AI Governance 101 – Oversight of Artificial Intelligence within the Organization

ECSE-PBC Governance CPD Webinar Series

AI Governance 101 – Oversight of Artificial Intelligence within the Organization

Summary/Purpose: It is hard to avoid the ubiquitous presence of artificial intelligence (AI) and the increasing influence it has on so many aspects of our lives. This is never truer than the potential impact of AI across all aspects of an organization’s operations, affecting all sectors and sizes and types of companies. The impact of AI will be unique to every organization, but its presence cannot be ignored. Organizations and bodies that fail to embrace AI will inevitably fall behind their competitors and fail to serve their stakeholders effectively.

Understanding AI is therefore critical – board members and executives need to educate themselves about AI and what it can do for their organizations. What are the benefits of AI, how can it be applied to optimize processes, what are the potential threats and how can we overcome them? Developing a risk governance framework that ensures the organization takes full advantage of AI technology whilst mitigating the potential pitfalls is key, and board members in their oversight capacity should gain assurance in that regard.

Equally board members need to understand not just how AI is integrated across the organization, but how AI can impact the work of the board itself, for example through the provision of more comprehensive and accurate data that can inform the board’s decision-making processes.

Content: In this engaging and interactive session, we will provide an overview of AI from a governance perspective, explaining what AI is and how it is impacting organizations and the work of the board, recognizing that board members need not be subject matter experts, but conversant enough to ask the right questions to gain assurance that management has it in hand. In this respect we will Identify some key questions that board members should ask to gain the level of assurance that will help them satisfy their duty to provide oversight.

It is important to get a balanced view of AI in terms of its benefits and the opportunities for its application to the work of the board. This session will provide some examples of how it can optimise board processes including the facilitation of board materials and logistics that can streamline the work of the board. The opportunities presented by AI are extensive, but using AI is not without risk. For example, using AI raises concerns of data privacy and cyber security. We consider the elements of a risk governance framework and internal control that can help alleviate some of these concerns, and thereby harness the potential of AI while mitigating potential pitfalls and ensuring its responsible and ethical use.

Benefits: Participants will gain a sound understanding of what AI involves and an appreciation of the potential opportunities it presents to their organization. They will get some useful pointers on how to apply and integrate AI into their organization, whilst having the risk awareness to do so in a responsible and ethical manner.

Who should attend: Board chairs, company directors, company secretaries, chief executives and any executive working with or supporting the board, as well as Chief Technology Officers, Chief Information Officers or equivalent.

Registration Fees:
EC$295 (US$110) payable to the Eastern Caribbean Securities Exchange Ltd by Credit Card, Wire Transfer or Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) on or before Friday 10 May 2024, to confirm participation.

Discounted Rate for ECSE Affiliates and CGIC Members – EC$270 (US$100)
(CGIC members must include their membership number to benefit from this discount)

Registration: The webinar will be delivered on May 15, 2024, at 9:00am to 10:30am (UTC-4). To register click here

Your Facilitator:

Richard is a C-Suite Growth Leader and Board Director with 25 years of leading companies in domestic and international marketplaces. Richard has both a science/technical and business management background which provides a unique combination to help organizations create and execute growth strategy while balancing risk. A strategist and change agent providing strategic direction, diverse perspectives and ensuring DEI. Richard is currently the CEO of Mind Tech Group which provides consulting to Board of Directors and Senior Management for the Governance of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and related Training, Recruiting and Risk Management. Richard’s previous experience includes C-Suite Sales & Marketing, General Management, P&L, and Operations at BridgePoint Financial, Computershare, Rogers, Celestica, Nortel, and IBM. Richard has served on 4 Boards since 2013 and currently serves on the Canadian Professional Sales Association and the Governance Professionals of Canada. Previously, Richard served on the Board of Scientists in School, which is one of Canada’s largest Science Education charities for children. Richard also served on a Toronto Chapter of the Boys & Girls Club including the role of Vice Chair (VP). Richards Board/Committee Experience includes Human Resources & Governance, Board Nomination, Board Secretary, Audit & Risk, and Fundraising

RSIC REGISTRATION

Regional Schools Investment Competition Guidance and Competition Rules

Regional Schools Investment Competition Guide

I.        Introduction

The Regional Schools Investment Competition is a dynamic learning experience for high school and first-year college students as future investors. The investment game introduces the students to investing and more specifically to investing via the Eastern Caribbean Securities Exchange. The initiative provides the opportunity for students to experience securities market activity firsthand. Participants will have the opportunity to test their knowledge while gaining useful investing insights and skills.

