Nigel Romano - Chairman

PARTNER, BUSINESS COACHING & ADVISORY SERVICES

MOORE TRINIDAD & TOBAGO, A MEMBER FIRM OF MOORE GLOBAL

Nigel is a Chartered Accountant with extensive experience in public accounting and banking across the globe. He holds a B.Sc. in Management Studies and an M.Sc. in Accounting from the University of the West Indies, and an MBA from the Jack Welch Management Institute. He is a Chartered Accountant and a certified Balanced Scorecard Professional. He started his career with KPMG where he spent nine years in public accounting. Nigel then joined Citibank in June 1988 as Country CFO in Trinidad & Tobago and left six years later to join E&Y as Tax and Corporate Finance Partner.

He spent fifteen years with Citi in Asia—Indonesia, Hong Kong, Singapore and the Philippines. In November 2006 he assumed the role of head of Citi’s Asia Pacific shared services organization (Citi Business Services), responsible for 19 countries, based in the Philippines. In October 2008 Nigel returned to the finance function in the role of Country CFO and O&T Head for Citi’s businesses in the Philippines where the bank employed over 5,000 staff and generated over US$400MM in revenues per annum from an expense base of approximately US$200MM.

He returned home to Trinidad and Tobago to serve as Sector Head for ANSA McAL’s Financial Sector after which he spent two years in Barbados with the Caribbean Development Bank as Director, Finance and Corporate Planning and Vice President Operations. Before joining Moore Trinidad and Tobago he was the Managing Director and CEO of JMMB Bank (T&T) Limited. He is CCGI’s Chairman and a former Chairman of the National Flour Mills Limited and NIPDEC, and currently serves on the boards of Ansa Merchant Bank Limited and Genesis Insurance Brokers & Benefits Consultants Limited.

Camille Facey - Director

PARTNER AT FACEYLAW; CHAIR GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE, PSOJ

Camille Facey is Managing Partner at the law firm FACEYLAW where her practice is focused on corporate and commercial law, real estate, wills, probate and succession, banking, telecommunications and corporate governance.

Prior to FACEYLAW she was Regional Vice President at Cable & Wireless with responsibility for Legal, Regulatory & Public Policy in the Northern Caribbean. Before C&W she spent eighteen years in publicly traded companies in the financial sector, including what is today Sagicor Bank, holding positions such as Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Company Secretary.

Camille currently serves as the chair of the Corporate Governance Committee of the Private Sector Organization of Jamaica (PSOJ), a director of the Jamaica Chamber of Commerce and the National Solid Waste Management Authority where she chairs the Corporate Governance Committee.

Camille is a Past President of the International Women’s Forum (Jamaica Chapter) and a former Deputy Chair of the Spectrum Management Authority, CANTO (Caribbean Association of National Telecommunications Organizations).

In addition to her legal practice, she also delivers corporate law and governance training including for the Jamaica Stock Exchange.

Brendan G.J. King - Director

SENIOR ADVISOR, ERNST & YOUNG CARIBBEAN 

As Senior advisor, Brendan works closely with the EY Caribbean team to assist clients in the financial services, energy, hospitality and tourism, manufacturing and other industries with advancing their strategic agendas, especially in the areas of financing and capital structuring, strategy formulation, regional and global expansion, mergers and acquisitions, digital transformation, cost optimization among others.

Brendan started his career with Scotiabank in 1990 in Commercial Banking and after assignments in branch banking and risk management, joined the International Banking Division in 1994 with his first assignment in the Cayman Islands. He took on increasingly responsible roles in Trinidad and Tobago and the Bahamas where he was Managing Director of Corporate Finance. Brendan joined the Asia/Pacific region in 2004 as Country Head for Greater China and added Corporate Development responsibilities for Asia/Pacific in 2006 when he led the investment in Thailand’s Thanachart Bank and subsequently joined the board. After leading the Thanachart Bank acquisition of Siam City Bank in 2010, Brendan moved to Thailand as Deputy CEO of the group. As Vice Chairman & Deputy CEO of Thanachart Bank (a top 5 bank in Thailand with over 15,000 staff and 700 branches), Brendan played a key role during the integration phase and subsequently led the strategic development of the bank as it met aggressive financial and growth targets.

