Ricky Duman 

Director of Pre-Sales Engineering - DigitalEra Group

Richard (Ricky) Duman is a Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) and graduate of the University of Florida, with dual degrees in Electrical Engineering and Computer Engineering. He has over 24 years of experience in Engineering, Sales, Marketing, and Management within the Tech and Security industries.

As Director of Pre-Sales Engineering at DigitalEra Group, Ricky calls upon his 24+ years in Sales and Engineering to help clients navigate the maze of Cybersecurity products and services and to make better-informed decisions within the context of their unique Cybersecurity business, technology, and operational environments.

Patrick Tyer 

Director Managed Services - DigitalEra Group

Patrick is an innovative change agent and a highly qualified Senior IT Executive who brings +20 years advanced subject matter expertise in managed services and information systems support, IT security management, and corporate network administration. He has a strong proven track record of increasing enterprise efficiency, mitigating risks, capturing cost savings, protecting assets, and ensuring seamless operations of multibillion-dollar corporations and has led large-scale teams in executing major security initiatives with workforce optimization. As Director of Managed Services at DigitalEra, Patrick is a member of the company’s’ leadership team, responsible for the technology services processes and programs with our managed services offerings and ongoing support services to our customers.
 

Dirren Harkoo

Cybersecurity Lead - Phoenix Park Gas Processors Limited

Dirren Harkoo is a professional with over two decades of dedication in the dynamic and indispensable world of the oil and gas sector. His extensive career, complemented by a brief yet impactful foray into the manufacturing industry, has endowed him with a wealth of expertise spanning a wide spectrum of disciplines, with an emphasis on the Information Technology (IT) and Operating Technology (OT) domains.

Dirren Harkoo serves as the Lead for Cybersecurity at Phoenix Park Gas Processors Limited. In this pivotal role, he is responsible for safeguarding critical assets and infrastructure against evolving cyber threats across the Trinidad, North America, and Canada facilities. His leadership in the cybersecurity domain harmoniously aligns with his overarching mission to fortify the integrity and security of vital industrial processes.

He is steadfast in his commitment to spearheading innovation, elevating operational efficiency, and advocating for cybersecurity best practices. His vision is to make a substantial contribution to the secure and efficient advancement of this critical industry. 

Stephanie Sabatini

Vice-president Professional Services - Hitachi Systems Security

Stephanie Sabatini is an experienced cybersecurity engineer and the Vice President of Hitachi Systems Security’s Professional Services. She has over 20 years of experience in cybersecurity, focused on designing solutions for organizations of all industries and sizes. Currently, she specializes in threat and vulnerability management, as well as building and implementing highly effective security programs for organizations worldwide. Stephanie has extensive experience assessing and designing secure operational technology (OT) environments, having spent over a decade working extensively in the Oil & Gas, Energy / Utilities, and Mining sectors. 

Vitra Gopee

Chief Operations Officer - DigitalEra Group

Vitra is a senior executive lead whose 25-year experience in the IT Services industry has been marked by a passionate and relentless obligation to people and service and an unwavering dedication to excellence and outcomes. Her career in operations, sales, marketing, and service has been punctuated by a deliberate commitment to transformation and change, performance, and profitability.

As Chief Operations Officer at DigitalEra Group, a US-based Next Generation Cybersecurity Services Provider, Vitra brings a unique mix of purpose-driven and progressive leadership that achieves meaningful and lasting change and delivers consistent and sustainable outcomes. She is a determined and innovative problem solver, whose career has sharpened such skills allowing her to create opportunity and produce results from solving complex strategic and operational challenges and embodies the belief that resilience, adaptability, and execution are the cornerstones for enduring success.

In September 2023, in addition to her role as COO, Vitra was appointed General Manager of the Services Business Unit at DigitalEra, tasked with the responsibility to reshape the work culture to reinforce their customer-first approach, mature their human talent, capacity, and capability and innovate in the delivery and deployment of Next-Gen Cybersecurity solutions and frameworks in order to expand their practice and reputation as an elite Managed Security Services Provider (MSSP). 

Ravi Ragoonanan 

Cyber-Security & Risk Lead - Proman

Ravi Ragoonanan is a seasoned cybersecurity expert boasting over a decade of hands-on experience in the dynamic field of cybersecurity and risk management. Currently at the helm as the Cyber-Security & Risk Lead at Proman, Ravi has been pivotal in architecting cybersecurity strategies, safeguarding compliance with premier standards, and guiding the integration of IT and OT technologies. Ravi has advanced degrees in Information Systems Management and postgraduate certifications in Managing Risk from recognized institutions such as the University of Greenwich and Harvard Business School, this education is bolstered by several certifications including CISM from ISACA and CISSP from ISC2. A recognized voice in the community, Ravi has delivered insights on platforms like Cybersecurity for Critical Assets USA which focuses on securing critical infrastructure, and is very vocal about enhancing cybersecurity in Trinidad and the Caribbean Region as a whole.

