ANNUAL CONFERENCE
FEATURED SPEAKERS
The Hon. Dickon Mitchell
Prime Minister of Grenada
The Hon. Dickon Mitchell
Prime Minister of Grenada
The Honourable Dickon Mitchell is a Grenadian politician and attorney serving as the ninth Prime Minister of Grenada.
Dickon Mitchell’s story is one of success, which came from hard work, sacrifice, determination, and a deep desire for betterment.
Dickon began his service to Grenada in 1996 when he took a teaching position at his Alma Mater, the Presentation Brothers College. At this point, he was already aware of the transformational power of education, but this two-year stint allowed him to appreciate the full spectrum of the educational experience in Grenada. It cemented his desire to do more by advocating for the educational advancement of all Grenadians.
In 1998, Dickon enrolled at the University of the West Indies in pursuit of a law degree. After completing Hugh Wooding Law School in Trinidad, his commitment to serve Grenada brought him straight home where he commenced his law practice at Grant, Joseph, and Co. and immediately distinguished himself as a formidable lawyer, representing many individuals and business entities. Three years later, he would acquire Grant, Joseph, and Co.
In 2016, Dickon opened another law firm, Mitchell & Co, a manoeuvre strongly influenced by his vision to create more employment for young and upcoming lawyers. His ambitions have always been tethered to his desire to give back and, as such, Dickon has never divorced himself from the community.
Dickon Mitchell’s collective experiences as a teacher, mentor, lawyer and youth advocate shaped his commitment to Grenada and motivated his decision to enter the political arena.
His vision, steeped in a love for country, is to transform Grenada into a prosperous and stable democracy, capable of sustaining a high quality of life for all its people.
On June 23, 2022, only eight months into his political career, Dickon led his party to victory. He was sworn in on June 24, 2022.
As Prime Minister, Dickon is working, with his Cabinet of Ministers, to move Grenada forward — building the foundation for an equitable society that takes pride in its culture, heritage and identity.
H. E. Ambassador Gabriel Abed
H. E. Ambassador Gabriel Abed
H. E. Ambassador Gabriel Abed
H. E. Ambassador Gabriel Abed
H. E. Gabriel Abed is the Barbados Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates. He is a Barbadian-Syrian entrepreneur, and is widely recognised as a leading authority on Central Bank Digital Currencies, math-based protocols, technology diplomacy, and blockchain technology. He was the first entrepreneur to establish a blockchain company in Latin America, in November 2010.
Gabriel is internationally-acknowledged as a pioneer in the digital currency evolution, having conceptualized and initiated the first global movement to encourage the use of Central Bank Digital Currencies globally. Gabriel currently serves as the Co-lead of the Regulatory Framework Body of the World Economic Forum's Global Future Council on Cryptocurrencies where he has prepared a report to assist financial regulators to understand how best to approach digital asset regulatory frameworks.
As Barbados' first Ambassador to the UAE, Gabriel is focused on launching technology diplomacy; the future of diplomacy as he sees it, to create technological bridges between nations, bringing Barbados and the UAE hand-in-hand now and into the future. He believes that the UAE is a technology pioneer and digital world leader and serves as an excellent foundation of digital greatness.
Gabriel has given his time pro bono to government leaders, ministers and department heads around the world as they commenced their journeys to understand the impact of digital assets on their future economies. As an example, in 2018 he served as the Special Technology Advisor to the Honorable David Burt, Premier of Bermuda, where he has advised the Premier and his government on establishing best practices and policies related to blockchain and cryptocurrencies, and assisted in the creation of a vision for Bermuda's future growth and economic prosperity. Gabriel continues to work with regional and international governments, regulators and companies to facilitate education and technological inclusion of all stakeholders.
