Caribbean Services Exporter's Symposium (CSES)

Ambassador David Prendergast is the Director, Sectoral Programmes at the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretariat.

A national of Jamaica and a career diplomat, Ambassador Prendergast served as Senior Director, Foreign Trade, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Jamaica and is a former High Commissioner to the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, non-resident High Commissioner to Barbados, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Vincent and the Grenadines and former Ambassador to Suriname.

He has served as Counsellor at the Permanent Mission of Jamaica to the United Nations in New York; Counsellor/Alternate Representative during Jamaica's tenure on the UN Security Council; Minister/Counsellor in the Jamaican Embassy in Belgium and Mission to the European Union; as United Nations Coordination Officer with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Kingston and as Assistant to the Director of Tourism at the Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB).

Ambassador Prendergast holds a Masters Degree in Public Administration from Harvard University, USA, where he was an Edward S. Mason Fellow. He also holds a Master of Arts Degree in International Relations and Strategic Studies from Lancaster University, United Kingdom as a Chevening Scholar and a Bachelor of Science Degree in International Relations from the University of the West Indies.

Division Chief of the Trade and Investment Division (TIN) of the Integration and Trade Sector (TIN), Inter-American Development Bank. He oversees the design, preparation, and execution of Bank operations in the areas of trade, investment and economic integration. He was also Adjunct Professor of a course on Trade and Integration in the Americas at Georgetown University Law Center (2004-2008). Before joining the Bank, Jaime was Director General for International Trade Negotiations at the Ministry of Foreign Trade of Costa Rica. He holds a MSc in Public Policy from Oxford University, a LLM in International Trade Law from the University of Georgia and a Law Degree from the University of Costa Rica. He has published extensively on issues of trade and integration.

David is a sustainability, policy, and trade development specialist with significant experience working on trade in services in the African, Caribbean, and Pacific regions; analysing and negotiating trade agreements including the Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs); and supporting small and medium enterprise (SME)/private sector development. David was the founding president of the Belize Coalition of Services Industries; has led delivery of several country and regional projects programs focused on developing the services sector in CARICOM and CARIFORUM; completed an ex ante evaluation of the CARIFORUM-EU EPA for Belize, previously negotiated services trade at the World Trade Organisation (WTO), has completed all the WTO’s trade in services certifications (i.e., the Trade in Services Assessment; Movement of Natural Persons in Services Trade; and Consolidation Program in Services Trade certificates), and lectured on services trade on the inaugural regional trade policy course in the Caribbean. As Manager for Trade and Export Development under the 10^th EDF Regional Private Sector Development Programme, David supported a wide range of services trade initiatives including negotiating Mutual Recognition Agreements (MRAs) for architectural and engineering services and facilitating development of Services coalitions in CARICOM member states. He has also developed export strategies for the tourism and professional services sectors for Belize and other Caribbean countries, and published research on the transportation services, tourism services, and higher-education services sectors including under EU funded trade related technical assistance programs. David holds a PhD in Economic History from University College London; a Graduate Diploma in International Development with Distinction from the London School of Economics-University of London; a LLM in International Trade Law and an MA in International Relations with Distinction; and a BSc in Secondary Education from the University of Belize.

Businessman and real estate agent, Mark Edghill was elected to serve as TTCSI’s fifth President for a period of three years on April 30^th, 2021. Mr. Edghill was a former director (2016 – 2018) at the TTCSI and was instrumental in assessing the needs of members through the development of a cluster approach. He is also the current President of the Association of Real Estate Agents and has a diverse portfolio of businesses involved in Real Estate, Clothing Retail, Wholesale Distribution and Energy Management Consulting. With training and education from UWI/Roytec, Lok Jack GSB and various other local and international corporate programs coupled with over 30 years’ experience in Sales and Marketing, 24 years in Management and Brand Development and 18 years in Real Estate Brokerage, he has acquired a wealth of knowledge and experience as well as a range of skills in the various fields. In addition to these, he is currently developing avenues for further diversification and investment in the areas of Product Development, IT Applications and App development and an interest in Aviation Support Services and Development.