Ziyaad Khan 

Manager – Information Technology & Systems – Atlantic

Ziyaad Khan is currently the Manager of the Information Technology & Systems team at Atlantic. In this position, Ziyaad has oversight of the company’s Information Technology requirements which include Application management, Customer services, Cybersecurity, Data governance, and Infrastructure. He also works closely with the Digital Strategy team on the delivery of the company’s Digital technology requirements. Ziyaad was able to successfully transition the company with the use of technology, to foster a hybrid working environment and continues to work with varying teams on introducing new technology and automating business processes. 

Ziyaad has been responsible for designing solutions to establish relevant information security strategies, comprehensive IT governance processes, redesigning security policy management and governance processes, and compliance with leading security standards, frameworks and regulations. He has developed and led the frameworks for Cybersecurity and Data governance, having led and delivered a comprehensive cybersecurity and privacy awareness program for the organization. He has also implemented regular training sessions, workshops, and awareness campaigns to educate employees, contractors, and service providers on leading practices and emerging threats. 

Emmanuel Oscar

Senior Systems Engineering Manager for the Caribbean - Fortinet

With over twenty (20) years of experience in the security, cybersecurity, and Business Continuity sectors, Mr. Oscar stands as a seasoned professional. Currently holding the position of Senior Systems Engineering Manager for the Caribbean at Fortinet. Mr. Oscar plays a pivotal role in leadership. He commands a team of sixteen Systems Engineers and Engineering Leads, dedicated to driving excellence in the design and implementation of cutting-edge security solutions. Leveraging his extensive industry knowledge, Mr. Oscar is instrumental in securing critical assets and empowering organizations to maintain resilient security postures in the ever-evolving threat landscape.

Mr. Oscar's extensive background, complemented by his technical proficiency and leadership skills, establishes him as a recognized expert in the field. His remarkable accomplishments, both in the past and in his current role, serve as a testament to his commitment to excellence and his capacity to deliver positive outcomes for clients and organizations.

Angus Smith

Manager - The Trinidad and Tobago Cyber Security Incident Response Team (TT-CSIRT)

Mr. Angus Smith has been the Head of the Trinidad and Tobago Cyber Security Incident Response Team (TT-CSIRT) for the past 8 years. He has been involved in Cyber Security and ICT for over 20 years. He is responsible for managing a dynamic team of professionals to address incident response, operationalisation of cyber threat intelligence, and conducting cyber security vulnerability assessments at a national level. 

Angus has been instrumental in the development of the National Cyber Security program for Trinidad and Tobago, implemented the Trinidad and Tobago Cyber Security Incident Response Team (TT-CSIRT), led a National Critical Information Infrastructure Assessment (NCRA) and is also involved in a number of national projects focusing on the Cyber Security elements of these projects. 

Anish Bachu

Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Security Specialist  - Trinidad and Tobago Cyber Security Incident Response Team (TT-CSIRT)

Mr. Anish Bachu is an Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Security Specialist attached to the Trinidad and Tobago Cyber Security Incident Response Team (TT-CSIRT) under the Ministry of National Security for the past four (4) years. He is the team lead for financial services sector security, heath sector security and industrial control systems security. His duties range from incident response, vulnerability and threat monitoring at a national level and cyber security assessments of government systems and infrastructure.

Anish has served as the technical security lead for numerous projects across the Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago including the national cyber risk assessment 2021 project and the development of an information sharing and analysis center (ISAC) for bank and nonbank financial institutions in Trinidad and Tobago.

John Outridge

Chief Executive Officer - The Trinidad and Tobago International Finance Centre (TTIFC)

John is currently the Chief Executive Officer of the Trinidad and Tobago International Finance Centre and is responsible for leading the company as it executes its mandate of driving digital financial services adoption across all sectors so Trinidad & Tobago can become a premier location for FinTech-enabled services and maintain its position as the Financial Hub of the region.

Ben Dadson

Coordinator - IUP’s Desktop Services Team

Ben Dadson is the Director of Indiana University of Pennsylvania’s Enterprise Infrastructure and Device Management.  He has served in various IT roles at IUP for over 20 years.  Ben’s team is responsible for maintaining the comprehensive bank-end data systems, student and staff reporting services including the management of their Entra ID tenant and security solutions to some 5000 desktops, laptops, tablets, and smartphones both on-premises and remotely.  Ben has been part of a panel and performed workshops at HSSE since 2017.

