature’s Commission on Education and Communication.

Omar has a Master of Studies in Sustainability Leadership (University of Cambridge), Masters - Business Administration – Innovation (U.W.I.) and a BSc in Environmental and Natural Resource Management (U.W.I.). 

Carina Cockurn
Country Representative | Inter-American Development Bank

Carina Cockburn is an Economic Development professional and Change Leader with over 20 years’ experience in the public and private sectors. Her core competencies include Strategic Planning, Change Management and Project Portfolio Management.

For over 10 years, Carina has served in a variety of positions at the Inter-American Development Bank with prior responsibilities in Jamaica, Belize, The Bahamas, Nicaragua and at the Bank’  headquarters in Washington DC. She was appointed Country Representative for Trinidad & Tobago in April 2021. Carina has also worked extensively across the Caribbean region as a project manager and consultant, including assignments with large conglomerates in Jamaica and Barbados and the Canadian and British development agencies. She also previously served as the Technical Advisor to the Minister of Finance in Jamaica.

Carina is a Jamaica Rhodes Scholar with a Master in Business Administration and a Master of Science in Economics & Social History from Oxford University. She also holds the designations of Project Management Professional (PMP), Certified Scrum Master (CSM) and Prosci Certified Change Practitioner.

Giselle Thompson
Head of communications and advocacy & vice president - corporate operations | bpTT

Giselle Thompson is the Head of communications and advocacy & vice president - corporate operations for bp Trinidad and Tobago. In this role she holds accountability for the corporate functions of Communications and advocacy and Facilities and management services. In addition to this portfolio, she is also our low carbon sponsor for the bpTT leadership team.

Giselle is responsible for the management of the company’s external facing strategy and reputation. This includes the management of the company’s internal and external communications and overseeing all interactions between bpTT and external stakeholders including the government, business partners and the community. Giselle first joined bpTT in 2005 as Corporate Brand Manager and was promoted to VP Communications and External Affairs in 2007 and then to VP Corporate Operations in 2013.

Prior to joining bpTT, Giselle spent eight years in the pharmaceutical industry working with GlaxoSmithKline where she held senior marketing positions in their Caribbean and Central American operations.

Giselle was awarded a distinction from the University of Cumbria for her Masters in Business Administration in 2019. She also holds an honours degree in Management Studies from the University of the West Indies and was awarded their distinguished alumni award in 2014.

Kishan Kumarsingh
Head of the Multilateral Environmental Agreements Unit, Ministry of Planning and Development

Mr. Kishan Kumarsingh currently serves as the Head of the Multilateral Environmental Agreements at the Ministry of Planning and has been Trinidad and Tobago’s lead technical negotiator under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) for more than twenty years. 

Mr. Kumarsingh has held several positions in his time including co-chair of the 2022 ad hoc work program pursuant to COP26 decision, chair and facilitator for numerous UNFCCC negotiations, co-chair of the UN negotiations on the Paris Agreement (2013-2014), Chair of the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice to the UNFCCC (2006-2007), and Chair of the Expert Group on Technology Transfer under the UNFCCC (2004-2005). 

He attended Queen’s Royal College as well as the University of the West Indies where he received both a Bachelor of Science, Honors, and a Master of Philosophy in Chemistry. He also attended the University of London and obtained a Bachelor of Laws, Honors.

Indu Sharma
Chair | AMCHAM T&T's ESG Commitee & Co-Founder & Consultant | Q.E.D. Consulting Limited

Indu is an independent consultant/ professional having spent the majority of her career in the Trinidad and Tobago Energy Sector at Senior Executive and Board Levels with several multinational companies such as GDF SUEZ, Centrica and Methanex. Most recently at Methanex, she was the Business Development Director and was responsible for strengthening the site’s governance infrastructure and culture and managing key stakeholder relationships including government relations.

She is Attorney at Law with over 30 years experience in the areas Corporate and Commercial Law, Energy and Banking. She is currently the Managing Partner of the legal firm of Nath Sharma and Company (NSC) which focuses on the areas of Conveyancing, Probate and Succession and Corporate and Commercial Law. Founded in 1964 by her father, it is a legal practice serving financial institutions, businesses, families and communities throughout Trinidad. In 2022 she was appointed a Notary Public by Her Excellency the President of Trinidad and Tobago.

One of the strong and consistent themes in Indu’s experience and her qualifications is her passion for governance and establishing practical and bespoke corporate frameworks in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals for small, medium and large enterprises both privately owned as well as publicly traded in the Caribbean region.

