National Excellence in HSE Awards

The National Excellence in H.S.E. Awards have become the ultimate stage for organizations to showcase their commitment to Health, Safety, and Environmental excellence. More than just recognition, these Awards celebrate innovation, leadership, and measurable impact in HSE, inspiring companies to raise the bar and embed safety and sustainability at the heart of their operations.

AMCHAM T&T champions these Awards as a catalyst for continuous improvement, driving organizations to implement world-class HSE management systems and embrace a culture of proactive risk management. Guided by the proven ‘Plan–Do–Check–Act’ cycle, the Awards highlight not only outstanding performance but also the dedication to learning, evolving, and setting new standards in HSE practice. The Award categories are listed below.

As part of the National Excellence in HSE Awards, AMCHAM T&T introduced a Mentorship Programme in 2022 to help companies enhance their health and safety systems. Designed for organizations that showed commitment but did not win an award, the programme pairs mentees with experienced HSE professionals and past award winners. Mentors provide guidance, share best practices, and offer new perspectives, while mentees gain tools and strategies to strengthen their HSE culture and processes. The programme is two years long, impartial, confidential, and focused on guidance rather than direct implementation.

By extending the Awards through mentorship, AMCHAM T&T is fostering collaboration, learning, and continuous improvement in workplace safety, making Trinidad and Tobago a safer, more resilient business environment.

OUTSTANDING OSH and ENVIRONMENT PROJECT

This award seeks to recognize and inspire entities who are committed to forging the path towards HSE excellence by implementation of a project. This project must have been completed and resulted in significant and sustainable improvement in any one or more elements of the organization’s Health, Safety, Environment, and Employee/Stakeholder Wellness.

H.S.E. EVOLUTION AWARD

This Award honors initiatives that transform an organization’s Health, Safety, and Environmental (HSE) performance. Eligible entries include innovations in products, processes, engineering, training, awareness campaigns, risk reduction measures (physical or psychological), and environmental stewardship. It also recognizes teams or committees that establish, improve, or sustain HSE practices.

TOWARDS OPERATIONAL RESILIENCE

The Award considers the state of preparation to respond to a disruption and the state of enhanced resilience through business continuity management processes as defined by ISO 22301:2019. It evaluates the road map to enhancing resilience within an established business continuity management framework.

EXCELLENCE IN H.S.E. AWARD

This award honors organizations that integrate HSE as a core business value and demonstrate excellence in both HSE and business performance. It recognizes measurable HSE achievements linked to productivity and profitability, promotes validated performance measurement, evaluates successes through systematic review, and encourages sharing of best practices and lessons learned.

Please CLICK HERE for further information on the Application Process for the National Excellence in HSE Awards

Honouring Our Judges and Mentors

Without our judges and mentors, the National H.S.E. Awards simply would not be possible. Their expertise, dedication, and impartial evaluation are the cornerstone of the Awards’ credibility and success. Year after year, these professionals bring rigor, insight, and a wealth of experience, ensuring that only the most deserving organizations are recognized for their achievements.

It is through their commitment and careful deliberation that we are able to celebrate true excellence in HSE and continue raising the standard for organizations across the country. Simply put, without our judges, we could not have achieved the impact and prestige the Awards enjoy today.

Register to Become a Judge Here View Judges Guidelines Here

Register to Become a Mentor Here View Mentor Guidelines Here

Meet Our Judges and Mentors

Gerard Rajkumar

Head Judge

Gerard is a seasoned HSE professional with extensive experience leading projects across Trinidad, Tobago, and the Caribbean, including over 400 environmental and safety initiatives. He currently serves as Head Judge of the AMCHAM HSE Awards, promoting national excellence in HSE practices. Gerard holds certifications as a Certified Indoor Environmentalist (CIE), NEBOSH (UK), AHERA Asbestos Inspector, and ISO 14064-1 Greenhouse Gas Inventory, along with a BSc and MSc in Natural Resources Management from UWI. Beyond his work, he actively supports HSE awareness through community and cultural initiatives.

Premraj Dukharan

Lead Judge, Excellence in HSE Category

Premraj Dukharan is an engineering professional with over 40 years of experience in Petroleum and Process Engineering, Oil and Gas operations, and HSE. He has worked across upstream and downstream energy sectors locally and internationally, including in the USA, Australia, Guyana, Jamaica, and Colombia. For the past 15 years, he has led HSE teams and provided consultancy in risk management, process safety, and control of work. He is a member and past chairman of the Society of Petroleum Engineers and the STOW board of Trinidad and Tobago.

Sanjay Jagrup

Lead Judge, H.S.E. Evolution Award, Mentor

Canadian Registered Safety Professional with 15 years’ experience leading EHS strategy and cultural transformation in high-risk industrial sectors, including chemical processing, manufacturing, and energy. Skilled in governance, risk management, and compliance across multi-site, unionized, and contractor environments, with expertise in Canadian and international regulations, ISO 14001/45001, process safety, and emergency management. Proven track record of driving sustained improvements in safety, environmental performance, and operational resilience.