Mark is forward-thinking and is well-known for his ability to think “outside the box” and for analytical problem solving and new/innovative concepts and ideas across a multitude of platforms.  

Leslie Lee Fook is not just a name; he is a legend in the world of business. Recognized for his ground-breaking digital transformation strategies and mastery of technology, his expertise is unparalleled, etching his name in the records of business leadership, particularly on the Caribbean shores. With a career spanning over two decades, Leslie has fortified himself in diverse fields including Analytics, Robotic Process Automation (RPA), and Artificial Intelligence (AI). His experience is not limited to one sphere; rather, he has applied his knowledge across enterprise-level corporations and government bodies, making a significant impact in both sectors. His vision is not mere regional progression, but the creation of a globally competitive region, leveraging data to bring about positive changes that impact every Caribbean life. Leslie's accomplishments extend to the educational arena as well. His forward-thinking perspective and significant contributions led to his selection as an honorary speaker at The CTU’s Prime Minister’s Summit, where he addressed an audience comprising over 100 leaders from various parts of the region. This platform amplified his influential role, solidifying his reputation in the business world. Incredibly, despite his extraordinary achievements, Leslie remains fervently grounded in his belief that everyone has the potential to become data citizens. He ardently hopes to tap into the unique creativity inherent in the Caribbean community. His passion lies in fostering talent development, harnessing the abundant expertise in the region. Leslie's ultimate vision is to transform this community into an equivalent of 'India for Analytics', a highly sought-after hub for global organizations seeking unparalleled proficiency in data analytics and digital transformation. In essence, Leslie Lee Fook is an individual driven by a vision of digital excellence and global competitiveness. He is a leader whose innovative insights and expertise continue to inspire, shape, and enhance the business landscape. His far-reaching contributions to digital transformation and data analytics are not just making a difference today; they are paving the path for a brighter, data-driven future.

Dr. Navi Muradali is a medical doctor with over 20 years experience in health & wellness programs. He is the former Medical Director of Healthnet Clinics, and served as a City Medical Officer of Health in San Fernando. Dr. Muradali was also the youngest mayor of San Fernando and was chairman of the public health committee. He is now the CEO of Patient Connect, a digital health company in the Americas focusing on chat-based care programs for employees and residents of the Caribbean and Latin America.

Vijay Pradeep is a robotics engineer and angel investor, and has been involved in the robotics sector for the past 15 years. He is currently the founder & CTO of Virtana, a robotics software & development company in Trinidad & Tobago, aiming to grow the Caribbean’s impact in the global robotics ecosystem.

He was a Co-Founder of hiDOF, Inc., a Silicon Valley robotics firm that worked with Fortune 500 companies and startups in a variety of areas, including VR/AR, vehicle autonomy, medical imaging, drones, personal aviation, and industrial automation. After acquisition by Google, hiDOF joined the Daydream VR effort, where Vijay led the sensor characterization and factory calibration teams, helping to launch Daydream View, Tango, & ARCore.

Vijay received his B.S. in Computer Systems, focusing on Robotics and Mechatronics, and his M.S. in Mechanical Engineering focusing on Control Systems, both from Stanford University. His academic contributions have been showcased in a variety of robotics conferences, journals, and books. Vijay’s contributions to ROS (Robot Operating System) and the PR2 robot platform are now used widely in the open source robotics community. Vijay splits his time between San Francisco, California, USA and St Augustine, Trinidad & Tobago.

Melissa Marie Pascal - Transforming Brands and Leading Growth

Melissa Marie Pascal, a visionary entrepreneurial leader, combines a decade of expertise in bakery operations, business development, and brand management to achieve extraordinary results. Her track record of reinvigorating underperforming brands and driving multimillion-dollar year-on-year sales growth in diverse sectors is truly remarkable.

With an innate talent for crafting unique branding and marketing strategies, Melissa has successfully launched over four new product lines, creating unforgettable consumer experiences. Her commitment to managing multi-million-dollar projects, forging strategic partnerships, and streamlining cross-functional teams drives exceptional productivity.