The Eastern Caribbean Securities Exchange (ECSE) and its partners, consisting of six licensed member broker dealers (Grenada Co-operative Bank Ltd, Bank of Nevis, Bank of Saint Lucia, First Citizens Investment Services Ltd, St. Kitts-Nevis-Anguilla National Bank, and Bank of St. Vincent and the Grenadines), along with the Eastern Caribbean Securities Regulatory Commission (ECSRC), are dedicated to promoting education and awareness among young individuals. The aim is to encourage and guide young investors in contributing to the growth and development of the money and capital markets in the Eastern Caribbean Currency Union.

II.     Competition Objectives

• To excite and inspire young people across the ECCU to learn more about investing as an avenue for wealth creation and to become active market participants in the future.
• To spread awareness to the youth of the existence of the ECSE, the Eastern Caribbean Securities Market (ECSM), the Regional Government Securities Market (RGSM), the ECSRC and the ECSE licensed member broker dealers.
• To introduce and educate the youth population about Investing in Securities and the process of purchasing and selling securities on the Eastern Caribbean Securities Market.

III.  Eligible Participants

• 3^rd form through 5^th form (grades 9-11) high school students and 1^st year 6^th form/college students in the Eastern Caribbean Currency Union (i.e., Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Commonwealth of Dominica, Grenada, Montserrat, Saint Lucia, St. Kitts and Nevis,
  St. Vincent and the Grenadines).
• A maximum of ONE group per school. The number of students per group can range from 4 to 6 students competing in the Investment Game. For countries with only one school participating, the school may opt either to i) forego the Intra-Country stage and enter directly into the regional stage of the competition; or ii) enter up to three groups from that school in the Intra-Country portion of the competition.

Please note that:

• The school administration would determine the composition of the competing group(s) and which teacher(s) will be assigned to lead the competing group(s). There should be a minimum of one teacher assigned to assist each competing group.
• Teams are encouraged to create their own unique group names and have fun. They are to be creative and use good judgment. Team names may not contain or connote any offensive, vulgar or inappropriate language or idea.

IV. Format of Competition

• The competition will be administered in two parts:
  • 1^ST Phase – Intra-Country Competition: 
    • The competing school groups will compete among the groups in their respective country and the top performer in each country will be adjudged the Intra-Country winner to represent their country in the Regional Phase of the Competition.
  • 2^nd Phase – Regional Competition:
    • The eight winners of the Intra-Country phase of the competition will move on to compete to vie for the top prize of Regional Investment Champion.

V. Competition Timeline

1. Investment Education Webinars x2 (12^th and 26^th September 2024)
   1.  Competing students and teacher guides would be expected to attend one of the two webinars being hosted. The webinars are also open to all students the schools can accommodate virtually.
   1. Competition Briefing (3^rd October 2024)
      1. Competing students and teacher guides would be expected to attend the competition briefing.
   1. Phase 1 – Intra-Country Competition (MONDAY 7^th – MONDAY 21^st October)
2. 5 School Meeting Days (MONDAY 7^th, 9^th, 11^th, 16^th 18^th)
3. 5 Trade Days (8^th, 10^th, 15^th, 17^th, MONDAY 21^ST October)
   1. Note 14^TH October will be a public holiday for the market due to SLU Thanksgiving holiday.
   1. Phase 2 – Regional Competition (TUESDAY 29^th October – TUESDAY 12^th Nov)
4. 5 School Meeting Days (TUESDAY 29^th, 31^st, 5^th Nov, 7^th Nov, MONDAY 11^th Nov)
   1. Note 28^th October is a public holiday for the market due to SVG Independence Holiday and 4^TH November will be considered a public holiday for the market due to Independence Day in Dominica.
5. 5 Trade Days (30^th, 1^st Nov, 6^th Nov, 7^th Nov, TUESDAY 12^th Nov)