Gabriel has founded and spearheaded many successful businesses. In 2013, he founded Bitt in Barbados; its current flagship project is the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank national digital currency. In 2016, during his tenure as CEO, Bitt raised US$16 million from a US public company. Bitt is also internationally recognized for its application of ‘’mMoney’’, which has been championed by Barbados' Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley and has seen widespread adoption across tens of thousands of customers and merchants. In 2018, Gabriel co-founded Digital Asset Currency Management (DACM) along with a former Executive of JP Morgan and Goldman Sachs. DACM is geared towards constructing and actively managing funds, high-growth digital assets that offer sophisticated and institutional investors what is believed to be the most optimal exposure to the rapidly growing technology. In 2019 and 2020, DACM received awards for managing the best performing digital asset funds globally.
Through his numerous activities, Gabriel continues to pursue his passion for a One Caribbean, which emphasises regional connectivity and collaboration with strong innovation-focused nations in the Caribbean, the MENA region and beyond.
Lt. Col. (Retd) Trevor Browne
President, Barbados Sustainable Energy Cooperative Society Ltd.
Lt. Col. (Retd) Trevor Browne
President, Barbados Sustainable Energy Cooperative Society Ltd.
Lt Col Trevor Browne is a retired professional electrical engineer with nearly 40 years in the electric utility. In the co-operative movement he was the founding president of Reddy Kilowatt Co-op, Light & Power Employees Credit Union, and Co-operators General Insurance Co Ltd. He also served as president of the League.
Browne was a senior officer of the Barbados Defence
Force - retiring at the rank of Lt Col. He also served as Commandant of the Barbados Cadet Corps from 2004
to 2014.
In sport he was president of the Barbados Table Tennis
Association, the Caribbean Table Tennis Federation
and the Barbados Orienteering Federation. Vice
president of the Latin American Table Tennis Union,
and director of the Barbados Olympic Association from
2004 to 2016.
Browne also holds a masters degree in management
from the University of Lyon, France.
He has been awarded the Barbados Silver Crown of
Merit (SCM) and the Caribbean Cadet Medal (CCM)
for his work with Caribbean youth.
Lt Col Browne is currently president of the Barbados
Association of Professional Engineers, Chairman of the
Council of Caribbean Engineering Organisations,
deputy chairman of the Board of the Barbados
National Standards Institute and president of the
Barbados Orienteering Federation.
Sandiford Edwards
Development Specialist, CARICOM Private Sector Organisation
Sandiford Edwards
Development Specialist, CARICOM Private Sector Organisation
Mr. Sandiford Edwards is a Grenadian and holds:
A Master of Arts Degree in Development Finance with specialization in finance structuring, Agriculture & SME finance and Climate & Renewable Energy Finance for Small Island Developing States from the Frankfurt School of Finance and Management, Frankfurt, Germany;
A Master of Business Administration from Oxford Brookes University, United Kingdom;
Certification from the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants, United Kingdom;
Certified Marketing Consultant; and,
Professional Certification from the University of Cambridge in Disaster Risk Financing.
Mr. Edwards has also held Board of Directorship for several institutions including
The West Indies Rum and Spirit Producers Association – Barbados;
President of the Grenada Chamber of Industry and Commerce;
Chairman of the Grenada Planning and Development Authority;
Deputy Chairman of the Grenada Citizen by Investment Committee.
He was also a Council Member on the Global Environment Facility representing the Caribbean and has been Grenada focal point for many institutions such as World Bank, Caribbean Development Bank, Eastern Caribbean Central Bank, SAMOA Pathway and SIDS Forum, Green Climate Fund and United Nations Organisations.
Mr. Edwards has over fifteen years’ experience working in the Region with emphasis on structuring investments for the development of Regional Agriculture engaging both public officials and private sector leaders.
He was instrumental in the development of:
- St. Vincent and the Grenadines Stabilisation Fund (2021)
- CARICOM Private Sector Organisation – Twenty-five % BY 2025: Reducing CARICOM’s Agri-Food Imports: Opportunities for CPSO Participation (2020)
- Concept Note development for an Eastern Caribbean Trade Corridor (2020)
- Monitoring and Evaluation Tool for the CARICOM Food and Nutrition Security Action Plan (2020)
- CSME Coconut Industry Business Plan – Guyana (2019)
- Grenada Fresh Produce Production and Market Analysis, ACP-EU (2017)
- Linking the Tourism Industry to the Grenada School Feeding Program (2017)
- Grenada Soursop Industry Value Chain Analysis and Industry Development Plan (2016)
He has work with the Ministry of Economic Development Grenada and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
At present, Mr. Edwards is a consultant with the CARICOM Private Sector Organization.
