CEO's MESSAGE
HSSE 360: Innovation for Resilience
By Nirad Tewarie
CEO | AMCHAM T&T
At this moment in our national and global journey, I believe it is important for all of us –leaders, professionals, and citizens – to pause and reflect on what it truly means to lead in an environment defined by uncertainty. Because the reality is this: uncertainty is no longer an occasional disruption. It has become a defining feature of our time.
Whether we are confronting economic shifts, the growing impacts of climate change, or rapid advances in technology, we are operating in a landscape where risk is ever-present. Yet, the question that matters most is not how we avoid uncertainty, but how we respond to it.
The truth is, uncertainty can either paralyze us – or propel us forward. History has shown that every meaningful breakthrough in business, in safety, and in society has come from those who chose to see opportunity where others saw only danger. Take the energy transition, for example. For some, it represents disruption. But for others, it is one of the greatest opportunities of our lifetime – to redefine how we power our economy, protect our environment, and prepare our society for the future.
The same is true for technology. Automation and AI may appear to threaten traditional ways of working, but used wisely, they enhance safety, boost productivity, and create entirely new avenues for innovation and employment. What we sometimes perceive as risk can, in fact, be the gateway to growth.
This is why, especially now, leadership matters. And in times like these, leadership becomes more than just a sequence of decisions. It becomes an act of clarity in the midst of confusion.
When uncertainty grows, people look to leaders not for perfection, but for consistency.
Consistency of values.
Consistency of principles.
Consistency in doing what is right – even when it is difficult.
HSSE has always been fundamentally about leadership. Not the symbolic kind, but the kind that transforms uncertainty into progress. The kind that does not wait for perfect conditions, but acts with purpose. Leading with HSSE means leading with your values –and innovating even in the face of adversity. That is where true resilience is built. Not in the absence of risk, but in our ability to rise, adapt, and grow because of it.
So, as we explore the theme HSSE 360: Innovation for Resilience in this issue of Linkage, I encourage each of us to think about the broader meaning of our work. Whether in our companies, our communities, or our country, leadership in uncertain times requires the courage to stay grounded in our principles, the humility to keep learning, and the integrity to lead with compassion.
If we do that – together – then even in the face of uncertainty, we will continue to find opportunity. Not only for our businesses, but for our people and for Trinidad and Tobago.
I invite you to engage with the articles from our expert contributors in this edition. As you read, I hope you are reminded that your work in HSSE is not only helping build safer operations – it is helping build a safer, more compassionate, and more resilient world.