Jeffrey Millington

Lead Judge, Towards Operational Resilience Category

Jeffrey Millington holds an MSc in Occupational Safety and Health and a BSc in Natural Sciences, with 29 years of experience across public and private sectors in Trinidad and Tobago. He served 18 years in the public sector and 11 years in the private sector, currently as Health, Safety, Environment, Quality, Risk, and Resilience Superintendent at a leading petrochemical company. He is experienced in workplace inspections, compliance audits, and investigations of critical incidents, and has contributed to ILO and IALI initiatives and regional training programs.

Gail Figaro

Lead Judge, Outstanding OSH and Environment Project Category, Mentor

Gail Figaro is a senior consultant with over 23 years of experience in Business Excellence, Enterprise Risk, and Occupational Health & Safety across the Caribbean. She is a recognized leader in psychological health & safety, culture change, and governance, has contributed to multiple national HSE awards, and was the first in the Caribbean and LATAM to earn the “Recognized Excellence Expert” designation. She holds an MSc in Business & Organizational Psychology and supports organizations through consulting, mentoring, and leadership development.

Myrna Brathwaite

Judge

Myrna Brathwaite contributes a wealth of experience spanning more than fifteen years, where she focuses on environmental coordination. Armed with a B.Sc. in Earth Sciences and certifications in both Business Sustainability Management and as an Environmental Management Systems Lead Auditor, she excels in assessing environmental systems and identifying improvement opportunities, a skill she has also applied as a judge on the AmCham Awards sub-committee for the past six years.

Nicole Bodkin-Clarke

Judge

Nicole Bodkin-Clarke possesses over 12 years of experience as a safety professional. She holds a BSc in Occupational Safety, Health and the Environment and an Associate Degree in Environmental Technology, and is a certified Lead OHSMS Auditor. In her role at G4S, she was instrumental in developing the HSSE management system and guiding the organization through ongoing certification and recertification since 2012. She is an active member of the AMCHAM HSE and Road Safety Committee and is deeply committed to strengthening workplace safety systems so employees can consistently return home safely.

Nicole Simon-Thompson

Judge

Nicole Simon-Thompson is responsible for controlling HSSE risks, ensuring business continuity, and preventing environmental loss since joining her organization. She holds an MSc in Environmental Science and brings over 20 years of experience across the energy and manufacturing sectors, with a strong record of leading multisite teams and driving organizational change. A respected industry leader, she serves as Chair of the HSSE Sub-Committee of the Point Lisas Energy Association and has held board roles with OSHA and Safe to Work Trinidad and Tobago. She has also served as Country Manager for the British Caribbean Chamber of Commerce (T&T) and remains active in community-focused non-profit work.

Ruth Miguel Alleyne

Judge

With over 15 years of experience in occupational and environmental safety and health, Ruth has an extensive background as an OHS consultant, specializing in safety management systems, tertiary-level OSH education, and the development and delivery of professional safety training. Her oil and gas experience includes risk advisory services such as HAZIDs, HAZOPs, safety cases, and qualitative risk assessments. Ruth holds postgraduate and master’s qualifications in safety and environmental management, is an active volunteer with the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Management and has served as an AMCHAM HSE Awards judge for seven years.

Sajeev Jaggernauth

Judge

Mr. Sajeev Jaggernauth brings over 15 years of expertise in occupational and environmental safety. His academic credentials include a BSc in Environmental and Natural Resource Management and an MSc in Occupational and Environmental Safety and Health. Recognized for his ability to design practical, effective safety solutions, Sajeev has a proven track record of helping organizations enhance their safety protocols and meet regulatory requirements.

Skyle Baptiste

Judge

Skyle Baptiste is an individual who values the upliftment of people, business excellence and system efficiencies. Over the past 12 years he has chosen to achieve these and other goals through the HSSE discipline.

In his professional career he has held managerial positions in the HSSE department for Regional and Local companies prominent in providing services to various industries, inclusive of the Energy, Financial, Telecommunication and Government sectors. The highlight of these roles has always been relationships built and the opportunity to innovate within the HSSE field.

Travis Gayah

Judge

Travis Gayah is an HSE professional with 14 years’ experience and a Master’s in Occupational Environmental Health and Safety.

Travis is the Vice Chair of AMCHAM T&T’s HSE Committee and has been an AMCHAM T&T HSE Awards judge for over five years. He is committed to advancing workplace safety and environmental stewardship across Trinidad and Tobago.

In Memory of Mr. James A. Trim

Mr. James A. Trim was a stalwart of the health, safety, environment, and business continuity community in Trinidad and Tobago, whose impact spanned more than three decades. With over 35 years of distinguished experience in EHS and business continuity planning across the energy and utilities sectors, James was a trusted expert, mentor, and advocate for operational resilience. As a former Corporate Manager of Environment, Health, Safety and Security at the National Gas Company of Trinidad and Tobago Limited, he championed a culture of ownership, alignment, and loss prevention, leaving a lasting legacy within the organization and the wider industry

James was deeply committed to AMCHAM Trinidad & Tobago and was especially instrumental in the development and successful execution of the National Excellence and HSE Awards. His expertise and guidance were pivotal in shaping the Business Continuity Planning and Operational Resilience categories, ensuring they reflected global best practice while remaining practical and relevant to local organizations. Beyond his technical excellence, James was known for his generosity of spirit, unwavering support, and passion for building resilient, prepared institutions. His passing is a profound loss to the profession, but his influence endures through the standards he helped establish, the professionals he mentored, and the organizations he strengthened.

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