Melissa is not just a business dynamo; she's also a captivating public speaker and dedicated fitness enthusiast. Her passion for transformation and growth shines through in every endeavor.

Specializing in Brand Awareness, Strategic Planning, Revenue Growth, Client Acquisition & Retention, and Go-To-Market Strategies, Melissa Marie Pascal is your key to turning vision into reality and propelling your business to new heights.

Biography

The Executive Director of the Barbados Coalition of Service Industries, Michelle Smith-Mayers is a multi-discipline, business services professional and consultant with an acute understanding of business operations in the services sector of the Caribbean, as well as sustainable development and management of associations.

Michelle Smith-Mayers is the Executive Director of the Barbados Coalition of Services Industries. She is a multi-disciplinary business management and marketing professional with a remarkable career panning over two decades.

Her expertise encompasses various facets of business and association assessment, development and management, administration, brand development, event design and management, marketing, product development and project management.

As an experienced consultant, Michelle has managed projects and serves as a strategic advisor to clients across diverse industries, specializing in business systems analysis, sustainable development planning, and the creation of effective promotional and positioning strategies that drive long-term profitability.

Michelle possesses a unique talent for crafting innovative strategies that deliver tangible results, even within budgetary constraints, and unlocking untapped revenue potential for organizations. Herdeep understanding of nonprofit association development and management further enhances her ability to drive success across various sectors.

A skilled project management professional, Michelle has excelled in roles involving research and development of new products, product analysis and design, and brand development and management. In her role as a brand advisor, she conducts comprehensive product analysis and formulates positioning strategies that are both sustainable and lucrative for her clients.

She notably served as the Assistant Executive Vice President of the Barbados Hotel and Tourism Association, where she played a pivotal role inbuilding two iconic Barbadian brands, namely Staycation Barbados and the Barbados Culinary Team. She transformed culinary tourism by advocating for its recognition as a niche market within the tourism sector and successfully bridging the gap between tourism and agriculture. Her expertise has also extended to other Caribbean islands, where she has collaborated on enhancing culinary tourism experiences and promoting local cuisine and talent. To showcase this, Michelle conceptualized the Taste of Barbados Food Festival which later became the Barbados Food and Rum Festival.

Michelle has held the esteemed position of Scholar in Residence at the UWI Centre for Food Security and Entrepreneurship and has previously lectured at the University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus, imparting her knowledge in Strategic Tourism Destination Management, Caribbean Tourism, and Event Management at both undergraduate and certificate levels.

As a product development consultant, Michelle has served as the lead consultant for significant national events, including the Barbados Tourism Awards, Barbados' 50th Anniversary Celebrations, and various high-profile conferences, making an indelible mark on the island's event landscape. She continues to craft imaginative concepts for public and private mass events across various sectors, consistently raising the bar for hospitality experiences.

She holds a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration from Andrews University, a Masters in International Marketing from the University of Surrey, and is about to embark on her doctoral degree.

Michelle Smith-Mayers is a dynamic professional dedicated to elevating businesses, brands, and tourism experiences through her strategic prowess and unwavering commitment to excellence.

A wife and the mother of a teenager, her true joy comes from her faith and her family.

Ms Ava Mahabir-Dass has extensive experience and training in both Trade and Industry and Statistics.  In her previous assignment at the Ministry of Trade and Industry, Ms. Mahabir-Dass gained a wealth of experience and training in WTO negotiating areas such as Trade Remedies, Competition Policy, Trade in Services, Agriculture, Non-Agriculture Market Access, Trade and Investment and Trade Negotiations.

During her tenure at the Central Statistical Office (CSO), Ms Mahabir-Dass was responsible for the compilation of the Annual and Quarterly GDP, Inflation Rates, Merchandise Trade and Tourism statistics over the past ten years.  For the past two years, Ms Mahabir-Dass has been a senior member of the e-GDDS Implementation Team at CSO which has enabled Trinidad and Tobago to meet the IMF Data Dissemination Standards, positively impacting the country’s credit ratings and ability to attract Foreign Direct Investment (FDI).

