Zavia Mayne, MP
Minister of Finance and The Public Service
The Hon. Zavia Mayne, MP was appointed State Minister in the Ministry of Finance and the Public Service on May 22, 2023. Prior to this, he served as Minister of State in the Ministries of National Security and Labour and Social Security.
Mr Mayne is a Jamaican born Attorney-at-Law, Businessman, and Member of Parliament for the constituency of South West St. Ann.
He earned, through the University of London, a Bachelor’s Degree in Law and thereafter went on to obtain his Legal Education Certificate at the Norman Manley Law School in 2008. Minister Mayne is also the holder of a Bachelor’s of Science in Pure, and Food Chemistry.
Prior to being a politician he occupied numerous posts in both the private and public sectors serving on bodies such as The Trade Board, Jamaica Racing Commission and Factories Cooperation to name a few.
Minister Mayne’s ongoing mission is to improve, transform and to re-vamp the socio-economic realities of his primarily agricultural based constituency of South West St. Ann, and that of Jamaicans in general. Core to this vision is the introduction and improvement of infrastructure and the improvement of the standard of living of residents; ameliorating access to education, employment, social aid and developing and increasing access to housing solutions.
He is a firm believer in charity, and self-improvement and that the best and truest form of happiness is that attained through the advancement of all!
Richard Owen Byles
Governor, Bank of Jamaica (BOJ)
Richard Owen Byles was appointed Governor of Bank of Jamaica (BOJ) effective 19 August 2019.Prior to joining the Bank Governor Byles had a career spanning over 40 years in the private sector in the areas of business and finance and is one of the most accomplished corporate leaders of his generation. He has served as Council Member at the University of The West Indies, Vice President of the Private Sector Organization of Jamaica and on many company boards.
His public sector service includes serving as the first private sector Co-Chairman of Jamaica’s landmark Economic Program Oversight Committee (EPOC) formed to monitor Jamaica’s performance under our IMF-supported reform program.
Mr. Byles holds a B.Sc. in Economics from the University of the West Indies, Mona, and a M.Sc. in National Development from the University of Bradford, England. He was awarded the Doctor of Humane Letters from Northern Caribbean University, and the Doctor of Business from the University College of the Caribbean.
He is also an inductee to the Private Sector Organization of Jamaica (PSOJ) Hall of Fame, and an awardee from both the Observer and Gleaner publications for his work as a private sector business leader.
Mr. Byles is married to Jacinth and has two sons, Pavel and Yannick.
Kishan Khoday
Resident Representative
United Nations Development Programme Multi-Country Office
Kishan Khoday is Resident Representative at the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) Multi-Country Office in Jamaica, from where he represents UNDP in The Bahamas, Belize, Bermuda, Cayman Islands, Jamaica and Turks and Caicos Islands. He leads a large team of development practitioners in the region and a portfolio of strategic local initiatives to combat poverty and inequality, advance the blue and green transition, enhance legal systems and access to justice, and accelerate innovative technology and sustainable finance solutions. UNDP today is the UNs largest implementer of grant-based assistance in Small Island Developing States (SIDS), with a portfolio of 2,000 projects and USD 400 million per year towards goals of sustainability and resilience. Kishan has been with UNDP for 25 years, with previous assignments in China, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Jordan coordinating large scale partnerships in emerging economy and crisis settings. Kishan is Canadian with family roots in India, holds doctorate, master’s and bachelor’s degrees in science and law, and is a thought leader on the history of development, post-coloniality and the evolution of development in an era of geopolitical and planetary change.
UNDP is the United Nations’ lead agency on international development. Through our presence in over 170 countries and territories, UNDP supports countries and communities as they work to combat inequality, implement the Paris Agreement on climate change and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. We advocate for and assist with transformative change in systems and policies, connecting countries with UNDP’s extensive global network of policy advisors and resources to help people build a better life. This includes partnering with government on new strategies, policies and institutional capacities, with civil society on empowering communities and livelihoods, and with the private sector to align public and private capital flows with the SDGs and mobilize finance at scale.
Ben Rapp
Group Chief Executive Officer, Securys Limited
Ben is the founder of Securys Limited. Deeply passionate about the ethical aspects
of privacy, Ben sees privacy done right to secure a more sustainable enterprise. He
is the creator of Privacy Made Positive®, the research project which uses economic
and market research to show that there is a real return on investment in privacy.
Client-facing, he leads client engagements across the UK, the Caribbean and
internationally, with a particular focus on financial services organisations.
As a philosopher-technologist, Ben is one of the architects of the
Securys aiEthix programme which provides a range of specialist AI services to
clients globally.