Rachele Forcadi
Multigenerational Workforce Strategist - Bestselling Author
Rachele Forcadi
Multigenerational Workforce Strategist - Bestselling Author
Leading Future of Work Strategist and best-selling author of “Reframing Generational Stereotypes”, Rachele is a global thought-leader and public speaker on Generational Diversity and Multigenerational Workforce Dynamics. Born and raised in Italy, Rachele spent her professional life between Europe, U.S.A. and Asia. She currently lives in Singapore with her husband, Victor and their three small children. Over the last 20 years, Rachele has advised hundreds of Fortune 500 companies, Asian organizations, NGOs and Government Agencies. She is passionate about helping organizations adapt to the needs of the new generations and make Generational Diversity a key item on their D&I Agenda by developing initiatives, programs and content that provide the opportunity for employees across all age groups to learn from each other, collaborate efficiently, and together drive change. Rachele has recently been voted one of The 6 Most Influential Women in the New World of Work. She is Chair of the Multigenerational Workforce Committee for the ASEAN Human Development Organization, Board Member Future Talent Council, Mentor at Workplace Accelerator and Founder of XYZ@Work. Former Chief Strategy Officer for Universum and Anchorwoman for CNBC, Rachele is also a member of MENSA.
Deborah Grant
ICAB Member
Deborah Grant
ICAB Member
Deborah Grant, CPA-CGA is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Barbados, a Certified International Tour Director (CITM) and Certified International Tour Guide (CTG). She is an ordained minister of religion with the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church. An author in an Anthology entitled Mindset, Identity & Relationships. A member of many local organizations and Managing Director of Chattel House Audio Tours Inc, an emerging tour Operator business, whose focus is history and heritage.
Kaye Greenidge
CEO, Invest Barbados
Kaye Greenidge
CEO, Invest Barbados
Kaye-Anne Greenidge holds a Bachelor of Science in Economics and Accounting, as well as a Master of Science in Business and Financial Economics. An Economist by training, she worked as a Senior Economist in the Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs until 2007. Desirous of learning all aspects of Business and Finance, she then entered the world of banking and credit.
During her twelve year stint in banking, the former executive banker managed an extensive portfolio, providing financial and investment solutions to players in a wide range of industries.
In September 2019, Kaye assumed the role of CEO of Invest Barbados, the national investment promotion agency.
Kaye has a love for teaching and this aspect of her life began in 1995. She is currently a certified online lecturer/ facilitator with the Cave Hill School of Business, University of the West Indies. She believes that knowledge should be shared and the greatest satisfaction one can have, is knowing that the knowledge imparted has charted the course of success for the recipient. and industries including banking and insurance.
Robert Le Hunte
Executive Director for The Bahamas, Barbados, Guyana, Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago, The Inter-American Development Bank
Robert Le Hunte
Executive Director for The Bahamas, Barbados, Guyana, Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago, The Inter-American Development Bank
Mr. Robert Le Hunte was nominated by the Government of Trinidad and Tobago to represent Trinidad and Tobago on the Board of Directors of the IDB, IDB Invest, and The Multilateral Investment Fund.
As head of the Caribbean Office, Mr. Le Hunte’s nomination was subsequently endorsed by the Governors of The Bahamas, Barbados, Guyana, and Jamaica. Mr. Le Hunte’s appointment came into effect on July 1, 2022.
He served as The Minister of Public Utilities for Trinidad and Tobago during the period 2017 to 2020. His responsibilities included major sectors in the areas of water and solid waste management, electricity, telecommunication, postal and meteorological services.