To this end and in collaboration with her business partner Joanne Salazar she founded the consulting firm Q.E.D. Consulting Limited (Q.E.D.) committed to improving governance standards and practices in all sectors of the economy including improving Diversity Equity and Inclusion and Environmental and Social Governance. Q.E.D.’s clients include regional conglomerates, regional financial institutions and SMEs and NGOs. 

In the highly entrepreneurial local business culture, QED champions the mantra “good corporate governance means good business” both in terms of brand strength and the bottom line. Through Indu, Q.E.D has partnered with a regional bank to provide governance support to Caribbean SMEs on the journey to sustainability.

Indu serves on the Nominations Committee of Energy Chamber ( a sub committee of the Board). She has previously served for several successive terms on the Board of the Energy Chamber which has been instrumental in influencing energy policy development in Trinidad and Tobago and she was the first Chair of its Alternate Energy and Energy Efficiency Sub Committee.

Rachel Welch-Phillips
1st Vice Chair | AMCHAM T&T's ESG Commitee & Head of Legal and Compliance for the Banking Sector | ANSA McAL Group 

Rachel is the Head of Legal and Compliance for the Banking sector of the ANSA McAL Group. She is entrusted with the management and operation of the legal and compliance functions across ANSA Merchant Bank Limited, ANSA Merchant Bank Barbados Limited and ANSA Bank Limited.
 
Her enthusiasm for the law is coupled with her passion for corporate sustainability and environmental stewardship having completed a Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Policy from Middlebury College in Vermont USA, and a Master of Philosophy in Environmental Policy from the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom. ANSA’s banking sector has adopted a Natural Capital approach for advancing and enhancing shareholder value by integrating the concept of nature’s stock of capital (living and non-living resources), and the services they provide, into business decision-making. Rachel will provide legal and compliance support to the ongoing growth and development of the Bank’s natural capital objectives.
 
Rachel’s work in sustainable finance includes advising on the Blue Bond for Ocean Conservation issued by the Government of Barbados in September 2022 which unlocked USD $50 million to support marine environment conservation in Barbados, as well as advising the Government of the Republic of Ecuador on their sovereign debt for nature swap estimated to generate approximately USD $323 million for marine conservation in the Galapagos Islands.

A. Nigel Sabga
Head of Investments | ANSA Merchant Bank Limited 

A. Nigel Sabga is the Head of Investments of ANSA Merchant Bank Limited, where he directs all Investment Management activities of ANSA Merchant Bank Limited and its subsidiaries, a position he has held since 2017. He serves on the Investment Committees of ANSA Merchant Bank Limited and its subsidiaries, and also on the Investment Committees of ANSA McAL Limited and the ANSA McAL Foundation.

Mr. Sabga joined ANSA Merchant Bank Limited in 2009 and has since held a variety of positions within Investments, in addition to being appointed Treasury Manager for ANSA Merchant Bank Limited from 2012 to 2013. He formerly held positions with Tatil Life Assurance Limited and Schroders Private Bank in London.

Mr. Sabga currently serves on the Board of Directors of The ANSA McAL Foundation, Tatil Life Assurance Limited and the Mutual Fund Association of Trinidad & Tobago.

Mr. Sabga holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics & Finance from Bentley University and an Executive MBA, from the Arthur Lok Jack Global School of Business.

Kathryna Baptiste Assee
Group General Counsel/Corporate Secretary | Angostura

Kathryna joined the Angostura family as Corporate Secretary on April 1, 2019 and was appointed Group General Counsel on March 1, 2020 in addition to her substantive position.  She is an Attorney-at-Law with over twenty-five years’ experience. Kathryna holds a Bachelor of Laws (LL. B) (Honours) Degree from the University of the West Indies and a Legal Education Certificate (LEC) from the Hugh Wooding Law School, St. Augustine, Trinidad. 

She also holds an Executive Masters of Business Administration (Distinction) Degree from the Arthur Lok Jack Graduate School of Business, Trinidad.  Kathryna is a member of the Law Association of Trinidad and Tobago and the Caribbean Corporate Governance Institute. 

Chike Farrell
CEO | Caribbean Ideas Group

Chike Farrell straddles worlds, with a passion for technology, marketing, sustainability, and helping entrepreneurs & diverse communities –including his native Caribbean— build competitive edge. He is Co-Founder and CEO of the Caribbean Ideas Group of companies, based in Trinidad & Tobago.  He also recently founded a sustainability behavior-change and comms agency Callaloo, based in Los Angeles.