Israel Castillo

Customer Engineer, Data Analytics - Google

As a child of the 80s and a product of the digital generation, Israel has always had a passionate interest in computers and technology.

In his extensive, multiple award-winning career in market development, technical sales, and account management Israel has helped struggling and new markets grow exponentially. During this time, he became an expert at building pipelines and cultivating long-term relationships with key industry players and C-Level executives.

Brian Keshwah

Cybersecurity and Information Technology Audit Manager 

Brian Keshwah is a seasoned Cybersecurity and Information Technology Audit Manager with over 27 years of multifaceted experience in IT across the Financial and Professional services industries. Ten of these years were spent within a “Big Four” professional services firm and over 17 years within the Banking and Financial services sectors, providing IT assurance, IT advisory, and implementation and project management services. 

Brian’s leadership experience spans a rich mix of Information Technology Management, Information Security and Cybersecurity Management, Internal Audit Management, IT Project Management, Digital Strategy and Transformation, Enterprise Risk Management, and General Corporate and IT Strategic leadership for large financial organizations

Brian plays an integral role within the Republic Financial Holding Limited Group in assessing and leading the IT and Cybersecurity Risk assurance/advisory practices across the Group’s interest.

Michael Khan

Vice President Sales - The TSL Group

Michael Khan, Vice President Sales for the TSL Group, has a career that spans almost 25 years beginning in the energy industry, leading to roles in change management, and eventually a successful path in technology sales and sales leadership. 

He holds a Bachelor’s of Commerce from Ryerson University. He is passionate about helping customers create value through digital transformation and has a keen interest in emerging use cases for artificial intelligence. Michael believes in harnessing the power of technology to enhance customer experiences and drive business growth.

Ansarah Ali

Project Implementation Manager - Ministry of Digital Transformation

Passionate about the potential of technology, Ansarah is driven to increase societal awareness of emerging and future technologies. She is an experienced consultant with expertise in using the power of technology for business transformation and has managed technology infrastructure and software projects to enhance performance for the private and public sectors in the Caribbean region. Her experience in the technology sector feeds her knowledge of innovation, public sector transformation, and corporate strategy.

She is a Project Implementation Manager within the Ministry of Digital Transformation where she is responsible for planning, organizing, and managing the information technology processes for digital transformation programmes, projects, and initiatives. Her focus is overseeing the implementation of new technical systems and custom solutions for Government Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs).

Eduard Mouget

Group Chief Information Officer - Guardian Group 

Eduard Mouget is the Group Chief Information Officer at Guardian Group, where he oversees the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of information systems across Guardian’s territories. 

During his tenure at Guardian, he established and led the company’s first dedicated Information Security team and securely migrated the company’s systems from on-premises to a cloud-hosted model.

Prior to joining the Group, he held various progressive roles in the IT consulting practice of a Big 4 professional services firm.

Eduard holds both a B.Sc. and M.Sc. (with distinction) in Computer Science from the University of the West Indies and is certified in Information Security Management (CISM) and Information Systems Audit (CISA)

Samantha Deoraj

Major Account Manager - Fortinet

Samantha Deoraj is an ICT professional with over 10 years of regional and international experience in end customer management and channel sales demand generation. 

Samantha is an active member and advocate of Women in Cybersecurity (WiCyS) and WOMCY, LATAM Women in Cybersecurity. 

In March 2023, Samantha was a guest judge for the annual WiCyS Undergraduate and Graduate Poster Competition held in Denver Colorado. 

Samantha is an engineer by education and holds a Masters with Distinction in Engineering Management and a BSc in Mechanical Engineering, both from the University of the West Indies. 

Terrence Nichols

Information Security Manager -  ANSA McAL Group of Companies

Terrence Nichols is a seasoned and certified ICT professional with a wealth of expertise spanning more than two decades. His extensive background encompasses a wide array of disciplines, including Systems Administration, Networking, Infrastructure, Cloud Computing, Security, and IT Training. He has excelled in various professional settings, from corporate environments to private consultancy and educational institutions.

Mr. Nichols has been an integral part of the ANSA McAL Group of Companies for the past fourteen years, where his contributions have played a pivotal role in driving transformative initiatives. Currently, he holds the position of Information Security Manager for the Group, a role he has capably filled for the past seven years. Under his guidance, the Group has developed an Information Security Strategic Plan and is committed to protecting its digital assets through ongoing risk reduction efforts.