Dr. Maryam Abdool-Richards is the Principal Medical Officer-Institutions (PMO-I) Ag. with the Ministry of Health (MOH), Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. In May 2022, she was elected as a Vice-Chair of the 75th World Health Assembly of the World Health Organization (WHO) in Geneva, Switzerland. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Maryam was responsible for the implementation and leadership of TT’s Parallel Health Care System and was recognized by the US Secretary of State for her leadership in this role.
Maryam is a graduate of the University of the West Indies (UWI) with a Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery and a postgraduate Master of Science degree in Family Medicine. Additionally, she holds a Master of Science degree in Public Health in Developing Countries from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine in the UK and an Executive MBA (with Distinction) from the Arthur Lok Jack Global School of Business, UWI St. Augustine. She is fluent in Spanish and trained in International Relations and Diplomacy.
Maryam is a Director to the Boards of Angostura Holdings Limited, National Insurance Property and Development Company (NIPDEC), the Eastern Regional Health Authority, TATIL and TATIL Life. She is also a member of the Board of the Alumni Association of the Arthur Lok Jack Global School of Business; a Director on the Board of the Heroes Foundation, and an Executive Board Member of the Shelter.
Lisa Agard is the CEO of TSTT, the largest and most advanced provider of integrated communications solutions to the residential and commercial markets in Trinidad and Tobago.
She has over 23 years telecommunications experience having started her telecommunications career in 1998 with Cable & Wireless. While there she served in various regional capacities including Director Legal Services and Executive Vice President, Legal, Regulatory and Carrier Services. She played a significant role in the liberalisation of the telecoms sectors across the region and the negotiation of the end of C&W’s exclusive operating Licences in many Caribbean territories.
In 2004 Lisa was seconded to TSTT, to assist in its preparation for competition from a legal, regulatory and carrier services perspective. During her 8-year tenure at TSTT she held several senior management positions, including profit and loss responsibility for two of TSTT’s largest lines of business, Fixed and Mobile each generating over a $1 bn in revenue.
Lisa holds a Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of the West Indies, (Upper Second-Class Honours), as well as a Master of Laws degree from the London School of Economics and Political Science and the Degree of Utter Barrister from the Honourable Society of Gray’s Inn, 1987.
Mrs. Camille Chatoor graduated from Howard University in 1991, Magna Cum Laude, with a B.A. in Business Administration with a concentration in Marketing. She has held various leadership positions as a Brand Manager, Trade Marketing Manager, Caricom District Manager, and Sales and Marketing Director.
Currently she holds the position of General Manager at Caribbean Bottlers T&T Ltd. In this position she leads the company’s Executive Team and is responsible for the development of the company’s strategic objectives, the coordination of Operations, Sales & Distribution, Finance and Human Resource activities to achieve operational efficiency and aids in the resolution of key business issues.
Due to her being a seasoned professional she is able to deliver successfully on the financial and operational goals and objectives at Caribbean Bottlers T&T Ltd.
She is a mother of 3 and a firm believer that the path to success must involve passion for what you do, hard work, and integrity.
Sandra Chin Yuen Kee founded Global Financial Brokers Limited in 1994 and has over 35 years’ experience in the financial services industry. She is a British trained State Registered Nurse who began her career in England. This medical experience has contributed to her success in the development and management of Health Insurance programmes. Her expertise lies in the area of Employee Benefits and Financial Planning, having completed various training programmes in Life Insurance & Employee Benefits. Sandra has served on the boards of local NGOs such as The Heroes Foundation, La Brea Industrial Development Corporation, the South Cancer Support Group and Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex Authority. She has also served on the council of the Energy Chamber of Trinidad and Tobago and is currently a member of the Board of Directors of Loan for Enterprise and Network Development (LEND) and Scotiabank Foundation Trinidad and Tobago. In addition to overseeing Global Financial Brokers, Sandra spends time networking and using her vast connections to generate new business for the company. Sandra is a founding member of IWFTT.
Arlene Chow was appointed CEO of Heritage Petroleum Company Limited in September of 2019, prior to which she was seconded from BP as the Chief Operating Officer of Atlantic LNG Company of Trinidad and Tobago from January 2013 to June 2018. She retired from BP in December 2018. Arlene spent forty years in oil and gas operations, starting her career as a Geologist at Petrotrin. She garnered over 20 years of experience at BP, locally and abroad, and was the Chief of Staff (Executive Office, Production Division) of BP plc, London. She has also held positions at BP Alaska – North Slope Infrastructure Manager, Project Manager – Reorganization, and Area Operations Manager; and VP Corporate Operations with overall responsibility for HSSE, Facility Management, IT and Performance Management at BPTT. Arlene holds a BSc. in Geology and Chemistry from the University of the West Indies an MSc. in Engineering from the University of Florida and is a Director of the Energy Chamber of Trinidad and Tobago. Arlene is a member of the IWFTT Fellows Committee.
Sharon Christopher is founder and CEO of Sharon Christopher and Associates, Attorney at Law, Leadership Development Coach and Motivational Speaker. She holds an LLB (Honours) from the University of the West Indies and a Legal Education Certificate from the Hugh Wooding Law School, graduating as the Most Outstanding Student. She also holds a Master of Laws Degree from the London School of Economics and Political Science; is certified by Leadership Management International as a leadership development facilitator/coach and is a Fellow of the Institute of Banking and Finance of Trinidad and Tobago. Sharon was the founding Chairman of IWFTT; a member of the International Board of IWF for 4 years – two of which were spent as Treasurer/Chairman of the Audit Committee and was the first member, outside of North America, to hold that position. A former Deputy Managing Director of First Citizens, Sharon is the first female Chair of the St Augustine Campus Council of the University of the West Indies. In 2015, she was one of 12 women internationally to be recognised by IWF as “A Woman who makes a Difference”. Sharon is a member of the Advocacy team
Franka Costelloe is Director and Co-Owner of Lifetime Roofing Limited. During her tenure she has served in various capacities in the company, including Human Resources, Accounts, Project Management, Contracts, Budget Planning & Administration, Sales and Marketing, contributing to the resilience of the organization. Franka is currently the President of the Trinidad and Tobago Manufacturers Association, and as a thought leader and strategist, she actively promotes technology as the catalyst for driving critically needed efficiencies in the manufacturing sector. She is the Chairperson of First Citizens Trustee Services Limited and is a Director on the Boards of First Citizens Bank Limited, First Citizens Investment Services (Barbados) Limited and First Citizens Bank (Barbados) Limited. She holds a BSc in Administrative and Commercial Studies from the University of Western Ontario, an MSc in Building and Construction Management from the UWI, and a Masters’ Certificate in Corporate Governance from the Caribbean Corporate Governance Institute. Franka is a member of IWFTT’s Advocacy Committee.