He returned to Scotiabank’s Executive Offices in Toronto in 2014 and was appointed Senior Vice President, International Banking and joined to the Boards of Directors of Scotia Group Jamaica and The Bank of Nova Scotia Jamaica Limited on August 5, 2016. He also served as Chairman, Scotiabank Trinidad & Tobago Limited since March 2015 and Chairman, Scotiabank Dominican Republic since March 2019. After retiring from Scotiabank in 2020, Brendan was appointed Senior Advisor with Ernst & Young Caribbean to work with the firm’s top clients in the region. He also now serves on the boards of First Global Bank Ltd., Grace Kennedy Money Services SRL, Grace Kennedy Financial Group Ltd. and SigniaGlobe Financial Ltd.

Brendan holds an M.B.A. in Finance and International Banking and a B.A. (Business & Economics) from York University, Toronto, Canada, a Diploma in General Management from the Canadian Bankers Association, a Marketing Certificate from Queen’s University, Kingston, Ontario and has completed an executive development program at Duke University. He also holds the ICD.D diploma from the Institute of Corporate Directors, University of Toronto.

Robbie Rambarran - Director

CEO (Ag), GUYANA

Robbie has over 20 years of experience in the public and private sectors. He is passionate about corporate governance and wants to see an improvement in how organizations are led and managed by the Board and top management team. He holds a Master's in Business Administration. His range of skills includes supply chain management, procurement, and healthcare management. Currently, he is the Chief Executive Officer (ag) of Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation, Guyana's national hospital.

Previously, he served as a Procurement Specialist on World Bank and UNICEF Funded Projects for the Ministry of Education.

Robbie is heavily involved in sports administration and, as such, has served as a Member/Director of the Essequibo Cricket Board, Pele Football Club, Guyana Football Federation, and the Guyana Country Co-ordinating Mechanism - Global Fund Board.

He is also a Member of the Ministry of Amerindian Affairs Tender Board and Chairman of the Burns' Memorial Presbyterian Church; he previously served on the Board for many years, holdings specific financial responsibilities.

Avia Maria Lindie - Director

CONSULTANT, GUYANA

Avia is a Strategic Business Development Specialist, Empowerment | Life Coach and Motivational Speaker who works with goal-oriented, high achievers and organisations to maximise their potential. As a seasoned business executive with over 25 years in leadership, she has successfully created cross-functional teams and mentored and empowered hundreds of individuals to leverage their superpowers to unleash their potential.

She is the founder/C.E.O. of Evolve Business Solutions Inc., focused on maximising talent in human capital by offering Coaching, Mentoring, Training and business development support services. In addition, Avia launched a Collection by AVIA MARIA, an E-commerce lifestyle brand, in 2020.

Avia has also held several leadership roles as Chief Executive Officer and Manager in the retail and travel industries. In addition, she serves on the board of several non-profit organisations as a past president of the Rotary Club of Georgetown Central, PRO Berbice Chamber of Commerce & Development Association, Director of the Caribbean Corporate Governance Institute and Mentor with the Centre for Local Business Development, AccelerateHER and ElevateALL Entrepreneurs Mentor programs.

She is a certified Competency-Based Education Trainer (C.B.E.T.) with the Council of T.V.E.T. Guyana and holds an M.B.A. from the Australian Institute of Business. As a graduate of Coach Transformation Academy (C.T.A.) and a member of the International Coaching Federation, Avia integrates Personality Assessment and several models to partner with individuals on their journey to self-mastery. She is on a mission. to empower 5000 leaders on their self-mastery journey. Avia received the G.C.C.I.'s Women In Business Award 2019 for vision, innovation, entrepreneurial drive and leadership.