Ben is a CISSP-ISSMP, CIPP/E, CIPP/US, CIPM and an IAPP Fellow in International
Privacy, a BCS Fellow and a Chartered IT Professional.
An author on the data privacy and AI challenges facing businesses, Ben is a regular
speaker at industry events and makes frequent broadcast media appearances.
Celia R. Barclay
Information Commissioner
Office of the Information Commissioner, Jamaica
Ms. Celia Barclay is a proud alumna of the Morant Bay High School in St. Thomas and the University of the West Indies from which she holds both a Bachelor of the Arts and a Bachelor of Laws degree. She obtained her Certificate of Legal Education from the Normal Manley Law School and was admitted to the Jamaican Bar as a practising Attorney-at-Law in 2007.
Ms. Barclay has experience in both the private and public sectors, having been an Associate with Crafton S. Miller and Company and having served in the roles of Government Trustee and Deputy Administrator-General before being appointed to her current post of Information Commissioner. In addition to her experience in several areas of law, she brings to the role over a decade of experience in Public Administration, Case Management, Investigations and Communications.
Tasked with giving strategic direction to the Office of the Information Commissioner (OIC), Ms. Barclay is committed to using her knowledge and experience to create a regulatory authority which will operate with efficiency, transparency, and accountability in the implementation of the Data Protection Act. Appreciating the importance of stakeholder ‘buy in’ to the success of any regime, she aims to ensure their understanding of and adherence to the laws and regulations governing the protection of data privacy in Jamaica.
As Information Commissioner, Ms. Barclay aims to develop a culture of privacy in which there is respect for every person’s right to the privacy of their personal data in conducting business. Further, by building trust and confidence in Jamaica’s data protection regime, she and her team at the OIC contribute to facilitating international trade and investment and, ultimately, the achievement of Vision 2030 for the benefit of all citizens.
Dr. Opal Donaldson-Cross
Assistant Vice President for Data & Analytics at Sagicor Group Jamaica
Dr. Opal Donaldson-Cross is currently the Assistant Vice President for Data & Analytics at Sagicor Group Jamaica. In her role she manages and coordinates Data Governance, Data Management & Data Analytics across all companies within the Group. She is a content creator on YouTube where she teaches data analytics & governance to the world. She is also an adjunct lecturer at University of the West Indies, Mona where she teaches several courses in Data & Analytics. She is a graduate of the University of the West Indies – Mona, where she earned a PhD in Information Systems; and the University of Technology where she completed a Master of Philosophy in Information Systems, and a Bachelor of Science degree in Computing and Information Technology. She has several publications in the field of Information Systems in the form of conference proceedings, Journal articles and book chapters. She is passionate about mentoring young adults and enjoys motivational speaking. She is married to her best friend Mark Cross and proud mother of her daughter Kenya and son Zandre.
Grace Lindo
Commercial and Data Protection Lawyer Based in Jamaica
Grace is a commercial and data protection lawyer based in Jamaica. She is also a
licensed corporate services provider under the Trust and Corporate Services Act. Her
practice covers commercial law, intellectual property, technology and technology
transactions, e-commerce, trade, regulatory matters, cybersecurity, data protection,
corporate governance and mergers & acquisitions. A Chevening Scholar, she attended
the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) from which she obtained a
Master of Laws (LL.M) in Competition, Trade and Innovation with a focus on technology
regulation.
Grace has been consistently ranked as a leading trademark professional in the
Caribbean by the World Trade Mark Review (WTR) since 2014 She is a Certified
Information Privacy Professional (CIPPE), and was an ICANN (Internet Corporation for
Assigned Names and Numbers) Fellow for the years 2017-2019. She currently sits on
the Legislation and Regulations Committee of the Jamaica Chamber of Commerce as
well as the Commercial and Intellectual Property Committees of the Jamaican Bar
Association.
John Plevin
Senior Financial Sector Specialist and Actuary
Crisis and Disaster Risk Finance Global Team- World Bank
John Luke Plevin is a Senior Financial Sector Specialist and actuary with the Crisis and Disaster Risk Finance global team at the World Bank. John works with countries across the world to develop financial protection programs for governments, businesses and vulnerable households. Prior to joining the World Bank, he worked in the UK financial sector before working for the UK Government, advising Ministries and developing programs for the financial management of risk.
Professor Michael Taylor
Professor of Climate Science
Dean of the Faculty of Science and Technology
Racquel Nevins
Area Vice President & Board Member
Gallagher Insurance Brokers jamaica Ltd
Ray – St. Michael Williams
CEO, Y Smart Data
Ray – St. Michael Williams is the CEO and founder of Y Smart Data, a pioneering technology startup dedicated to revolutionizing location intelligence in Jamaica.