Tricia Coosal is an Executive Director of Finance and Administration at the Coosal’s Group
of Companies which encompasses management and execution of diverse corporate aspects. She
possesses a broad range of managerial skills in finance and administration, manufacturing, audit,
marketing, human resources, information technology, sales and security management. She is an
entrepreneur who founded and leads Top Class Distributors focusing on wholesale and retail.
As a past President of the Trinidad and Tobago Manufacturers’ Association (TTMA) she
groundbreakingly led the first public private partnership for the COVID-19 vaccination drive
which resulted in 40,000 inoculations being administered during this most unprecedented period
of our current era. Her astute leadership ensured that not one company shuttered its doors on
account of pandemic-induced business conditions.
Ms. Coosal also has a passion for philanthropic causes and is a Trustee of Guardian Neediest
Cases Fund. She holds both Master’s and Bachelor’s degrees in Business Administration.
Dr. Indira Couch is the CEO of ActionEDGE TT. She has over 25 years of multi-industry general management and cross-functional experience in the UK, Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago. One of her most notable business achievements was starting a company called Produce to Products, which converted Jamaican produce to value-added products. The company bottled three proprietary fruit-based sauces and operated successfully, before eventually being sold to Pickapeppa Company Ltd.Indira is committed to a relentless pursuit of working with growth minded leaders and individuals who want to be more, do more and have more. As the founder and CEO of ActionEDGE TT, she fulfils her ‘purpose’ as a catalyst for change and continues to lead hundreds of business owners and leaders to achieve business success, through business coaching, culture, and leadership programmes. She was named Winner of ActionCLUB and GrowthCLUB 2019, 2020 Top Coach Award for North America and the Caribbean; Rookie Coach of the Year 2019 for Engage and Grow and in 2020, Most Resilient Business & Leadership Coaching Specialist (Caribbean) by Acquisition International. She continues to rank in the Top 5 globally as an Engage and Grow Master coach.
Indira completed her BSc (Honours) in Political Science and Economics and PhD in Development Planning at the University of London, UK.
Dr. Elaine Monica Davis Iton is a multi-faceted, multi-professional, third-generation medical professional, who graduated from The University of the West Indies School of Medicine in Mona in 1979. She recently retired from The UWI’s St. Augustine campus where she spent 30 years as an academic in the Faculty of Medical Sciences. She was concomitantly a lecturer in Environmental Engineering for 18 years, and is the founder of a consultancy practice branded as “Wisdom for Wellness”; which promotes healthy lifestyles, wellbeing, and resilience, while engendering a culture of internal peace.
Monica is the Honorary Consul in Trinidad and Tobago, for her home country, The Bahamas, a role she has performed for 17 years, and is the first and to date only female Dean of the Consular Corps of Trinidad and Tobago. She also serves on the Board of the Family Planning Association of Trinidad and Tobago and is Chair of its Medical
Advisory Committee. Monica is credited with creating and executing two Science Symposia in 2018 and 2019, focused on Women and Girls and centered on the 17 SDGs, and has also conceptualised, created and produced three Concerts for Charity in 2017,2018 and 2019. Monica is a member of IWFTT’s Membership Committee.
Roxane De Freitas is Senior Vice President & Chief Executive Officer of Massy Stores Trinidad, with direct responsibility for its Trinidad operations. In addition to Massy Stores, she also holds directorship on the Integrated Retail and Distribution Portfolio, a subsidiary of Massy Holdings. Prior to joining the Massy Group, Roxane had a successful career with Unilever Caribbean, where she held various executive leadership positions including Marketing Director Caribbean, Regional North Exports Director and was a member of the Unilever Greater Caribbean Board. She was also the first female Managing Director of Unilever Caribbean Limited until her expatriation to the Caribbean Head Office in Puerto Rico. Roxane holds a BA in Business Administration from the University of Western Ontario, is a non-executive director of Scotia Bank Trinidad and Tobago and chairs the Scotiabank Trinidad and Tobago Foundation. She is a member of IWFTT’s Membership Committee.
Patricia Elder is Founder/Director of Elder Associates Limited. She completed a Masters and Doctorate in Counselling Psychology at Temple University and has practiced in a variety of roles including Clinical Director of a drug and alcohol residential treatment facility, staff psychologist at a private psychiatric institution, senior staff psychologist at her alma mater and EAP service provider. She has served as a Consultant to UNESCO, providing training to guidance officers for the Government of Trinidad and Tobago. Patricia established Elder Associates Limited in 1993, providing comprehensive psychological services, specializing in the design and implementation of Employee Assistance Programmes throughout the Caribbean. Dr. Elder is the Regional Director for the Caribbean for the Institute for Forensic Psychology (IFP), providing pre-employment evaluations of law enforcement personnel; Founder/Director of the Dr. J.D. Elder Collection Foundation in memory of the legacy of her parents, and a member of the Employee Assistance Professionals Association. Her publications include “EAP and Public Service Reform” and “The Expanding Role of EAPs”. Patricia is a member of IWFTT’s Membership Committee.