Mr. Le Hunte’s endorsement as Head of the Caribbean Constituency gives him the responsibility for the conduct of the operations of the Bank and for this purpose, he may exercise all the powers delegated by the countries of The Bahamas, Barbados, Guyana, Jamaica, and Trinidad and Tobago. Among other duties, he is responsible for approving loan and guarantee proposals, policies, country strategies, the administrative budget, settling interest rates, and making decisions on borrowing and other financial matters.
His career in the public and private sector spans over 30 years. He has served as managing director and executive director of several major commercial banks in the region. He also worked for five years on the continent of Africa, leading his institution with entry-level strategy in that continent, which resulted in one of the largest financial investments by a diaspora Company back into Africa.
His distinguished career in the public and private sectors is validated by his solid academic accomplishments which include two master’s degrees in Accounting and Business from The University of the West Indies and Manchester Business school, respectively. He is also a graduate of the Harvard Executive Management Program.
He brings to the Inter-American Development Bank a transformational leadership style with an unparalleled reputation successfully completing the most perplexing task and for building productive human resource talent wherever he was called to serve.
He is married and has one daughter.
David Madon
Director, Sustainability, Policy & Regulatory Affairs, IFAC
David Madon
Director, Sustainability, Policy & Regulatory Affairs, IFAC
Mr. Madon joined the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC) in 2019 as Director, Public Policy & Regulation. He is responsible for developing policy positions, conducting research, and managing external relationships with a broad range of stakeholders, including industry trade organizations, regulators, public authorities, and institutional investors. Mr. Madon’s areas of expertise include sustainability/ESG, corporate reporting, financial audit reform, sustainability assurance, investor protection, ethics, crisis management, financial market regulation, and credit markets. Most recently, he has focused on the development of a global reporting system (including assurance) for sustainability/ESG information. Prior to IFAC, Mr. Madon represented the IFRS Foundation in the U.S. for nearly a decade, during which he focused on building institutional investor relationships, funding-raising, and the adoption of IFRS Standards by U.S. publicly traded companies. Prior to his public policy work, Mr. Madon spent twenty-five years in financial services, most recently as a Managing Director at Dresdner Kleinwort Wasserstein. He holds a Masters in Public Administration-MC from the Harvard Kennedy School, an MBA in Finance from The University of Chicago Booth School of Business, and a BS in Management-Accounting from Purdue University Northwest.
H. E. High Commissioner William Alexander McDonald
High Commissioner to the Republic of Kenya
H. E. High Commissioner William Alexander McDonald
High Commissioner to the Republic of Kenya
William Alexander McDonald is Barbados’ first diplomatic representative to Kenya. Indeed, he is the first Ambassador to the African continent in the 55 years of Barbadian independence. In this capacity he represents the interests of Barbados at the United Nations office in Nairobi, the African Union and the 12 other countries for which his remit stands.
As a businessman Mr. McDonald comes from a technology background, having first worked at Fujitsu as a Senior VP, then the Nation (starcom) as its COO, and later, the global telecommunications giant Cable & Wireless, as CEO and President of its Barbados cluster.
As an entrepreneur, he has partnered in establishing a number of companies and was the lead consultant in a business transformation company, with his specialty being people and team transformation, as a certified master team coach.
In the civic sphere, he is a former Chairman of the Barbados Private Sector Association (BPSA), the umbrella body representing private sector interests in Barbados’ tripartite negotiating arrangement. He is a Rotarian, a Paul Harris Fellow and past president of the Rotary Club of Barbados.
He is the immediate past chairman of the Barbados National Oil Company Limited BNOCL, the Barbados National (Oil) Terminal Company Limited BNTCL, and a former director of the Barbados National Petroleum Corporation Limited NPC. He is also a former school board chairman of the Combermere school and a former board member of several private sector companies and NGOs, including the Barbados Family Planning Association, where he represented a number of varying interests.
Academically, he is a graduate of the University of the West Indies in Public Sector Management and Law, and of Cranfield University in its accelerated programme for transforming the ICT sector. He is also a graduate of the University of Strathclyde’s Executive Leadership programme, as well as a Fellow of the Commonwealth of Learning.