MULTI-INDUSTRY EXECUTIVE SPECIALISING IN STRATEGY DEVELOPMENT & IMPLEMENTATION

CIRCULAR ECONOMY ADVOCATE AND PRACTITIONER

Derek Eduardo Luk Pat is a father of one, an entrepreneur, a business consultant and, most recently, a circular economy specialist who believes strongly in impact, efficiency, and balance. Aside from recently launching three start-up companies, he has two decades experience at senior levels in several sectors across the Caribbean.

He has led teams as small as 25 to as large as 800, worked in the manufacturing, distribution, hospitality, finance, FMCG and QSR sectors for multinational corporations as well as family-owned businesses. He has served at the Board level of the CARICOM Regional Organisation for Standards and Quality, the  Trinidad and Tobago Occupational Safety and Health Authority, the Trinidad and Tobago National Quality Council and is currently the Chairman of the Caribbean Kids and Families Therapy Organisation, a Non-Profit organisation dedicated to special needs children.

Most recently, he has been immersed in the world of Standards and Quality and now, the Circular Economy, in which he is presently engaged in a LAC regional project and is actively involved in the current international standards development for the Circular Economy as a member of the ISO Technical Committee 323, the ISO TC 323 Chairman’s Advisory Group and also serves as the Chair of the Trinidad and Tobago National Mirror Committee for ISO TC 323.

He holds an MBA from Heriot Watt University, a BSc. Chemistry & Management (Hons) from UWI and has recently attained his certification as a Circular Economy Specialist.

Christopher Corbin
Coordinator
Cartagena Convention Secretariat 
Ecosystems Division
UN Environment Programme

Mr. Christopher Corbin is the Coordinator of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Cartagena Convention Secretariat based in Kingston, Jamaica. He assumed these duties as of September 1^st,2022. Chris has been with UNEP at the Secretariat since September 2004 as Programme Manager for it's Marine Pollution Programme and from 2015, also managed the Secretariat’s Communications and Public Awareness programme.  Recently, Chris facilitated the development of and co-authored the region’s first Regional Marine Litter Action Plan and Regional Marine Litter Strategy as well as the first State of Convention Area Report on Marine Pollution.  

Mr Corbin, a Saint Lucian national, has over 30 years of national and regional programme and project management experience and has been involved in several intergovernmental processes and discussions for improving oceans governance and integrated water resources and waste management in the Wider Caribbean Region.  Some of the ongoing and new projects being executed through the Secretariat that he is involved in promote the use  of circular economy approaches and the use of waste as a resource.  

Dr. Sherwyn Millette has been involved in higher education for over twenty years, with his earliest experiences being at the University of Tennessee, Chattanooga. In 2001, he joined the College of Science, Technology and Applied Arts of Trinidad and Tobago (COSTAATT) faculty, contributing to the development of the College in various capacities. During his tenure as a faculty member and as the Dean of the School of Business and Information Technologies, Dr. Millette participated in and has led various initiatives, including developing curricula to support entrepreneurship education at the College and its inclusion in the College’s core curriculum.

Dr. Sherwyn Millette left COSTAATT in 2016 as a Fulbright scholar and acquired his PhD in Sustainability at the Rochester Institute of Technology’s Golisano Institute for Sustainability in 2019. His work involves systems thinking, sustainability planning, life cycle assessments and material flow analysis. Dr. Millette’s published research focuses on the development of the circular economy.

Since Dr. Millette’s return to Trinidad and Tobago, he has returned to COSTAATT as a sustainability consultant, working with the college community on several sustainably related projects, including the development of curricula to be delivered through its new School of Environment, Circular Economy and Sustainability, as well as campus greening and waste recycling projects.

As the people of Trinidad and Tobago face these challenges in a changing world, Dr. Millette is committed to working with NGOs and other community groups to build capacity for sustainable action and community resilience to climate change. His current focus is on developing the circular economy eco-system in Trinidad and Tobago, believing the 21st century will be characterised by increasing engagement with technology, a distinct need for self-reliance and an entrepreneurial mindset, and a greater awareness and call to action towards environmental challenges.