His 2 decades of experience span global-level marketing experience in the technology industry, and extensive experience working with and accelerating organizations as an entrepreneur in the Caribbean.  Internationally, he has over 8 years’ experience as a VP Marketing / CMO in high-growth tech startups, and earlier in his career spent over 6 years within Microsoft’s online and online advertising division. 

His company Caribbean Ideas is all about delivering Caribbean competitive edge, and includes Synapse, a 13-year-old integrated marketing agency, plus 3-year-old Caribbean Ideas Academy, a hybrid training company that aims to harness and disseminate Caribbean knowledge at scale. 

As co-founder of Caribbean Ideas, Chike has helped build Synapse into one of the leading digital agencies in the Southern Caribbean, where the company has won numerous awards including TTCSI Service Provider of the year, Addy Awards and beyond.
 
Chike is a Trinidad & Tobago National Open Scholar, holds an MBA from the MIT Sloan School of Management and a summa cum laude (first-class honours) undergraduate degree from the University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Business. He is currently most passionate about shifting his career to leverage his experience to help organisations in the Global South deliver sustainability-focused behaviour change through training, communications, and community-focused projects.

Keith London
Managing Director | Caribbean Ideas Academy

Keith London II is a visionary leader with a bold mission: to ignite a sustainability revolution in the Caribbean and beyond.

Keith’s has over 15 years of dynamic experience in marketing and business development roles in both the private and public sector, as well as deep entrepreneurial experience as both a founder and leader in small and medium-sized businesses. 

His passion for sustainability fuels his desire to empower and educate others.  This passion led him to co-found Sustain-U— a learning and behaviour-change platform for orgs in the Caribbean, Latin American and the Global South— as part of his role as managing director of hybrid training company Caribbean Ideas Academy.

Keith is also a big believer in the transformative power of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) as catalysts for economic development.  Through his own entrepreneurial endeavours, he works to exemplify what’s possible when small businesses blend business acumen, drive and stewardship of the planet.

Approachable, engaged, and endlessly passionate, Keith champions authenticity and enjoys working with people to help them unlock their potential and be architects of change.

Keith holds a masters degree from Anglia Ruskin University, and a BsC in Public Sector Management from the University of the West Indies.

Valmiki Maharaj
Caribbean Creative Innovator

A fixture in Trinidad and Tobago's creative landscape, Valmiki’s work is high-impact and highly visible. He has been at the forefront of innovation and development within the sector, taking his ideas from concept to reality, launching new cultural products, and creating opportunities for creative entrepreneurs to collaborate and practise their crafts. 

Since his debut as a designer with the TRIBE Group in 2009, Valmiki has grown with the entity,  adopting different roles and responsibilities as required to develop its offering.  The multihyphenate’s greatest impact has been felt in his role as co-founder, bandleader, and  Creative Director of THE LOST TRIBE.  

THE LOST TRIBE, a brainchild of Valmiki’s that was brought to life in 2015, is a mas band  that blurs the line between the contemporary and the traditional, offering masqueraders  theatrical, evocative costume design along with exemplary customer service and amenities on  the road.  

Under his leadership, THE LOST TRIBE has won two Large Band of the Year titles from the  National Carnival Commission, as well as accolades in Downtown and Uptown Carnival.  Valmiki also holds the position of Creative Director at Ultimate Events Limited, an events and  experience company. 

There, he lends his unique, innovative style to the aesthetic elements of every execution - from Carnival fetes hosting thousands of people, to intimate weddings and birthday parties.  With THE LOST TRIBE and Ultimate Events, and with the support of TRIBE and key partners,  Valmiki served as Creative Director on the feature-length film, Lavway: Our Story, an  experimental film based on the lore of Trinidad and Tobago’s unique festival that Valmiki  dubbed “a love letter to Carnival.”. The film won the team the Best Feature Film Award at the  2022 Caribbean Tales International Film Festival. 

Outside of TRIBE, he has worked with numerous bodies and initiatives including Miss World  Trinidad and Tobago, Creative Tech Lab Trinidad and Tobago, 40 under 40, IDB Group and  

 
 

Staci Scott
Director | KPMG (Cayman Islands)

Staci Scott is a Director at KPMG in the Cayman Islands with more than a decade of experience across the ESG and financial services sectors in the Caribbean and North America. As part of KPMG’s regional ESG team, she specializes in sustainability reporting and assurance; ESG strategy development and risk assessment; and finance for good; among other ESG topic areas.