Professor Justin Robinson
Economist/Financial Analyst and Pro Vice-Chancellor of the Board for Undergraduates, U.W.I Cave Hill Campus
Professor Justin Robinson
Economist/Financial Analyst and Pro Vice-Chancellor of the Board for Undergraduates, U.W.I Cave Hill Campus
Dr. C. Justin Robinson is a national of St. Vincent and the Grenadines and currently serves as Head of the Department of Management Studies, University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus, Barbados. He obtained his PhD in Finance from the University of Manchester, UK. He also holds an MSc in Finance and Econometrics from Florida International University and a BSc. in Management Studies (First Class Honours) from the University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus, Barbados.
Dr. Robinson’s research interests are Capital Markets in Developing Countries, Public Finance, Financial Risk Management and Corporate Finance. He has published extensively on these subjects in a number of regional and international journals. Major publications include: An Analysis of the Financial Performance of Statutory Corporations in Developing Countries, The Role and Future of European Derivatives Markets, Capital Market Integration in the Caribbean, Stock Price Behaviour in Emerging Markets, Long Term Financing Decisions in the Caribbean, Analyzing Capital Flows to Developing Countries, Commercial Banking in the Year 2000, and Customer Satisfaction with Public Transportation in Developing Countries.
Dr. Robinson oversees the publication of the “Weekly Caribbean Stock Market Report” and a Quarterly Survey of Consumer Sentiment in CARICOM.
Dr. Robinson currently serves as a Director of the Central Bank of Barbados, and First Vice President of the Barbados Museum and Historical Society. Dr. Robinson is happily married to Angela and is the proud father of Ayana and Ayeshia.
David Simpson
President, Institute of Chartered Accountants of the Caribbean
David Simpson
President, Institute of Chartered Accountants of the Caribbean
Barbadian accounting professional and entrepreneur, David Simpson, was appointed as President of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of the Caribbean (ICAC) in June 2021. Simpson replaced Khalil Alli from Guyana who served for the period 2019 to 2021. The handover occurred on the ICAC's 38th annual conference which was held virtually and successfully, for the first time on June 24th and 25th.
The ICAC consists of some 4,000 professionals across the Caribbean and is committed to upholding and promoting the fundamental values of accountancy profession - Truth and Fairness, Integrity, Justice and prosperity, which are embodied in its motto, Veritas et Virtus (Truth and Virtue).
For the 2021 to 2023 the ICAC will also be served by Andrea St. Rose (Eastern Caribbean) – Vice President; Gowon Bowe (Bahamas) – Treasurer; Sixto Coy (Jamaica) – Secretary and Directors Claude Burrell (Belize), Pramila Persaud (Guyana), Michael Lutchman (Suriname) and Denise Chinpire-O’Reilly (Trinidad and Tobago). The ICAC’s 2021 to 2023 Alternate Directors include Diveane Bowe – Bahamas; Darshani Workman – Barbados; Brett Feinstein – Belize; Erwin Southwell – Eastern Caribbean; Vishwamint Ramnarine – Guyana; Allison Peart – Jamaica; Hans Girjasing – Suriname and Dwayne Rodrigues-Seijas – Trinidad and Tobago.
The Affiliate Members of the ICAC are Shelly-Ann Mohammed – ACCA; Jim Knafo – AICPA; Tommaso Scali – CIPFA and Nancy Foran – CPA Canada.
Dr. L Danovan Whyte
Chief Medical Director/Natural Health Consultant
Dr. L Danovan Whyte
Chief Medical Director/Natural Health Consultant
Dr. Leonard Whyte, MB,BS (UWI) is the founder and Chief Medical Director of Lifestyle Transformation Centre with approximately 35 years of extensive experience as a Medical Practitioner. His past experience includes working in public hospitals, medical centres and his own private practice. He has done extensive research and training in natural healing methods over the past 30 years incorporating a holistic approach in the care of his patients. The approach is holistic ... body, mind and spirit under the guidance of the law of love.