• Prize Giving (To announce Winner by last week of November 2024). Prize Giving to take place Late January/Early February

VI. Competition (Performance) Evaluation – To Determine winning group/school.

Phase 1: Intra-Country Investment Competition:

• 60% weighting – portfolio valuation
  • The cash on hand + the value of the securities in the portfolio at the end of the trading period.
  • 40% weighting – Evaluation of Trading Notes. Each group will need to prepare a note for each purchase or sell order. The note should specify the rationale/investment strategy for the purchase/sales orders.

The group in each of the eight ECCU member countries with the highest overall score will be adjudged the winner for that country. The top performing group per country will move on to participate in the Regional Competition.

Phase 2: Regional Investment Competition:

• 60% weighting – portfolio valuation
  • The cash on hand + the value of the securities in the portfolio at the end of the trading period.
  • 40% weighting – investment competition presentation (to be recorded and submitted in mp4 format by each competing group).

The Presentation should include the following:

• Team Introductions
• How did you decide on what to buy, and how much to buy?
  • Include all factors that impacted your decisions.
• How did you decide on what to sell, and how much to sell?
  • Include all factors that impacted your decisions.
• What would you have done differently if you were to be afforded the opportunity to compete again?
• What did you learn from participating in the Investment Challenge?

The group with the highest overall score will be declared the winner.

NOTE: The evaluation criteria will be provided to the Competing groups prior to the competition.

VII. Prize Giving

• Intra-Country Winners will receive:
  • A plaque in recognition of their win, to showcase at their respective schools.
  • Participating students and their teacher guide(s) would receive certificates of achievement and a gift bag.
• Overall Regional Competition Winner will receive:
  • Monetary prize of EC$5,000 for the school.
  • A cash prize of EC$150.00 for each of the students in the group.
  • A certificate of achievement for each of the student members and a certificate of recognition for the role the teacher(s) played in assisting the students.
  • A Rotational Champion Trophy.

CPD Webinar Series – Succession Planning: Developing Leadership for a Sustainable Future

ECSE-PBC Governance CPD Webinar Series

Succession Planning: Developing Leadership for a Sustainable Future

Summary/Purpose: One of the key challenges facing Caribbean organizations is ensuring that they have the human capital, to ensure effective performance that will support the Board to deliver ongoing sustainable success.

It is important to review your leadership team to assess whether you have the right all round capabilities, particularly for the CEO or equivalent, who is required to lead the organization in accordance with its strategic vision.

Creating a balanced, creative and entrepreneurial Board requires a considerable degree of forward planning and talent management. Equally the board of directors will need regular reviews and periodic refresh to ensure that the mix of skills and attributes reflects the strategic vision and the constantly changing environment in which business operates.

Effective performance of a board requires appropriate leadership, composition and independence to optimise its ability to deliver informed decision making and clarity on risks. An effective board can lead the organization forward into an uncertain future with confidence.

Content: In this engaging and interactive session, we will explore the factors for consideration when evaluating whether the CEO may need to be replaced, and the mechanics for doing so. A business will not be sustainable if it is saddled with a CEO that is no longer a good fit for the organization. We explore best practices for dealing with this extremely sensitive, people related problem.

The Nominating Committee is a key board committee, not a poor cousin, as it is tasked with ensuring that the board has the appropriate composition for leading the organization in a world of VUCA – volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity.

We explore the role and function of the Nominating Committee in relation to board succession, and specifically areas they need to consider, such as independence of mind and behaviour, and ensuring the right mix of skills. We look at the purpose and value of the board skills matrix and consider how to determine what types of skills and attributes should be included.