Staci is a US Certified Public Accountant and was previously a senior manager within KPMG’s asset management audit group, responsible for assessing the financial reporting and disclosures of Cayman-registered funds managed by two of the world’s largest investment managers (top 50 by assets under management). She has also worked with operating companies, private trusts, not-for-profit entities, and multi-lateral organizations, including a secondment to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in 2020, where she worked to project manage UNESCO’s 150-member Global Education Coalition in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Staci regularly presents to regional stakeholders on sustainability reporting standards and their anticipated impact, including the Cayman Islands Institute of Professional Accountants, the Bahamas Institute of Chartered Accountants, and the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Jamaica, among others. She is also a member of the Cayman Islands Institute of Professional Accountants’ ESG committee, 100 Women in Finance, and KPMG in the Cayman Islands’ Corporate Citizenship and Inclusion Diversity and Equity committees.

 
 

Arnaud Van Dijk
Partner | KPMG (Cayman Islands) & Deputy Head of ESG | KPMG Islands Group

Arnaud van Dijk is a Partner at KPMG in the Cayman Islands and Deputy Head of ESG for the KPMG Islands Group (KIG). He is also the chair of the ESG committee of the Cayman Islands Institute of Professional Accountants (CIIPA).

He brings over 19 years of local, regional and international sustainable finance and corporate sustainability experience to the firm. Over his career he has delivered a broad range of sustainability and impact services to leading financial institutions (banks, insurance companies and asset owners), companies and governments. 

Arnaud recently served as the lead author of Net zero readiness spotlight: Islands, a recent global thought leadership report. This report assesses 36 small island economies (SIEs) – many in the Caribbean – on their relative preparedness and ambition to achieve net zero, as well as their ability to attract private capital. He was also on the editorial board of Can Capital Markets Save the Planet? which surveyed 90 institutional investors (US$34.5 trillion in AuM) on the role of capital markets in the transition to a low-carbon world. ​



 
 

Hamlyn Holder
Site Reliability Engineer | Methanex

Mr. Hamlyn Holder has over 20 years of both upstream and downstream engineering experience with nearly a decade of this time dedicated to serving Methanex. In his current capacity as Site Reliability Engineer, he ensures the optimal functionality and performance of critical plant equipment and is committed to continuous improvement. 

Hamlyn is passionate about the ESG space and is particularly interested in environmental sustainability. He currently serves as a Lecturer at the University of the West Indies , the Caribbean Institute for Quality and co-founded Cube Root Farms, a company that helps local farmers, schools and communities to adopt modern smart and sustainable agricultural techniques.



 
 

Tracey Weekes
Manager, Financial & Strategic Investments | The National Gas Company of Trinidad and Tobago Limited

Tracey A Weekes is an Actuary and a CFA Charterholder. She is currently Manager, Financial & Strategic Investments at The National Gas Company of Trinidad and Tobago Limited (NGC). Tracey has managed projects that have led to transformational change in financial systems in public and private sector organisations. Her technical expertise and experience span treasury, finance and investments, pension restructuring and management as well as actuarial science. Tracey is continuously learning so that she can be at the cutting edge of leading innovation in financial systems which yield substantial benefits and returns to organisations and clients.

Tracey is presently focused on identifying, assessing and recommending private equity investments in the Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) space in furtherance of NGC achieving its future growth strategy and ambitious targets under its “Green Agenda” initiative. She has successfully completed two (2) online ESG Investing Certificate courses, offered by the Colombia Business School Executive Education and the CFA Institute, respectively. In an effort to build ESG capacity, locally, regionally and internationally, Tracey continues to share her newly acquired knowledge and insights with colleagues and peers through in-house sessions within NGC and participation in regional and international conferences.

To ensure that citizens are knowledgeable and engaged on issues related to the Green/Clean Energy transition, Tracey has participated in a multi-video television series titled “New Energy Conversations” forged through a partnership between NGC and One Caribbean Media, which aimed to sensitise the national and regional communities. Topics included “Financing the Energy Transition”, “Methane Measuring and Satellite Monitoring” and “Renewable Energy and its Relevance Today”.