Dion Greenidge holds a B.A. (Honors) in Psychology (UWI), a M.Sc. in Work and Organisational Psychology (Institute of Work, Health and Organisations, University of Nottingham), a Ph.D in Applied Psychology with a focus on Psychometric Testing in Organisations (Institute of Work, Health and Organisations, University of Nottingham), a Postgraduate Certification of Competency in Risk Assessment for Work-related Stress (Institute of Work, Health and Organisations, University of Nottingham), a Postgraduate Certification in University Teaching and Learning (UWI), and Level A & B (Psychometric Testing) Accredited by the British Psychological Society.

Dr. Greenidge joined the Department of Management Studies, University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus as a Research Assistant in 2003 and held that position until proceeding to pursue his Masters. He rejoined the Department as Teaching Assistant in September 2006.

He currently holds the position of Interim Executive Director and CEO, Sagicor Cave Hill School Business and Management, Head Department of Management Studies, and Head of the Centre for Professional Development and Lifelong Learning at the University of the West Indies. He is also currently the Campus Coordinator for Strategic Planning, and Coordinator for the MSc Business Analytics programme.

He has specialised expertise in Big Data Analytics, Management Consulting and Psychometric Testing and Assessment and has been involved in the development of psychometric surveys used internationally (for example, QPQ, HPAQ, and VWB Scale). Moreover, he has been involved in a number of academic and industry-related research projects and has presented work at regional and international conferences. He has also authored or co-authored several published academic papers in international journals and book chapters. Furthermore, he has conducted projects for regional and international organisations such as Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), the Government of Barbados, Sagicor General Insurance and the UNDP.

Curtis is a career banker with over 20 years’ experience in the banking industry working across several roles and divisions within leading international banking.

He has held many senior roles progressing to Relationship Manager Citibank, Senior Client Relationship Manager Scotiabank Barbados, Head Corporate & Commercial Banking Scotiabank Turks & Caicos and August 2018 to August 2020 he took on additional responsibility as Managing Director & Country Head for Scotiabank. Currently Head Retail & Commercial Banking for First Citizens Bank (Barbados) Limited.

Curtis is an astute leader and highly adept at client relationship management. He has built a strong network of clients across the region having lived and worked in various islands including Barbados and Turks & Caicos. Curtis also spent a year on a Credit Risk Management rotation at Scotiabank Toronto, where he adjudicated on credits of varying sizes and industries from Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Antigua, Dominica, St. Vincent, Guyana, St. Kitts and St. Marteen.

Curtis has a BSc Economics (Hons) from UWI Cave Hill, a Diploma in Banking & Finance from Boston University and MSc Financial Analysis & Fund Management from the University of Exeter.

Simone is the Founder of well-known local brand, TrinidadWeddings.com, established in 2004. It was the firstwedding planning website in Trinidad and Tobago. She was also theTrinidad Guardian's Wedding Columnist for 11 years. She is a Marketing professional, with over 19 years’ experience and aversatile skill set in: advertising and promotions, copy writing,magazine publishing and event management. Over the years, shehas been successful at working with both corporate brands andsmall and medium-sized entrepreneurs, to create and implementdigital and offline marketing strategies and advertising campaigns;in order to get solid results.

Simone has a BSc. Double Major in Business Management andSociology, a Post Graduate Diploma from the Chartered Institute ofMarketing (CIM, UK), a Digital Marketing Essentials Certificate fromthe Communications, Advertising & Marketing (CAM Foundation)UK and a Diploma in Fashion Journalism with Distinction, from theCollege of Media and Publishing (UK).

Simone was part of the Event Management Faculty at the ArthurLok Jack Graduate School of Business for over 7 years and duringthat time, trained hundreds of students in Trinidad, Tobago andGuyana. She is still an Adjunct lecturer there, in the area ofMarketing.