Renée Elizabeth-Ann Ferguson Renée Ferguson is the Chief Executive Officer of Kenson School of Production Technology Limited and a Director of Kenson Group Of Companies. A national of Trinidad and Tobago, Ms. Ferguson has over 20 years of experience managing high level corporate operations and a solid reputation for delivering business strategies. She leads the business operations by ensuring efficiency and effectiveness while staying true to Kenson’s vision of providing quality service, driving performance and remaining customer focused. Ms. Ferguson was a past Advisory Board Member on the British Caribbean Chamber of Commerce (BCCC) during the period (September 2013 to August 2017). She was a past Executive Committee Member and held the post of Treasurer for International Women’s Forum of Trinidad & Tobago (IWFTT) during the period October 2018 to September 2020. Ms. Ferguson holds a bachelor’s degree (Hon.) in Business Management and an MBA, specialism in Strategic Planning from the Heriot-Watt University, UK; along with many other management certificates in Leadership, Human Resources and Quality Management.
Claire Fitzpatrick is the President and Senior Vice President of bp’s business in Trinidad and Tobago, with responsibility for the operational and financial health of the business. Clair has led bp’s Trinidad and Tobago operations since May 2018, bringing with her considerable experience garnered from living and working in the United Kingdom, the United States and Australia and working with more than a dozen other countries in different capacities. She has a BSc in Biological Sciences and is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales. Claire is a Director on the Board of IWFTT and performs the role of Secretary.
Anna-Maria Garcia-Brooks is a business professional with over 35 years’ experience. She spent 28 years leading the marketing, communications, human resources and administration functions in the Republic Bank Group, and prior to that was a communications professional with a Caribbean conglomerate. A certified Changed Management Professional, Anna-Maria holds an MBA from the University of the West Indies and has completed executive education programmes at the University of Michigan Ross School of Business, the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and graduated from the Stanford Executive Programme at Stanford Graduate School of Business. She was named one of the University of the West Indies Distinguished Alumni in 2014 and a Fellow of the Institute of Banking and Finance of Trinidad and Tobago in 2021. Anna-Maria was a founding member of the Nova Committee of the Trinidad and Tobago Chamber of Industry and Commerce and served on the boards of Republic Bank (Guyana) Limited and CNC3 Limited. She is Chairman of Catholic Media Services Limited and a director of the Love Movement Youth Outreach. Anna-Maria is currently a Director of IWFTT, performing the role of Public Relations Officer and is a member of IWFTT’s Advocacy team.
Charmaine Ghani-Andrews is a career public servant who joined the Trinidad and Tobago Public Service in 1984 and became an Immigration Officer at the Ministry of National Security in 1989. In 2015 she became the first female to be appointed to the position of Chief Immigration Officer, overseeing a broad migration mandate for Trinidad and Tobago from border, passport and visa control, investigations, prosecution, and deportation of foreign nationals in breach of the laws, to assistance to vulnerable migrants.
Charmaine holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Information Systems and Management and a Bachelor
of Laws from the University of London, and a Master of Science with distinction in Public Sector Management from the University of the West Indies. She has received extensive training in migration
management, human trafficking, and refugee law from various international institutions.
Since 2009 Charmaine has been involved in anti-human trafficking activities since 2009, including the
development and implementation of policies and legislation on trafficking and led the establishment of the Counter-Trafficking Unit in 2013 as its first Director. In 2014 she was one of 10 persons from across the world recognized and honoured by the US State Department as a hero acting to end modern-day slavery.
Patricia Ghany is the Chief Financial Officer at Esau Oilfield Supplies Company Limited and has over 25 years’ experience in various aspects of the Oil & Gas sector, with proven proficiency in the areas of Procurement, Business Development and Project Management. She graduated from the University of Toronto with a B.A. in Sociology and an M.B.A. in International Business and Finance and has completed graduate courses in International Management and Cross-cultural Counseling at Harvard University. She also served as an International Trainer and Consultant in the areas of Cross-Cultural Management, Diversity and Team Building in Austria and Germany. Patricia is a member of the Family Firm Institute in Boston and has earned her Advance Certificate in Family Business Advising and Certificate in Family Wealth Advising. She is the President of the American Chamber of Commerce of Trinidad & Tobago and serves on the boards of Guardian Holdings Ltd, Guardian Group Trust Ltd., AACCLA, Dialogue Solutions Ltd, The Women in Family Business Network and is a co-franchise owner of Challenge Island Miami. Patricia is a member of the IWFTT Fellows Committee.
Aliyah Hamel-Smith is an Attorney-at-Law with over 19 years of legal practice experience in Trinidad and Tobago and the United Kingdom. She holds an LLB from the University of the West Indies, LEC from the Hugh Wooding Law School and an MBA from Oxford-Brookes University. Aliyah is currently the CEO and a Director of Global Financial Brokers Limited and Total Benefits Specialists Limited, where her focus is on winning new business, maintaining positive client relations, and training staff in all aspects of pensions and financial wellness. Prior to her current roles, she held the position of Vice-President – Business Process Outsourcing/Shared Services Development at the Trinidad and Tobago International Financial Centre, and headed the Trust Company of RBC Bank. She also led the Financial Planning arm of RBC in the Caribbean. Aliyah is a Director at National Flour Mills, and a member of their Audit and Board Tenders Committees. She also sits on the Board of Admiral Capital, an investment management firm, and is a recent recruit and champion of the Coalition Against Domestic Violence.