 
 

Hayden Romano
Manager, Financial & Strategic Investments | Environmental Management Agency 

Mr. Romano is the Managing Director of the EMA. He has extensive experience in the environmental, manufacturing and construction sectors throughout the Caribbean Region, a career spanning over thirty years.

An Engineering Geologist by training, Mr. Romano commenced his career at the Institute of Marine Affairs (IMA) as a Research Assistant, and ascended to leadership roles as an Engineering Geologist, Consultant, Operations Manager, General Manager and Chief Executive Officer in various companies in the construction and manufacturing sectors.

Preceding his appointment as Managing Director of the EMA, he was the General Manager, of the Authority’s Technical Services Department.

Mr. Romano has lectured part-time at the University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, in the Engineering Geology and Petroleum Geosciences disciplines. 

Mr. Romano graduated with a BSc degree in Geology from the University of the West Indies, Mona, Jamaica and an MSc Engineering Geology from the Leeds University, UK. He is a Member of the Geological Society of Trinidad and Tobago, a Chartered Geologist, Fellow of the Geological Society of London, UK and Chartered Scientist, London, UK.


 
 

Regina Bakhteeva
Head of Trinidad and Tobago Satellite Office | UN World Food Programme (Caribbean)

Regina Bakhteeva assumed the position of the head of Trinidad and Tobago Satellite Office with the UN World Food Programme in the Caribbean region in 2022. In her previous assignment (2017 – 2021), Ms Bakhteeva served with the United Nations in Sudan where she led the emergency pillar of humanitarian response in WFP operations. During 2013 – 2017 Ms Bakhteeva worked with WFP team in Yemen. She started her career with WFP in Rome in external relations department in 2012.  

Before moving to the UN, Ms Bakhteeva worked with the Australian Embassy in Moscow as a Research Officer on political and economic issues. A Russian national, Ms Bakhteeva has an academic background in international relations and diplomacy having earned her Master’s degree at the Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO University) in 2007. 




 
 

Beverly S. Khan
Procurement Regulator and Chairman | Procurement Board of Trinidad and Tobago

Ms. Beverly S. Khan is the Procurement Regulator and Chairman of the Procurement Board of Trinidad and Tobago, who was appointed on June 28th, 2023 for a period of five (5) years.   

Ms. Khan holds an MA in Applied Economics from the John Hopkins University, USA and a BSc. in Economics (1988) from U.W.I., Trinidad and Tobago.  She is also a Project Management Professional (2015) and a PROSCI Certified Change Manager (2019).
Being the consummate professional, Ms. Khan has dedicated 32 years to public service, where she has consistently delivered excellence in development planning and public policy formulation, through her confident, highly motivated and results-oriented approach. 

Ms. Khan’s proven record of accomplishment is engraved in the various leadership positions she has held in the public sector, including that of Deputy Permanent Secretary (Ag.) and Permanent Secretary (Ag.).  Ms. Khan’s other notable placements of national service encompass the roles of: Counsellor for Trinidad and Tobago in the Office of the Executive Director for the Caribbean Constituency at the IADB in Washington DC, USA; Deputy National Coordinator for the V Summit of the Americas and Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in 2009, attached to the Office of the Prime Minister; and General Coordinator for the 8th Americas Competitiveness Forum in 2014, attached to the Ministry of Planning and Development.  

During her auspicious professional tenure, Ms. Khan has also built a distinguished record of delivering high quality work, while successfully managing multi-disciplinary teams, in diverse environments and contexts, ranging from being appointed by Cabinet to sit on various committees, to serving on national commissions, task forces and councils, all formed to treat with a myriad of issues of national interest.  

For her outstanding and meritorious contribution to the Public Service, Ms. Khan was awarded the Public Service Medal of Merit: Gold, on September 24th, 2023. In her free time, Ms. Khan enjoys travelling and experiencing new cultures, as well as gardening and listening to music. 


 
 

Mark Thomas
Development Coordination Officer (Partnerships and Development Finance) | United Nations Resident Coordinator Office for Trinidad and Tobago, Aruba, Curacao and Sint Maarten

Mark Thomas is the Development Coordination Officer (Partnerships and Development Finance) in the United Nations Resident Coordinator Office for Trinidad and Tobago, Aruba, Curacao and Sint Maarten. His duties at the UN include coordination of partnerships, both amongst UN agencies and between the United Nations and development actors; and participating in resource and finance mobilization for acceleration of the Sustainable Development Goals. He holds a Distinction-grade Master of Sciences degree in Communication from Imperial College London and a PhD in Physiology from the University of St. Andrews (Scotland).