At the Lifestyle Transformation Centre Dr. Whyte offers holistic therapy which incorporates conventional, natural and energy therapies which include--Preventive and Family Medicine, Acupuncture, Herbology, Chiropractic, Nutritional and Ozone therapies, Spiritual Guidance, Emotional Release, Stress Therapy, Meditation, Live Blood Analysis, Computerized Electro-Dermal Testing, Rife Frequency treatments, Bioenergetic testing and Biofeedback, and EIS technologies. He has been conducting various seminars and workshops in the public and private sector communities, as well as NGOs--- Medical Association of Jamaica, Association of General Practitioners, Workplace Intervention Programmes, Health Retreats, Communities, Schools, Churches, etc.
Dr. Whyte brings to Lifestyle Transformation Centre a wealth of knowledge on health and wellness information that has been used to assist patients in overcoming major disease conditions such as obesity, diabetes, hypertension, asthma, arthritis, drug and alcohol addiction, cancer, HIV/AIDS, and other immuno-compromised cases. He has explored the world of alternative therapies with fascinating results and is therefore in a position to share with his clients the best of both worlds.
His professional affiliation includes:
Director, National Council on Drug Abuse
Member, Medical Association of Jamaica
Past President, Association of General Practitioners
Past President, Medical Association of Jamaica (western Branch)
Founder and President, Natural Healing Foundation Cooperative Society Limited
Past President, International Medical Spa Association (Caribbean Chapter)
Lead Group Committee Member on the development of competency standards for the Wellness Industry, facilitated by NCT/VET
Dr. Whyte’s most recent publication is entitled “Perfect Health is Unquestionably Yours”, which can be found in major books and natural health stores. He is aired regularly on Irie FM Radio “Running Africa” and “Sexwise”, Vybz FM, TVJ.he also has his own radio programme ‘YOUR HEALTH MATTERS’ on Newstalk 93 fm Wednesday nights at 9-11 pm – addressing issues relating to physical, emotional and spiritual health”. Dr. Whyte has explored the world of complementary medicine to provide his patients with the best possible options for their healing. He is always willing to share the knowledge and wisdom of his experience by helping others to achieve full potential. He has brought many talents to Lifestyle Transformation Centre and is committed to optimizing the treatment success for all of his clients.
Darshani Workman
President, ICAB
Darshani Workman
President, ICAB
Darshani Workman is Finance Manager of Deloitte and Touche Barbados and is a Fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA). Darshani was admitted to ICAB in 2008 and elected to Council in May 2017. She has served on the Continuing and Professional Development (CPD) Committee and the 2013 ICAC Conference Planning Committee. Darshani is a former Chairman and current member of the Communications Committee which she has served since 2014 as a writer and interviewer.
Darshani spent her early career in the nascent information technology industry in Guyana and then 11 years in Barbados in the luxury Real Estate & Hospitality related industries. Her focus was on accounting and taxation for International Business Companies, External Companies, Hotels and Property Owners Association.
Cognizant of her civic duties and importance of giving back, Darshani sits on the Audit and Finance Committee of Optimist International, is an Ambassador of ACCA and previously, a founding member of the Students' Services Council in Guyana while an ACCA student.
Anthony Zamore
Director, PwC Trinidad & Tobago
Anthony Zamore
Director, PwC Trinidad & Tobago
Anthony is a Director with PwC Trinidad with over 16 years professional services experience. Anthony is a Chartered Accountant, a Certified GIAC Penetration Tester, a Certified Information Systems Auditor, and Certified Information Systems Security Professional and has completed the SANS 560 Network Penetration Testing and Ethical Hacking course where he won the ‘capture the flag’ challenge which simulated a penetration test of a financial institution. He specializes in delivering cyber security services and forensic technology services, and is a subject matter expert in vulnerability assessment, threat modeling and penetration testing. In addition to his cyber security experience Anthony has led several data analytics engagements
Anthony is also a regular conference speaker across the region on cyber security and related topics.
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