Lisa-Ann Joseph is the founder and Managing Director of Reputation Management Caribbean Ltd based in Trinidad and Tobago. Lisa-Ann has over 25 years’ experience in coaching, lecturing, counselling, developing, managing and implementing reputation management and crisis communications strategic programmes for multinational, regional and local companies in the energy, retail, telecommunications, manufacturing, gaming and financial sectors. She holds a Master of Arts degree with distinction in Small and Medium Business Enterprises from the Lok Jack GSB, an Associate degree in Journalism and Media Arts from Roytec in association with the American Management Extension Institute and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Social Sciences from State University of New York. Lisa-Ann is considered an opinion leader in the communications landscape and is regularly featured in and quoted by the media across the Caribbean. She was a member of the first IWFTT executive committee where she performed the role of Public Relations Officer. Lisa-Ann is currently a member of the Advocacy team.
Patricia Kong Ting is a chartered accountant and an experienced financial professional with extensive experience in financial management, public accounting, auditing, market risk management and treasury at national, regional and international companies. Her strategic contributions as a member of company boards over the years have been enhanced by her human resource, industrial relations and strategic planning roles at the most senior level in the consumer products, financial services and the airline sectors. Limited working proficiency in Spanish.
One of Patricia’s passions is mentoring young professionals. She was the Chair of the inaugural Fellows Selection Committee of the local IWF chapter in 2020 – 2021.
She serves on the Committee for The Advancement of Women (one arm of the First Citizens Sports Foundation), since its start in 2011, which is focused on helping victims of domestic violence with psychological counselling and preparation for their future improved lives, and was Chair of the Committee during 2019 – 2021.
More recently, her days are divided between consultancy projects, and enjoying the richness of local and international cultures, the arts and travelling.
Rani Lakhan-Narace is the immediate past president of IWFTT. As a business professional and entrepreneur, she has contributed to the growth and development of organizations in the retail and financial services sectors throughout her professional life and has served on the boards of public/private sector and community organizations. She is the Executive Chairman of TRINRE Insurance and has served on the Board of the Caribbean Corporate Governance Institute (CCGI), where she held the position of Chairman of the Education Committee; she was also the Chairman of the Transparency, Accountability and Governance Committee of the American Chamber of Commerce. Rani is currently the President of The Bocas Lit Fest, a non-profit that brings together readers and writers from the Caribbean and hosts one of the world’s top literary festivals. During her tenure as President of IWFTT (2018-2020), Rani’s goal was to forge a new paradigm of female fellowship that is uplifting and influential, in alignment with the global vision “to build better leadership for a changing world.”
Nicole Lawrence is the founder and Managing Partner of the Trinidad and Tobago practice of Grant Thornton, a professional services firm, providing assurance and Business Process Advisory
Services to local, regional and international clients. Nicole has over 30 years’ experience in
business and advisory services and is a Member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of
Trinidad & Tobago and Fellow of the Chartered Association of Certified Accountants. Prior to
establishing the Grant Thornton practice in Trinidad and Tobago, Nicole was a senior partner
leading the tax practice in another international business consultancy firm operating in the Caribbean.
Lucille Mair is a partner in the law firm of Mair and Company since 1997. Prior to this
she was the Senior Legal Advisor and Corporate Secretary at the Central Bank of
Trinidad and Tobago. Lucille is a Barrister-at-law of Lincoln’s Inn, London; member of
the Law Association of Trinidad and Tobago; Notary Public of Trinidad and Tobago and
Honorary Fellow of the Institute of Banking of Trinidad and Tobago. She has attended
executive courses at M.I.T., IMF, Bank of England, American University, and the
Institute for International Financial Law. During her career in private practice, Lucille
was Consultant to several Caribbean Central Banks, the World Bank, CARTAC and
statutory authorities. She also advised financial institutions, credit unions and
commercial entities on banking, financial and regulatory matters. As Senior Manager and
Corporate Secretary at the Central Bank, Lucille developed legislative proposals for
modernizing financial institutions’ legislation, establishment of a deposit insurance
scheme and was involved in the establishment of the Trinidad and Tobago Stock
Exchange, Unit Trust Corporation, the Home Mortgage Bank and First Citizens Bank.
She is the Chairman of the Cotton Tree Foundation, a member of the UWI Development
and Endowment Fund and the Caribbean Academy of Sciences. Lucille is a member of
IWFTT’s Instruments and Governance Committee.
Alison Mair-Pascal is an entrepreneur/restaurateur who was educated at the University of Western Ontario, graduating with a degree in Sociology and Political Science. She worked for almost a decade in the advertising industry, starting her career at Collier Morrison Belgrave Ltd, in 2000, as an Account Manager. Alison subsequently joined Lonsdale Saatchi & Saatchi in the position of Senior Account Manager, later being promoted to Account Director, working on multi-million-dollar accounts across the Caribbean, focusing on the telecommunications, retail and distribution industries. A long-cherished dream to work in the food industry led Alison to team up with her business partner Chef Khalid Mohammed to create a new brand of casual dining, with the opening of their restaurant Chaud Café & Wine Bar in 2011. She is the Co-Owner and Director of Chaud Café Ltd. which comprises Chaud Café & Wine Bar and Chaud Café Vite restaurants, and is responsible for the company’s Restaurant Operations, inclusive of human resources, staffing, purchasing, marketing & public relations, training and accounting. Alison is a member of IWFTT’s Advocacy team..
Karrian Hepburn-Malcom is the Vice President Sales and Service with the Trinidad and Tobago Unit Trust Corporation and is currently a Director on the Boards of Unit Trust Corporation (Cayman) SPC Ltd and the American Chamber of Commerce of Trinidad & Tobago (AMCHAM T&T). She holds an MBA in General Management and a Sc. in Management Studies and Public Administration from The University of the West Indies, is certified in Change Management process (Prosci Canada) and is completing a Doctorate with the University of Phoenix in Management of Organizational Leadership. Karrian is a Licensed Broker with the Trinidad and Tobago Securities and Exchange Commission (TTSEC), was a Licensed Trader with the Trinidad and Tobago Stock Exchange (TTSE) and a holder of a Mutual Funds License from the Institute of Canadian Bankers.