 
 

Rachael Johnson
Global Head of Risk Management and Corporate Governance for Policy and Insights | ACCA 

Rachael Johnson is ACCA's Global Head of Risk Management and Corporate Governance for Policy and Insights, and author of Risk Culture: "Building Resilience and Seizing Opportunities".

Rachael has nearly three decades' experience creating thought leadership on a range of risk and governance topics. As the secretariat of ACCA’s Global Forum for Governance, Risk, and Performance, she also advocates and provides comments for consultations for policy makers. In January 2022 she set up ACCA's Chief Risk Officer and Heads of Risk Forum and was awarded the DCRO's prestigious Risk Exemplar's award. Additionally, she is a member of the Accountancy Europe's (AcE) Corporate Governance Policy Group and the Business at OECD (Biac) Corporate Governance Committee. She also serves on the ESG Exchange's Technical Committee. 





 
 

Tova Satnarine-White
Radio & GM Tech Commercial Manager – Trinidad and Tobago & Guyana | Guardian Media

Tova Satnarine-White is an executive leader at Guardian Media Limited, she oversees multiple divisions encompassing various brands. Within the radio portfolio, she manages seven stations catering to diverse demographics, with six stations stationed in Trinidad and Tobago and one in Guyana. Furthermore, she spearheads the GM Technologies division, responsible for 15 dynamic out-of-home billboards (DOOH), GM Labs production studios, and technology services.

Known for her integrated multichannel advertising strategies, she leverages her expertise to drive client success through partnerships. With a keen eye for content creation tailored for commercial success, she specializes in maximizing revenue generation through strategic marketing initiatives. she leads a dynamic team comprising over 100 innovative minds in both creative and commercial realms. Tova's leadership style is distinguished by her foundational principles of purpose, people, and performance, the bedrock of her work ethic.

Among her many accomplishments, she is deeply passionate about fostering spaces for the advancement of ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) initiatives, she spearheaded the successful launch of Freedom 106.5FM, the premier radio destination for impactful conversations and business events, a brand is grounded on the ethos of positive change. At only one-year old, the brand has forged strategic partnerships with key stakeholders across diverse sectors including health, safety, agriculture, entrepreneurship, and women's empowerment, amplifying the impact of sustainable practices.

Beyond her corporate role, Tova is a co-author for a Children’s book series focused on instilling values of environmental stewardship, curiosity, and creativity, nurturing young minds to cherish and protect our planet.

Tova is driven by the belief that impacting even just one person's life positively each day constitutes a meaningful achievement. She is dedicated to fostering environments that empower others to flourish both creatively and productively.



 
 

Suzanne Persaud
Regional HSE&C manager Trinidad and Tobago | bp

Suzanne is a seasoned HSE professional with twenty years of global experience in the energy industry. Prior to taking up her current role, she served as an environment and social (E&S) assessment manager leading a global team of environmental and social experts with expertise in managing multidisciplinary teams, navigating regulatory landscapes, and driving environmental and sustainable projects.  

Suzanne holds an MSc in Environmental Engineering from Imperial College London. She has worked in various countries including Trinidad, Angola, Azerbaijan, and the United Kingdom.  

Her commitment to bp's purpose and fostering an inclusive and equitable workplace underscores her dedication to HSE, sustainability and people-centric leadership. Outside of work, Suzanne finds joy in the company of friends and family, keeping active with her two young children, Leo and Lily.



 
 

Matthew Jardim
Sustainability & ESG Manager | Nestlé

Matthew is an environmental sustainability professional with over 9 years of experience in  the industry in energy, regulatory compliance, and greenhouse gas emissions tracking.  

As an investigator at the Environmental Management Authority of Trinidad and Tobago for 7  years, Matthew developed a clear understanding of the local regulatory and management  framework for issues pertaining to the protection and improvement of the environment. 

In his current position as the ESG Manager at Nestlé, Matthew assumes the crucial  responsibility of spearheading the formulation and execution of the company's strategic Net  Zero roadmap designed to effectively reduce Nestlé's operational footprint while  simultaneously creating value for society. 

Matthew holds a bachelor’s degree in environmental management from the University of  Manchester, England. Additionally, he pursued an MBA in Sustainable Energy Management  from the Arthur Lok Jack Global School of Business, further enhancing his knowledge and  skills in sustainable energy practices.