We will also look at the mechanics of board director succession, such as how to replace a vacancy on the existing board, including adherence to term limits/fixed terms. Ideas on how to create a framework that ensures objective recruitment of individuals with the right skills and attributes and delivers all diversities, particularly cognitive diversity.

An effective Nominating Committee negates the need for and influence of shadow directors, which is problematic in relation to accountability and decision making.

Benefits: Participants will gain a strong appreciation of what succession planning should look like at the apex of their organization. Understand what the right questions are to ask to assess whether the existing leadership is fit for purpose, and what to do when changes are necessary.

Delegates will be better informed and more skilled regarding the role and value of the Board Nominating Committee and see the significance of creating a framework that ensures the right people are appointed at the right time.

All the learning will support every director and board to lead their organization forward to a sustainable future.

Who should attend: Board chairs, company directors, company secretaries, chief executives and any executive working with or supporting the board.

Registration Fees:
EC$295 (US$110) payable to the Eastern Caribbean Securities Exchange Ltd by Credit Card, Wire Transfer or Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) on or before Friday 16 February 2024, to confirm participation.

Discounted Rate for ECSE Affiliates and CGIC Members – EC$270 (US$100)
(CGIC members must include their membership number to benefit from this discount)

Registration: The webinar will be delivered on February 21, 2024, at 9AM AST (UTC-4). To register click here

Your Facilitator:

Sharon, who is based in the UK, is a Chartered Governance Professional and has been a Fellow or Associate of the UK Chartered Governance Institute for over 40 years.

Sharon is also a Chartered Director of the Institute of Directors and holds an MBA and several Financial Services and Regulatory qualifications.

She is on the Court of the Worshipful Company of Chartered Secretaries and has chaired their Membership Committee and is on the Court (NED). She is the Chairman and acting CEO of the South African Chamber of Commerce in the UK and Chairs the Council of Foreign Chambers in the UK.

She is CEO of the Genius Boards governance group of companies and runs foreign exchange risk management services to global corporates that trade internationally.

Sharon listed her first company on the Stock Exchange and is responsible for the creation of a number of complex “software as a service – SaaS” online products address forex risk, governance effectiveness, risk assessment and compliance evidence libraries.

She has lectured for four years for the final Master’s Level 7 exam for the Chartered Governance Institute on Boardroom Dynamics and lectures on Risk Management for the Corporate Governance Institute for their Non-Executive program.
Sharon has authored many pieces on governance focusing on the presence, impact and management of boardroom dynamics, speaks at international conferences, leads on governance webinars and runs workshops and case studies to support turnaround governance learning.

(27) Sharon Constançon CDir MBA FCG | LinkedIn
Genius Boards

CPD Webinar Series – Preparing Boards to Oversee Risk in 2023 and Beyond

ECSE-PBC Governance CPD Webinar Series

Preparing Boards to Oversee Risk in 2023 and Beyond

Summary/ Purpose/ Content: Looking to 2024, elevated levels of disruption which intensified in 2023 include dangers from digitalization, talent shortages, the war in Ukraine, high energy prices and inflation, technology and AI, geopolitical and economic uncertainty and other risks putting strains business models. The new war in Israel may further alter the geopolitical landscape. Climate Change may be the biggest risk the world has ever faced. 

Now is the time for boards to employ a best practices approach to overseeing risk. But Are boards equipped, and do they understand enterprise risk management, and are best practices in risk being implemented by management? Can boards oversee a risk program which has not yet been implemented by management? How can management assist boards in being more prepared? 

Attend this session to understand why boards fail in risk oversight, and learn Key Actions boards can take to implement and practice proper risk governance.

Outcomes and Benefits: Participants will receive a greater appreciation of the benefits of instigating an enterprise-wide risk management framework that will provides the holistic data that is needed to ensure that directors can meet their oversight duties in ensuring their organization continues to operate within its risk appetite. For executives, they will have the tools to understand how to develop and maintain an ERM framework and how to monitor ongoing risks in a fluid, constantly shifting risk environment. For directors they will be armed with the right questions to ask so that they can meet their oversight obligations. We look at specific risks as well as the threat of emerging risks and what the board and executive should be doing to proactively respond to as yet unseen threats.