She spent 15 years with Scotiabank in Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago, and was the General Manager of Scotia Investments Trinidad and Tobago Ltd.
Gisele Marfleet is a career entrepreneur who, along with her husband, owns and operates ICSC Solutions Ltd, manufacturers and distributors of quality cleaning chemicals for the consumer, industrial, institutional, hospitality and marine markets. A past director of the Trinidad and Tobago Manufacturer’s Association (TTMA) and its first female director, Gisele has also served as a Director with the Caribbean Industrial Research Institute (CARIRI), the Prime Minister’s Awards for Innovation and Invention, the Lehigh University Global Council and the University of Trinidad & Tobago. She also served on the Board of Scotiabank Trinidad & Tobago for eleven years, retiring in March 2013. She remained the Chairperson of the Scotiabank Trinidad & Tobago Foundation until February 2016. Giselle is a graduate Industrial Engineer with a focus on production systems (Lehigh University) and holds an ACCA Diploma in Financial Management. She is a founding member and Past President of IWFTT.
Nicole Matouk is a dedicated professional with over 30 years of management experience. She is currently the Joint Managing Director of an international group of companies that includes
National Canners Limited and Property Securities Limited. In her role as Joint Managing
Director, Nicole has responsibility for finance, budgeting, audit, credit, purchasing, legal affairs,
information technology and management of property companies. She is a Director on the Board
of RBC Trust (Trinidad and Tobago) Limited and is a member of the Audit Committee. She is a
Past President of the Rotary Club of Central Port of Spain and has been a member for over 15 years. She has
served on and chaired several of the club’s committees over that time. Nicole has a Master in Business Administration degree from Boston University and a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics from The Wharton School of Business, University of Pennsylvania. She is a Director of the Trinidad and Tobago Canoeing and Rowing Federation and President of the Trinidad Kayak Club. An avid pannist, she played with Phase II Pan Grove for over 12 years. Nicole is a member of IWFTT’s Membership Committee.
Dhisha Moorjani, is an entrepreneur/businesswoman and is the founder and owner of House of Jaipur, a fashion house brand, home accents boutique and Indian tea-room which celebrates the art, beauty and “genius of the Indian artisan.” The rich cultural eastern background of her parents inspired her to introduce the beauty of India, its colours, textiles, handicrafts, jewelry, and cuisine to the Caribbean. Dhisha is an entrepreneur at heart, using her in-depth knowledge of her Indian heritage and her background in the aviation service industry to drive her business forward. Since the establishment of House of Jaipur in 2001 she grew her brand beyond Trinidad and Tobago’s borders into the Caribbean region by exporting her Ethnic Inspired brand of resort wear into many exclusive resorts throughout the West Indies. In 2015 she established House of Jaipur in Barbados and is now looking to North America and Europe for further expansion.
Maureen Munro-Legge is the Principal Architect of MOCAD Limited, a design practice which she established in 1996. She holds a Bachelor’s degree from The Mackintosh School of Architecture at Glasgow University, and has 28 years’ experience in the field, working as a Lead Design Consultant in the private sector in the Caribbean and further afield. She specializes in the design of high-end commercial, institutional and retail buildings and leisure facilities, housing developments, luxury residences, townhouse and apartment complexes, and resort architecture. Through working in the largely male dominated field of Architecture since 1992, she has had the privilege of influencing the perception and growth of female architects in the industry in Trinidad and Tobago. She also has a keen interest in education and facilities for special needs children and provides ongoing assistance to The Shelter, a refuge for abused women and children. Maureen is a member of IWFTT’s Advocacy team.
Pria Narinesingh is the Country Managing Partner of Ernst & Young’s Trinidad Office, and leads the Financial Services Industry practice for EY Caribbean. She also serves in the Assurance practice and has been a member of the E&Y team for over 28 years. Pria understands the critical strategic, business, financial reporting and regulatory issues challenging companies and economies across the Caribbean landscape and works with clients to enhance their agility. She has predominantly served large domestic, regional and international clients in the financial services industry and other major conglomerates.
Pria is a Fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) and holds an Audit Practicing Certificate from the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Trinidad and Tobago (ICATT), as well as a BSc in Accounting (Hons.) from the University of the West Indies. She is a former President of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Trinidad and Tobago. Pria is passionate about building a better working world and cultivating and equipping future leaders to live with integrity, innovate and deliver high quality services.
Shian Ottley is an industrial and organisational psychologist, consultant and business strategist with over 20 years’ experience of partnering with organisations and individuals to influence change and maximise results. Shian graduated from State University of New York at Stony Brook, Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology, and was an Honours Fellow based on her research thesis; she also and facilitated outreach programmes within the Caribbean student community at the university. She completed her MSc/MBA in Industrial/ Organisational Psychology at Baruch College, Zicklin School of Business at the City University of New York, is a member of the American Psychological Association and the Society of Industrial Organisational Psychology. Shian is involved in human capital management and employee selection through psychometric assessment and has pioneered the inclusion of Caribbean norms within the Profiles International suite of psychometric assessment tools. Her current passion and professional focus are in personal and executive coaching, where she assists her clients in achieving the best version of themselves. Shina is a member of the IWFTT Fellows Committee.
Angélique Parisot-Potter traces her deep sense of justice to her father, a 260-pound wrestler who taught her “no matter your size, look out
for others – love goes hand-in-hand with integrity.”
Angélique creates business integrity programmes to protect companies and their
brands. As general counsel of the Massy Group of Companies, she oversees all global legal affairs, including regulatory and compliance matters. Angélique also leads Massy’s Business Integrity programme, working with
board, executives and senior management to create a safe, inclusive culture.
Born in Germany, she grew up in Trinidad & Tobago, and has worked in the UK, Brazil, Dominican Republic and Egypt. Angélique believes in diversity of thought, real equality for women, fairness, justice and
speaking truth to power.