Ian John - Director

CEO OF CyberEYE LIMITED (TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO)

Ian John is a technology futurist with specific interest in attempting to systematically explore predictions and possibilities about the future and how they can emerge from the present to impact our peoples, communities, societies and ultimately our way of life. He is the former and final Senior Vice President and Regional CEO of Massy Technologies InfoCom before transitioning Massy Technologies to its new owner in 2022.

He holds an MBA Innovation with Distinction. He was trained by Singapore Cooperation Programme in eGovernment Strategies and ICT Innovation. He has served on a number of Fortune 500 Partner Advisory Boards and Partner Council. He is a member of the TTMA’s Digital Productivity Committee which seeks to leverage digital transformation strategy for its membership.

Ian also serves on The CARICOM Digital Skills Taskforce. He is an avid presenter and lecturer on the Industry 4.0 and the Future of Work. His latest challenge as the CEO of CyberEYE Limited is securing the most valued assets of businesses and organizations from the global cyber threat. He has to deal with a constantly evolving landscape of cyber risks, such as ransomware, phishing, data breaches, identity theft and more.

CyberEYE Limited is a cybersecurity company that provides solutions and services to protect organizations from digital attacks. The company has a team of global cybersecurity experts with years of experience in national security, defense and commercial cyber intelligence and operations. CyberEYE Limited operates in the Caribbean region, where it aims to be the most advanced cybersecurity group.

Ian is passionate about protecting and empowering the youths of today and the future leaders of tomorrow through his corporate social responsibility initiatives.

Dr Charlene Sharpe - Director

ASSOCIATE PROVOST, UNIVERSARY ADMINISTRATION, NORTHERN CARIBBEAN UNIVERSITY DIRECTOR; DIRECTOR NSWMA (JAMAICA)

Dr. Charlene Sharpe is a distinguished academic with a background in geography, environmental science, and public administration. She earned her PhD in Geography from Rutgers University, where she focused her research on food security, climate change adaptation, hazards management, and community resilience in small island developing states. Additionally, Dr. Sharpe holds two MSc degrees from the University of the West Indies in Natural Resources Management and Government, further solidifying her expertise in urban and rural integration, environmental development, international relations, and public administration. Her academic journey is marked by numerous accolades and fellowships, including the prestigious Fulbright Scholarship.

In her professional career, Dr. Sharpe has held several influential positions, including Associate Provost and Associate Vice President of Academics at Northern Caribbean University (NCU). In these roles, she has demonstrated exceptional leadership in strategic planning, curriculum development, and institutional accreditation. Notably, Dr. Sharpe led the development and implementation of NCU’s Strategic Plan 2022-27, redesigned the core curriculum, and established a comprehensive academic advising model. Her efforts have significantly enhanced the university’s operational efficiency, academic quality, and student success rates, securing institutional accreditation and fostering an improved work climate.

Beyond academia, Dr. Sharpe's governance experience is extensive. She has served on various boards, including the National Solid Waste Management Authority (serving as Deputy Chairperson) and the Jamaica Fire Brigade, where she has contributed to risk management and technical operations. Dr. Sharpe’s expertise extends to consultancy roles with organizations such as the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Her contributions to governance and risk management underscore her commitment to improving institutional frameworks and community resilience, making her a pivotal figure in both academic and public service sectors.

She was elected to the board of the Caribbean Corporate Governance Institute in May 2024.

Oliver Jordan - Director

DIRECTOR / FINANCE EXPERT, BARBADOS

Oliver Jordan is an experienced Corporate Director & Advisor who serves as a Director on a number of Boards in the private and public sectors including the CCGI.

He is currently the Chairman of the Financial Services Commission (FSC) of Barbados with responsibility for regulating the non-bank financial institutions on the island (insurance companies, credit unions, pension plans, mutual funds, and securities). He also serves as Chairman of the Corporate Governance & Strategy Committee of the FSC.

