ESG Leadership:
What the CEOs Say
The panel, moderated by Zia Paton of PwC Trinidad and Tobago, featured Dean Romany, Frances Bain-Cumberbatch and Gervase Warner.
The high-level discussion offered candid insights into the real challenges companies face in implementing ESG, while also highlighting the emerging opportunities for transformation and growth.
Here are some key takeaways from the CEO’s Conversation:
· Climate change poses a significant and disproportionate threat to the Caribbean, affecting key sectors such as insurance and infrastructure, increasing operational costs, and widening the protection gap.
· Implementing ESG effectively requires structured data collection, clear metrics, regular auditing, and transparency to ensure accountability and avoid accusations of greenwashing.
· ESG should not be viewed as a standalone initiative. Instead, it must be integrated into the business model to drive efficiency, reduce waste, and minimise environmental impact while contributing to long-term profitability.
· The panel debated whether regulation (via standards and policies) or inspiration (driven by values and purpose) was the better approach to encourage ESG adoption. The consensus was that both are necessary but must be underpinned by authentic leadership commitment.
· Conscious and responsible business practices are increasingly seen as more competitive. Organisations embracing ESG are positioning themselves for better long-term stakeholder engagement, brand loyalty, and operational success.
· Social issues—such as crime, youth violence, and inequality—are becoming business issues. Leaders agreed that companies have a responsibility to support community programmes, build trust, and create safe environments for employees and stakeholders.
· Advancing ESG across the region will require multisectoral collaboration involving governments, international agencies, and the private sector. Collective action and consistent dialogue were emphasised as essential to scaling meaningful ESG progress.
The session underscored that ESG is not just about compliance—it is about redefining leadership. As more companies embrace these values, they are positioning themselves not only for risk mitigation but also for opportunity, innovation, and long-term resilience.
In the photo: (l-r) Zia Paton, Partner and Leader of Consulting and Digital Services at PwC Trinidad and Tobago (Moderator); Dean Romany – President, Guardian General Insurance Limited; Frances Bain-Cumberbatch – Chief Legal and External Affairs Officer, Ansa McAL Limited; and Gervase Warner – Independent Director and Strategic Advisor, Sandals Resorts International and Conscious Capitalism, Inc.