Gayle M Pazos, Senior Vice President and Head of Caribbean South and East (“CSE”) and Managing Director of Scotiabank Trinidad and Tobago Limited, is a successful career Banker who has extensive local and international banking experience.
Prior to her existing role, Gayle served in Senior/ Executive roles across Scotiabank’s domestic and international divisions including District Vice President Retail Distribution Western Canada; She was the first female Vice President and Chief Risk Officer and the first female Head of Corporate and Commercial Banking within Scotiabank’s International Banking division.
She currently serves on the Board of Scotiabank T&T Limited and is also Chairperson of various Scotiabank subsidiary boards in the region. She was recently appointed as President of Bankers’ Association of Trinidad and Tobago and serves as a Director of United Way TT. In prior years, Gayle was also proud to serve as a Director for AMCHAM (2016-2019).
Gayle is a collaborative and approachable leader, focused on changing workplace culture and invests heavily in people development and employee engagement.
She is a proud mother of two amazing teenage kids.
Gayle holds a BA (Honours degree in Business Administration from Richard Ivey School of Business at the University of Western Ontario, Canada
Jacqueline Quamina is an Attorney at Law who has served as a director on company boards in Barbados, St Lucia and Trinidad and Tobago. Former Chairman of the NIB in Trinidad and Tobago, Jacqueline was a director of TSTT, TTNGL, Unilever Caribbean, Eastern Caribbean Financial Holdings Limited, The Trinidad and Tobago Chamber of Industry and Commerce and The Trinidad and Tobago Stock Exchange. She is a former Executive Director, Group General Counsel and Corporate Secretary of Republic Bank Limited and Republic Financial Holdings Limited. Jacqueline holds an LLB from The University of the West Indies and was called to the Bar of England and Wales where she is a member of Grays Inn. She holds an MA from the University of London, an Executive MBA from the University of the West Indies and is a graduate of the American Bankers Association Stonier Graduate School of Banking and the Harvard Business School Advanced Management Programme. She is an Accredited Director (CCGI) and a Fellow of the Institute of Banking and Finance of Trinidad and Tobago. Jacqueline is the Vice President of IWFTT and Chair of the Instruments and Governing Committee and leads the Advocacy team.
Lara Quentrall-Thomas is the owner/Chairman of Regency Recruitment and Resources Limited and has more than 30 years’ experience in recruitment and HR management, including 25 as an entrepreneur and company owner, with professional experience in both the United Kingdom and Trinidad and Tobago. In addition to negotiating contracts, business development and strategic planning for the firm, she has overall responsibility for more than 100 contract personnel employed with clients such as IBM, GE Oil and Gas, Cable & Wireless, Electrolux and CocaCola. Additionally she designs and facilitates training programmes in Customer Service, Business Etiquette, Interviewing Skills and Professional Networking for Regency’s corporate clients.
Her education includes an MBA and certificates in industrial relations, mediation, behavioural economics and contract law. Lara serves on multiple boards including the Trinidad and Tobago Coalition of Services Industries, National Training Agency, Youth Business Trinidad and Tobago and the Rotary Club of Central Port of Spain. She is a founding member and the first President of the Association of Female Executives of Trinidad and Tobago, and is a former Director of the Office of Procurement Regulation Board, Economic Advisory Board and Board of AMCHAM T&T.
Paula Rajkumarsingh Is a business executive with over 20 years of experience in one of the largest conglomerates with operations in the Caribbean and Latin America. Paula served as a Group Executive Director and the Group CFO for Massy Holdings Limited for over 12 years. She is currently a non-executive director of CIBC First Caribbean International Bank Limited at the parent board in Barbados and the subsidiary board in Trinidad and is also a director on six other operating companies in the Insurance, Energy services and Technology industry. Paula previously served on several boards in the region including the publicly listed parent company of the Massy Group of companies and several of its subsidiaries. She also served on the Trinidad and Tobago Chamber of Commerce, Trinidad and Tobago National Productivity Council, Financial Council of the Archdiocese, Development Finance Corporation and the Sugar Manufacturing Company as well as a private Equity Fund. Paula has extensive business experience specializing in the areas of strategic financial management, performance management, enterprise risk management, and mergers & acquisitions.
Tiffany Reid: is an accomplished Senior Human Resource Management professional whose career includes more than 25 years of diversified local and international human resource experience in the public, private and non-profit sectors. She is currently the Group Head of Human Resources for The Brydens Group of Companies, where she serves as consulting partner to the organisation’s senior business leaders with responsibility for the development and execution of a comprehensive human capital strategy with oversight and direction of the Human Resource function across the Bryden Group, locally and regionally. Tiffany is also Owner/Executive Director of Caribbean Bio-Techni Laboratories Limited, a family business which provides microbiological testing and analysis for businesses in the manufacturing industry to test for potentially harmful food-borne micro-organisms. Tiffany earned her B.Sc. (Honours) from the University of Guelph, Canada and her MBA in Management and Organization Studies from Simon Fraser University, Canada. She also serves on the Board of Directors of a small family-owned business, supporting them with experience she has gained, with the running of her own small family business.
Yvonne Roberts-White is a highly skilled professional with experience in the fields of Senior Management, Marketing, Communications and Advocacy. She has succeeded in bringing her leadership skills and superior coordinating ability to bear on development initiatives in the national and regional arenas as evidenced by her success in key postings over the last thirty-five years. Recently retired General Manager of Queen’s Hall, Yvonne, in collaboration with the Board, strengthened the Hall’s Strategic Vision and developed relevant policies/procedures, resulting in Queen’s Hall’s reputation as the leading Performing Arts facility in the country.
Yvonne served as Advocacy/Communications Consultant of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), providing technical assistance to governments and key NGOs throughout the Caribbean; led the development and implementation of the Quality Tourism for the Caribbean project, and was Marketing manager of the Family Planning Association of Trinidad and Tobago.
