Opening Ceremony
10:00 a.m. - 11:15 a.m.
Stuart Franco
President | AMCHAM T&T
(Opening Remarks)
Karen Abraham
Vice President and Chief Risk Officer | Scotiabank
(Sponsor Remarks)
Gillian Chevrotiere
Senior Manager, People Leadership and Culture | The National Gas Company of Trinidad and Tobago
(Sponsor Remarks)
Keynote Speaker
10:50 a.m. - 11:15 a.m.
Her Excellency Christine Carla Kangaloo ORTT
President of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago
BREAK
11:15 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
Panel Discussion
INCLUSION MATTERS: #InspireInclusion
11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Being included in the workplace means more than just having a physical presence; it involves creating an environment where every individual feels valued, heard, and respected, regardless of their gender, background, or any other characteristic. Hear from experts and leaders who have invested in inclusion policies to empower women while helping men to become better supportive allies.
This session will help participants to:
• Create an inclusive workforce by eliminating tokenism, unconscious bias, stereotypes, and harassment.
• Take steps to foster inclusive teams and leadership styles to establish trust, value, and acceptance.
• Understand the rules that would create space for genuine dialogue, open communication, and feedback from employees.
• Engage male allies to be stronger advocates for gender equity and inclusion.
Deborah Benjamin
Managing Director |
ASCO
Kathryna Baptiste Assee
Group General Counsel/Corporate Secretary | Angostura
Dr. Sharda Patasar
Writer | Researcher | Musician | Composer | Independent Senator
Jarod Perryman
Managing Director | ScotiaLife Trinidad & Tobago Limited
Director, Wealth | Scotiabank Trinidad & Tobago Limited
Griselle Smith
Caribbean HR Leader | IBM World Trade Corporation (Trinidad & Tobago)
MODERATOR
LUNCH
12:30 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Panel Discussion
UNTIE THE KNOTS – Ambition Is Not A Dirty Word
1:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.
The famous quote from the 2023 film, Barbie “I’m just so tired of watching myself and every single other woman tie herself into knots so that people will like us,” expresses the pressures that women often feel to conform to societal expectations and seek approval at the expense of chasing their ambitions.
Research has shown that ambition culturally is seen as a positive trait in men but criticized in women. In this session, we will examine how we can untangle the knots to ensure that ambition in women is no longer seen as a dirty word.
Participants will gain:
• Steps to reclaim and reframe ambition to build happier, more successful careers while navigating societal expectations.
• Identify policies for organizations to promote and elevate women.
• Tips to invest in oneself to develop new skills and build networks of like-minded ambitious people.
• The importance of having both empowering male and female mentors in aligning career goals in pursuing leadership.
Jenifer Neidhart de Ortiz
Deputy Chief of Mission | U.S. Embassy
Kieron Bailey
Sr Vice President: Country Compliance Officer - Trinidad / LATAM Compliance Monitoring & MCA Lead | Citi
Tracey Weekes
Manager, Financial and Strategic Investments | The National Gas Company of Trinidad and Tobago
Group Captain Kemba Hannays
Commanding Officer | Trinidad and Tobago Air Guard
Zara La Fleur
National Under 20 Chess Champion
Greer Quan
CEO | Pan American Life Insurance Group
MODERATOR
BREAK
2:30 p.m. - 2:45 p.m.
Panel Discussion
BALANCE & GROWTH
2:45 p.m. - 3:45 p.m.
Research shows that a toxic workplace — including harassment, bullying, and ostracism — is a significant source of psychological strain for women and can lead to high levels of stress and burnout.
In this session, we will examine:
• The importance of building psychologically safe workplaces to empower women.
• Understanding work-life balance – learning to say no, communicate boundaries to unplug, and investing in strong nurturing relationships.
• Learning how to manage stress, anxiety and burnout.
• Handling criticism to achieve personal growth.
• Overcoming fears, self-limiting beliefs, and rejection to forge meaningful relationships with ourselves and colleagues.
Vitra Gopee
Chief Operating Officer | DigitalEra Group
Breanne Mc Ivor
Award Winning Author / Freelance Writer
Jane Wight
CEO | The Business Supply Group Ltd.
Adrian Vincent
Manager, Human Resources | Methanex Trinidad Limited
Neerala Boodoo
Member Services & Design Officer | AMCHAM T&T
MODERATOR
Cocktail Reception
4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
