THIS 2024
What The LEADERS Said
LINKAGE Q3 (2024) - OPPORTUNITY IN ADVERSITY
The 6th Annual Tech Hub Islands Summit was hosted by AMCHAM T&T and Republic Bank on July 1st and 2nd at the Hyatt Regency with this year’s theme: BREAKTHROUGH signifying a powerful convergence of innovation and determination to overcome obstacles and achieve transformative success in the digital age.
In an era defined by rapid technological advancements and ever-evolving challenges, Breakthrough encapsulates our collective drive to shatter barriers and propel forward. Each session and accomplished speakers delivered key insights that underscored the importance of breaking through limitations, embracing bold ideas, forging new paths to shape the future of technology, redefining what's possible and leading the charge towards a future where technology knows no bounds.
Key points from our Keynote and Featured Speakers at THIS 2024 who are at the forefront of the digital trasnformation movement.
Carlos Neva Vargas
Senior Customer Engineer, Public Sector LATAM | Google
In his Keynote Address at the Opening Ceremony of THIS 2024, Carlos Neva Vargas – Senior Customer Engineer, Public Sector LATAM at Google delivered a presentation on “The Role of AI in Public Sector Modernization”. During his presentation, he says the world needs to adapt with the current changes around generative AI because it is going to transform the government and how government connects with its own citizens and individuals. So far, according to the McKinsey 2023, spending on GenAI solutions is expected to double in 2024 and grow to $151.1 billion in 2027 while the global economic impact in valued between $2.6 and $4.4 trillion.
Dr. Raul Kaidro
CEO at RaulWalter (Estonia Co)
In his Keynote Address on DAY TWO of THIS 2024, Dr. Raul Kaidro – CEO at RaulWalter (Estonia Co) asked the poignant question to the audience, “What would it look like in 2035?” Delving into how technology plays a pivotal role in every individual’s life from birth to education to employment, Dr. Kaidro
said he would like to see T&T become more digital to enhance efficiency around doing business. “I would like you to be in the position where you don’t have to have the certificate of character, or you don’t have to carry a birth certificate, or you don’t have to have any documents,” he said. “Basically, when you’re transacting with private on public sector, you just walk into a bank, you make a claim ‘this is me, Raul,’ and well, and they are able to validate my claim of identity and therefore provide me the service with a full confidence that they actually know that it’s me.”
Nirad Tewarie
CEO | AMCHAM T&T
“At the very, very first Summit, we’re all worried about the impact of technology on work as it is today. Instead of seeing that as a concern though, we have to think of the thousands of people who are employed in things that may not be fulfilling work. I don’t want to single anything
out but to say, can we use technology to transition to higher-value, more meaningful work? And we think that at AMCHAM Trinidad and Tobago, the answer is yes. Yes, we can do that.”
P. Vic. Salickram
Group Vice President, Republic Financial Holdings Limited & Vice President | Republic Bank Limited
“The responsibility to achieve this vision is not only IT’s job, but everyone’s job – our board of directors, executive, management and staff alike. We’ve determined that our digital transformation starts with a thrust to innovate for all our customers across all segments and throughout all our territories - rooted in the drive to meet and exceed their expectations.”
The Honourable Pennelope Beckles-Robinson
Minister of Planning & Development
As the Keynote Speaker in the “Getting Digital-Ready: Leadership Lessons to Future Proof the Digital Workplace” session, The Honourable Pennelope Beckles-Robinson - Minister of Planning & Development said Trinidad and Tobago’s push towards digital transformation and institutional strengthening is crucial for addressing the unique challenges posed by our status as Small Island Developing States.
“By leveraging frameworks like the global digital compact and initiatives such as SIDS Data Hub alongside our national strategy for a digital TT, we are poised to pioneer data-driven solutions that enhance resilience and sustainable development,” the Honourable Minister stated. “Our national strategy focuses on closing the digital divide and ensuring that our technological advancements lead to tangible improvements in disaster preparedness, economic stability and public sector efficiency.”
The Honourable Hassel Bacchus
Minister of Digital Transformation
“We are determined that no-one will be left behind on this Digital Journey. Collaboration and partnership are closely related to another of our fundamental principles of DT: the notion of Inclusion By Design, - our commitment that everyone in Trinidad and Tobago has access to appropriate and affordable Digital Technology, and has the capability and confidence to use the Technology safely and effectively.”
Stuart Franco
CEO | TSL Group & President | AMCHAM T&T
“It’s not an easy journey and for most, you go through it and what you think of is technology. Technology is what I’m going to use to reduce my sag and I can do that via process workflows, automation, stuff in the realm of AI (artificial intelligence) and analytics that would allow me to improve these workflows, the efficiency level and hopefully improving the customer experience at the same time.”
Abraham Smith
CEO | Digicel Business
“Even just the way we speak and the way we communicate can have a big impact on whether people are resistant or not and then even after something is done. You have to watch out for resistance as well, I think a lot of people will be afraid that technology is going to take their job, so we also have to work on showing them how it will change the work they are doing."
Karen Yip Chuck
Group Vice President | Republic Financial Holdings Ltd
"Fundamentally if people feel undervalued, the starting point would be is that they would think they are not being heard, they don’t have a voice, and their views are not being heard even if they put it on the table. You have to address this and allow people to be able to contribute. They also need feel included. They need to be part of the whole process. They can’t be outside of the whole transformation because it is not a transformation of one part. It is only going to be successful if everyone in the organization is moving along. So they have to be included in it and also they have to see what is in it for them. They have to see how whatever they are doing could fill the overall goal because that's where you get that sense of purpose, satisfaction, and understanding that whatever I am doing in the organization is contributing to the success of the organization, and therefore, I am important to the whole."
Carina Cockburn
Country Manager | Inter-American Development Bank
“The risks are much higher because one risk can close a small business, so I think it’s about finding the tools that you are going to be able to accommodate based on the income of your business and being aware of the appropriate technology that is going to meet the demands on your business and customers.”