Yvonne holds a Bachelor Business Administration degree (BBA) from Pace University, New York and certificates in Strategic Planning for the Senior Manager and Strategic Project Management.
Marina Salandy-Brown is the founder and director of the NGC Bocas Lit Fest, the largest such festival held in the Anglophone Caribbean. The work of the Bocas Lit Fest has had profound impact upon the literary landscape of the Caribbean and has supported a new generation of international prizewinning writers through its many projects and awards, such as the OCM Bocas Prize for Caribbean Literature, the most prestigious literary award for Caribbean Literature in English. A prizewinning broadcast journalist by profession, with a background in publishing, Marina was formerly an Editor and Senior Manager at the British Broadcasting Corporation in London. She is a newspaper columnist whose writing has been anthologised. She is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and holds two honorary doctorates, from the University of Westminster in the UK and the University of the West Indies. In 2020 she was made an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature (UK) and was awarded the inaugural Ferdinand Magellan Award for innovation and cross-cultural exchange by Chile. Marina was educated at universities in Trinidad, the UK, Egypt and Mexico. She is a member of the IWFTT Fellows Committee
Joanne Gwenneth Salazar is the President of IWFTT and formerly held the position of Vice President. She is a director/co-owner of QED Consulting Limited, and has over 30 years of executive experience in finance, financial management, corporate strategy, business systems design and process improvement at various companies in the UK and Trinidad and Tobago. Joanne serves on the boards of the National Flour Mills, Caribbean Corporate Governance Institute and the College of Science, Technology and Applied Arts of Trinidad & Tobago; was formerly vice president of the Trinidad & Tobago Football Association, chair of the Energy Chamber of Trinidad & Tobago’s Corporate Social Responsibility Committee, and a member of the Caribbean Football Union’s (CFU) Audit Committee. Joanne is a Fellow Chartered Public Finance Accountant and a Graduate Member of the UK Chartered Governance Institute. She also holds an MSc In Strategic Planning, MBA (distinction), Post Graduate Diploma in Operations and Supply Chain Management, BA (Hons), and certification in Organisational Development, Process Management and Change Management, and is an Accredited Director certified by the Governance Institute (Canada).
Melissa Senhouse is currently President of the Greater Tunapuna Chamber of Industry and Commerce and the Managing Director of Pat and Max Limited since 2008.
Melissa is the holder of a BSc in Information Systems and Management from the University of London. She also holds a number of professional certificates, including a Diploma in Public Relations, Advertising and Marketing from London Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), Certificate in Industrial Relations from the Employers’ Consultative Association and the “Train the Trainer” certificate from the Arthur Lok Jack Global School of Business.
A self-confessed “foodie”, Melissa enjoys travelling and experiencing new cultures. She is a firm believer in the empowerment of individuals. Her mantra is everyone should be empowered and encouraged to discover and unleash the best versions of themselves.
Toni Sirju-Ramnarine is the Vice-President, Corporate Operations and Transformation with Atlantic LNG with strategic oversight for digital strategy, strategy and optimization, information and technology systems, sustainability and corporate communications and administration and property services. She has over 25 years of experience in the Oil and Gas industry, with leadership responsibilities in multiple disciplines from engineering and business development to strategy, communications and information technology. Toni holds an M.Sc. in International Management from King’s College, London and is a qualified Chemical Engineer from the University of the West Indies, St Augustine, where she was named one the university’s Distinguished Alumni. She is the Vice Chairman of the Loan for Enterprise and Network Development (LEND), a Director of the American Chamber of Commerce and of Structural Engineering firm, KS&P Ltd. She is also a member of the Association of Professional Engineers of Trinidad and Tobago and of the Trinidad and Tobago Chapter of IChemE. Toni is married and the mother of three children. In addition to being an avid traveler, in her spare time she enjoys reading, cooking, gardening, listening to good music and watching sports.
Indu Sharma obtained her LLB (Upper Second Class Honours) from University College, University of London in 1987, was called to the Bar of England and Wales at Gray’s Inn in June 1988 and admitted to practice in Trinidad and Tobago in December 1988. Further studies in Corporate and Commercial Law at Queen Mary College University of London resulted in her attaining the LLM degree in 1989. She is a qualified Mediator, holds a Diploma in Corporate Governance from the Caribbean Corporate Governance Institute and has attended many professional development courses in the areas of Banking, Oil and Gas Leadership and Corporate Governance. Indu is a Director of Q.E.D. Consulting Limited, serves on the Nominations Committee of the Energy Chamber and is a Director of the Greater Tunapuna Chamber of Industry and Commerce. She has also served at the executive level of several multinational companies in the energy sector in Trinidad and Tobago. Indu is currently a Director of IWFTT and a member of the Governing Instruments Committee and the Next Generation team.
Shelley Sylvester: is the Chief Operating Officer of Guardian General Insurance the Limited (GGIL), and a non-executive director on several of the Guardian Group Boards including subsidiaries in the Bahamas, Guyana, Cayman and Grenada.
Shelley is passionate about innovation and continuous learning and focuses on developing and delivering technology-driven business services and solutions, superior customer service and driving profitable revenue growth for her company. She leads the digital and operational transformation of GGIL and has engaged cross-jurisdictional operational teams within underwriting, claims and across support services, to improve customer experience and producer relationships as well as expand GGIL’s geographic reach. Shelley was previously an executive director with PwC’s Advisory Services where she created and sustained her reputation for delivering innovative business strategies and solutions, whilst building and strengthening relationships with key decision makers. She is a Fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants and holds a Master’s in Business Administration from the Imperial Business School, London. Shelley has the honour of being IWFTT’s first Fellow, successfully completing the rigorous and competitive programme in 2022.
Georgina Terry FCCA, PMP, is the Managing Director of BPD Associates Limited. She is a qualified Leadership and Entrepreneurial Coach, local and International Speaker (including TEDx), Change Management Consultant, Accountant, Trainer, Facilitator, Project Management Professional and author of the Amazon best seller “The Amazing Race to Entrepreneurial Freedom”.