In May 2022, Oliver was also appointed as Special Advisor to the Minister of Finance in Barbados for the Reform and Restructuring of State-Owned Entities

Some of his previous roles included Managing Director, Barbados & Eastern Caribbean at CIBC FirstCaribbean, Partner for Advisory Services with PwC Eastern Caribbean and Chief Operating Officer for ICBL the largest general insurance company in Barbados

Oliver has recently completed the Director Education Program (DEP) at the Rotman School of Business at the University of Toronto and holds the ICD.D designation from the Institute of Corporate Directors of Canada.

Carmel Haynes - Director

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, BARBADOS INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS ASSOCIATION (BIBA)

Ms. Carmel Haynes is the Executive Director of BIBA, the Association for Global Business, in Barbados. BIBA represents over 140 member firms involved in international financial services, trade and logistics, management and corporate services.

As the Executive Director of BIBA, she supports the President and Board of BIBA in delivering on its mission in the interest of its members and the economic development of Barbados. In this role she also sits on the Board of Directors of the Barbados Private Sector Association, and by extension the full Social Partnership: a tripartite participatory governance body chaired by the Prime Minister, in which the Private Sector, Government and the Trade Union Movement dialogue to arrive at collective solutions for economic and social challenges facing the country.

Before returning to BIBA, where she previously held the role of Senior Executive, Ms. Haynes was the regional representative for the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) in the Caribbean and the Southeast USA between 2014 and 2020. While in that role, she was responsible for membership growth and development, furthering the recognition and adoption of RICS professional standards by government agencies and private corporations, and negotiating commercial opportunities across the region.

Ms. Haynes started her career in journalism with the Nation Publishing Co. Ltd, before going on to broaden her experience as a communications professional and working with the University of the West Indies Cave Hill Campus and the International Union for the Conservation of Nature, among others.

Ms. Haynes holds a BA in Literature in English from the University of the West Indies and a Postgraduate Diploma in International Business Management from the University of Surrey. She also holds certificates in General Management; International Trade Policy; Project Management; and Protocol, Diplomacy and Business Etiquette. She is a past Vice President of the Barbados Chapter of the International Association of Business Communicators and member of the Project Management Institute of the Southern Caribbean.

Karen Kelshall Lee - Director

GROUP HEAD OF COMPLIANCE, GUARDIAN HOLDINGS LIMITED (TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO)

LL.B, CAMS

Karen Kelshall Lee is the Group Head of Compliance of the Guardian Group. She holds a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B) from the University of Leicester and has 18 years’ experience in the financial services industry with specific expertise in legal and regulatory compliance.

Having begun her tenure with the Guardian Group in 2001, Karen has progressed within the organization in roles of Legal Officer, Manager - Registrar and Corporate Administration, Senior Manager - Compliance and most recently, the role of Group Head of Compliance which she assumed in November 2018. In these roles, she has gained invaluable practical experience in corporate, commercial, insurance and securities laws, not only in Trinidad and Tobago, but in the English-speaking Caribbean.

She has also served as Corporate Secretary to Guardian Group subsidiaries and has amassed a wealth of corporate governance knowledge and proficiency as a result of these positions and other corporate secretarial positions she has held for not-for-profit organisations.

Kamla Rampersad de Silva - Chief Executive Officer, CCGI

LECTURER, ATTORNEY AT LAW

Kamla brings a wealth of experience and a passion for Corporate Governance as she has been lecturing in this field at the MBA level in Trinidad and Tobago and Guyana for several years. She is a board member of the Project Management Institute Southern Caribbean Chapter and CTS College

She has several unique skills coming together as her career included being a journalist at the Express Newspapers and the Guardian Newspaper. She has also worked in television and radio. She is trained in change management and is a qualified attorney at law.

After gaining her MBA qualification at the Arthur Lok Jack Global School of Business, she took her new found skills and competencies to bring ground breaking change in the public sector by leading the initiative for same day service for delivery of computer-generated Birth certificates in the Registrar General’s Department of the Ministry of Legal Affairs.