With a strong educational background in Computing, including a master’s degree in enterprise Database and Information Systems from the University of Greenwich and a current PhD candidacy in Rural and Urban Land Management at the University of Technology, Jamaica, Ray is deeply committed to leveraging data for national development.
He has over 20 Years of experience in Technology and Innovation, spanning industries such as Aviation, Banking, Insurance, Telecommunications, Tourism and Television. He has helped to solve some of the most complex data problems for companies such as Sagicor, ICWI, VMBS and JPS. He is not only a practitioner, but he also gives back by educating the
next generation through lecturing at the University of Technology.
Under Ray’s visionary leadership, Y Smart Data has developed Smart Codes—a groundbreaking standardized addressing system that enhances location-based data utility for precise risk assessment, fraud prevention, and customer insight generation. This initiative will be transforming the landscape of the insurance industry by integrating advanced analytics with granular, actionable location data.
His time at CACI, one of the UK’s top marketing and location intelligence firms has given him key insights into the importance of location intelligence and its transformational power.
Ray’s upcoming presentation, “Mapping the Future: Harnessing Location Intelligence for the Insurance Industry,” will explore the potential transformative impact of location intelligence on the insurance sector, focusing on how it can foster innovation, improve decision-making, and drive operational efficiency.
A seasoned speaker and strategist, Ray is driven by a passion for applying technology solutions to real-world problems, particularly in how they apply to enhancing the capabilities of companies in the face of modern challenges.
Richard Anthony Thompson
Acting Director General
Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM), Jamaica
Richard Anthony Thompson is a seasoned expert in disaster preparedness and emergency management, currently serving as the Acting Director General at the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) in Jamaica. With a robust background in Geographic Information Science and Earth Observation, he holds a Master’s degree in the field with a specialization in Urban Planning and Management from the University of Twente’s Faculty of Geo-Information Science and Earth Observation, Netherlands. Richard also earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Physical Planning and Environmental Resource Management from the University of Technology, Jamaica.
Before stepping into his current role, Richard served as the Deputy Director General at ODPEM, where he played a pivotal role in managing and directing the agency’s responsibilities in the absence of the Director General. His experience also extends to his previous roles at the National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA), where he managed the Geographic Information Science Branch and the National Spatial Planning Branch.
Throughout his career at ODPEM, which began in 2008, Richard has been at the forefront of disaster management operations in Jamaica. He provides critical advice to the Prime Minister and portfolio Minister on matters of disaster preparedness and emergency management. In times of disaster and emergencies, Richard coordinates and manages the National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC), ensuring effective communication between disaster sites and the Centre, and overseeing the implementation of emergency protocols, procedures, and logistic operations.
Richard is also responsible for ensuring that the NEOC and Parish Emergency Operations Centers (PEOC) are equipped with the necessary facilities and equipment for rapid and reliable communications. He has been instrumental in the development and implementation of telecommunication systems and procedures for disaster early warning, as well as the control and management of post-disaster operations.
Richard is an alumnus of Ardenne High School and is committed to advancing disaster preparedness and management in Jamaica.
Sanya M. Goffe
President of Pension Industry Association of Jamaica
Sanya Goffe was called to the Jamaican Bar in 2003 after studying at the Norman Manley Law School and the University of the West Indies. She is a Partner in the law firm Hart Muirhead Fatta, and one of only 21 attorneys from Jamaica to be listed in Chambers Global. Sanya’s practice focuses on the areas of pensions law, intellectual property law, capital markets, and corporate law.
In the area of pensions, Sanya provides advice to companies and trustees on all aspects of pensions law, including managing pension risk, plan restructuring, governance, and general pensions issues arising from on-going activity. She writes frequently on pension issues and is a regular speaker at pension industry webinars, podcasts and conferences, both local and abroad.
Sanya is an Eisenhower Fellow and serves as a Director of NCB Financial Group Limited, Jamaica Producers Group Limited, and the National Insurance Board (the investment advisory board for Jamaica’s National Insurance Scheme and RevUp Jamaica Limited. Sanya is also Chairman of Stratus Alternative Funds SCC and the President of the Pension Industry Association of Jamaica (PIAJ) where she supports the pension reform, education and advocacy mandates of the PIAJ.
Recently named one of the Jamaica Gleaner’s Distinguished Awardees in Law, Sanya is also a member of the UK Association of Pension Lawyers and the International Pension and Employee Benefits Lawyers Association and a recipient of its Libby Slater Award for her outstanding contribution to the development of pensions law in Jamaica and most recently the Tony Thurman Award for the best published legal article in the International Pensions Lawyer.
Willard Brown
Chief Technology & Insurance Officer