Georgina has over 25 years of outstanding business and people results delivery in the UK, Jamaica, Equatorial Guinea, Trinidad, and Tobago.
She moved to Trinidad and Tobago from England in 2001 and was previously employed with The Economist and PricewaterhouseCoopers.
Georgina’s credo is, “when you tap into your passion you will never work again, because work will become PLAY!
Dawn Thomas is the Group Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of One Caribbean Media Limited (OCM) since 2011, the largest and most diversified media organization in the Caribbean. Prior to OCM she spent fifteen (15) years with the Massy Group and held the position of CEO of Tracmac Engineering Limited. She also worked in the energy, construction, agriculture, industrial and marine sectors and has served as a Director on the Boards of Massy Energy, Associated Brands Ltd. (Guyana) and Massy Finance. Dawn is the past Vice Chairman of the International Press Institute (IPI) and currently serves on the Boards of Directors of One Caribbean Media Limited, the Caribbean Media Corporation in Barbados; RBC Merchant Bank (Caribbean) Limited and RBC Royal Bank (Trinidad and Tobago) Limited. Dawn holds a BSc degree (Hons) in Industrial Engineering from the University of the West Indies and completed an Executive Development Programme at the University of Western Ontario.
Wendy-Fae Thompson is Vice President and Managing Counsel at bpTT with accountability for the legal teams in the Americas, Gulf of Mexico, Canada and Trinidad and Tobago. Wendy joined bpTT in 2004 and spent two years from 2008 as a Senior Attorney for BP’s UK upstream business in Aberdeen.
Before joining bpTT, she spent 14 years at the law firm of Pollonais, Blanc de La Bastide & Jacelon specializing in litigation, conveyancing, intellectual property and corporate and commercial matters. As an equity partner she was responsible for intellectual property, several of the firm’s major litigation and commercial clients and its human resource management.
Wendy has served on the boards of the Port Authority of Trinidad and Tobago, the Industrial Development Corporation and the Public Transportation Service Corporation. She currently serves as Deputy Chairman of Scotiabank Trinidad and Tobago Limited and has chaired the Bank’s Corporate Governance and Human Resource Committee for eight years.
Wendy holds an LLB. (Honors) and B.Sc. (Honors) in Economics and Management from the University of the West Indies and a Legal Education Certificate from the Hugh Wooding Law School and has completed executive courses at Harvard Law School.
Giselle Thompson is the Vice President Corporate Operations of bp Trinidad and Tobago, where she holds accountability for Communications and External Affairs, Ethics and Compliance, Facilities and Management Services, Security and Integrated Risk Management. Giselle is responsible for the management of the company’s external facing strategy and reputation which includes the management of internal and external communications and oversight of interactions between bpTT and external stakeholders. She joined bpTT in 2006 as Corporate Brand Manager and was promoted to VP Communications and External Affairs in 2007 and then to VP Corporate Operations in 2013. Prior to joining bpTT, Giselle held senior marketing positions with GlaxoSmithKline in their Caribbean and Central American operations. She holds an MBA from the University of Cumbria UK, an honours degree in Management Studies from the University of the West Indies and was awarded their distinguished alumni award in 2014. In addition to her duties at bpTT she is member of the boards of MIPED, AmCham and Maple Leaf International School. Giselle was a member of the former IWFTT executive committee where she performed the role of Public Relations Officer and is currently a member of IWFTT’s Next Generation team.
Teresa White has extensive experience of strategic human resource management, organisational transformation and change management. She joined the ANSA McAl Group’s Parent Board of Directors on June 15, 2007 as a non-Executive Director and in January 2011 she assumed the executive role of Group HR Director. From March 2016 to August 2017, Teresa also had the additional responsibilities of Media Sector Head. Effective March 1, 2021, Teresa assumed the role of Chief Shared Services Officer where she has accountability for the Human Resources, Health, Safety & the Environment, Information Technology, Supply Chain and Head Office Administration functions. In the 10 years prior to joining the ANSA McAl Group, she successfully led her independent regional consulting practice, and her client base spanned the energy, financial, professional services and telecommunication sectors. Teresa has a BA (Hons) in Politics from Queen Mary College, University of London and an MSc (Econ) in Industrial Relations from the London School of Economics & Political Science, University of London. Teresa is a member of the IWFTT Fellows and the Governing Instruments Committees.
Jane Wight is the CEO of The Business Supply Group Limited and is the first woman to have held that position in the company’s 40-year history. Over the past 15 years, Jane has held positions in the Finance, Construction, Distribution and Manufacturing sectors of Trinidad & Tobago where she garnered significant experience in Strategic Planning, Leadership Development, Performance Management, Employee Engagement, Sales Strategy and Customer Experience.
Jane holds a Master of Human Resource Management from the Arthur Lok Jack Global School of Business, and a Bachelor of Commerce (Hons.) degree from the University of Guelph, Canada. She is also a former board member of HRMATT and former member of the Employment & Labour Relations Committee at the Trinidad and Tobago Chamber of Industry & Commerce.
Karen Yip Chuck is Group Vice President (Designate) of Republic Financial Holdings Limited and Vice President (Designate) of Republic Bank Limited. Karen is a career banker for over 30 years and has held many senior management positions including, General Manager, Commercial and Retail Banking; Corporate and Investment Banking; Wealth Management and Internal Audit. She serves on the Boards of Republic Bank Grenada Limited, Republic Bank St Maarten N.V., and is Vice President of The Trinidad and Tobago Chamber of Industry and Commerce. She is a graduate of the University of the West Indies with a B.Sc. Economics (Hons) and Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School; an Associate of the Chartered Institute of Bankers; an MBA from Herriot Watt University of Edinburgh and is a Certified Internal Auditor.