She is a past Board Member of the Association for FemaleExecutives of Trinidad & Tobago (AFETT). In 2005, Simone was aFinalist in the “Business category” for the “National Young Womanof The Year Award.” In 2013, she received a special Award from theProject Management Institute Southern Caribbean Chapter (PMISCC) in the category “Most Creative Application of ProjectManagement Tools and Techniques,” for the publication andproduction process for the 2013 TW Wed-Zine Magazine. In March2018, Simone won the "Business Pioneer" Award at AFETT's WomenOf Influence Awards event. , Simone was the recipient of TheTTCSI's "Lawrence Placide - Services Go Global Award" inNovember 2019.

She has been a Feature Speaker at The Jamaica Bridal Expo -September 2016, Love & Sunshine Destination WeddingConference in Guyana - April 2017, at the Association of BridalConsultants Conference in Upstate New York - April 2017 and at aBride's Expo (Destination Weddings) in Fort Lauderdale - June2018.

Locally, in Trinidad and Tobago, Simone is often asked to be aspeaker and trainer, on topics such as: marketing, online business,branding, entrepreneurship and publishing. In June 2023, Simone'sfirst wedding planning book for DIY brides, "It's Knot Difficult!" waspublished on Amazon.

Internationalist from the Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla and a student of the Master’s Program on Public Policy and Government at the Universidad Metropolitana; he has been employed with the Mexican Foreign Ministry for the past 7 years in where he has worked in the central office as an analyst for South America, as Head of Cooperation and Trade at the Embassy of Mexico in Venezuela and since September 2021, as Head of Cooperation and Trade of Mexico in the diplomatic Mission resident in Trinidad and Tobago. Prior to his diplomatic work, he assumed positions in non-governmental educational organizations, was a university professor and in the business sector, has experience in automotive logistics.

Zachary Harding is the Executive Chairman and co-founder of Delta Capital Partners, a Caribbean based Private Equity firm. Delta has investments in the Financial Services, Health and Wellness, E-commerce, Media and Entertainment, and Industrials. He is a member of the Forbes Business Council and was also named the Stockbroker CEO of the Year in Jamaica for 2021 by Global Banking & Finance Awards®.

Over the years, Harding has crafted a stellar track record in senior management positions including CEO, Head of Strategy, Director of Marketing and other senior leadership roles at companies such as Appliance Traders Ltd, Wisynco, Red Stripe (Diageo) and Grace Kennedy Remittance Services Ltd. He was the first CEO of the Caribbean Climate Smart Accelerator, an initiative started by Virgin boss Richard Branson and three Prime Ministers from the Caribbean.

In 2012, Harding was named one of the “Top 50-under-Fifty Business Leaders Shaping Jamaica's Future” by the Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica and The Gleaner Company Ltd. Harding has invested heavily in the Creative Industries, funding and co-producing the documentary titled “One People” – which became the official documentary of Jamaica’s 50^th Anniversary of Independence, as well the feature film “Sprinter” featuring Usain Bolt.  In 2021 he was invited to be a featured speaker at TEDx Aston University, where he presented his decision-making model and entitled – CARE-FUL decision making, a Formula for Success.

Harding has been dubbed a rain-maker and marketing guru based on several ground-breaking marketing campaigns and brand turnarounds. He is known for the marketing of brands such as Ocean Spray, Wata, Bigga, Smirnoff Ice, ATL and many others. His strategic acumen led him to be appointed as Special Advisor to the Minister of Tourism and Deputy Director at the Jamaica Tourist Board in 2007, where he helped to market Brand Jamaica. He is currently appointed by the Minister of Finance to serve on the Board of Caribbean Airlines Ltd, where he serves on the Audit Committee, and he was also appointed by the Prime Minister to serve on the board of JAMPRO where he chairs the Projects and Marketing subcommittee.

Previously, he has served on several other boards, including Port Authority of Jamaica, Jamaica Manufacturers’ Association, Urban Development Corporation, Jamaica Antidoping Commission, the Sports and Entertainment Network under the Ministry of Tourism, and the National Gallery.

Harding started a record label as a teenager called 2Hard records and was Sean Paul’s first manager before handing him over to his brother Jeremy Harding who went on to produce and manage him for over 20 years, winning a Grammy as well as several other awards.

Harding is a Justice of the Peace.