Who Will Benefit by Attending: Corporate and board secretaries, board and committee chairs, individual directors, boards (as a collective), CEOs and any senior management team member or governance professional that is involved with risk identification and management, and who interacts with the board in their organization.

Registration Fees:
EC$295 (US$110) payable to the Eastern Caribbean Securities Exchange Ltd by Credit Card, Wire Transfer or Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) on or before Friday 24 November 2023, to confirm participation.

Discounted Rate for ECSE Affiliates and CGIC Members – EC$270 (US$100)
(CGIC members must include their membership number to benefit from this discount)

Registration: The webinar will be delivered on Wednesday November 29th, 2023 at 9:00AM – 10:30AM (UTC-4). To register click here

Your Facilitator:

Bio: Stephen (“Steve”) Mallory has served on the boards of two Canadian government federal Crown Corporations. He served from 2012-2017 with VIA Rail, Canada’s national passenger railway where he was Chair of the GRS/Governance, Risk and Strategy Committee, and a member of the Pension Committee, and from 2008-2012 as a director and member of the Audit Committee with the Standards Council of Canada.

Steve is Principal, Directors Global Risk Consulting, providing Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) advice and training to boards and executive teams across Canada and elsewhere. Previously, he served as CEO and Region Head within two of Canada’s largest insurance firms and founded a third firm. He is a graduate of both the Canadian Institute of Corporate Directors (ICD.D program), and the Canadian Government School of Public Policy, Directors Program.

His teaching experience includes advising hundreds of directors, executives, and business students, including at the GPC (Governance Professionals of Canada), ICD (Institute of Corporate Directors), and with York University’s MFAC (Master’s in Financial Accountability) program. His papers have appeared in various best-selling business books including the “Handbook of Board Governance” (Wiley Press, 2016, 2020, and pending 2023 versions, LeBlanc Editor).

His charity work includes having led teams funding drilling of 27 water wells in Africa, supplying 27,000 people with fresh water www.directorsglobal.com/.

CPD Webinar Series: Regional Environmental and Social Governance: Cybersecurity – The Critical Questions for Boards to Ask

ECSE-PBC Governance CPD Webinar Series

Cybersecurity – The Critical Questions for Boards to Ask

Summary/Purpose: Board members need to be conversant in a range of topics, making decisions that have wide-ranging impact for their organizations and the wider stakeholders. It is critical that they make informed decisions, and nowhere is this more important than the growing field of cyber security. Failing to address an organization’s vulnerability to cyber-attacks can be catastrophic for an organization, resulting in lost productivity, probable regulatory fines, reputational damage, and significant loss of trust that will adversely impact future business growth. Regulators worldwide increasingly expect boards to oversee the IT infrastructure of their firms. A board that is not asking the right questions and insisting on evidence to get comfort from the Chief Information Officer or equivalent is derogating from their fiduciary duty. This session is designed to equip boards and those who work with them with an awareness and understanding of the importance of cyber security and the critical questions boards should ask to ensure proper oversight of this critical function to meet their governance accountability. Boards need to understand that the frequency and severity of attacks has never been so pronounced. It is no longer a case of IF your organization gets attacked but WHEN. Preparation is key.

Content: The session will cover the key questions boards need to ask management when assessing the organization’s cyber security arrangements. We consider how the IT infrastructure should contain robust defences and protection against cyber-attacks; we identify the key questions directors should ask to exercise their governance and fiduciary duty in a proactive way, and importantly be conversant enough with the subject matter to understand the answers, understanding that the board cannot assume that management has it covered, and that when data leaks occur, scrutiny inevitably falls on the board. We will briefly look at the regulatory regime that highlights the increased expectations of regulators in this area; we assess the importance of having cyber security insurance whilst recognizing its limitations and how it is a poor substitute for diligent oversight. We also consider the emergence of Artificial Intelligence and how AI represents both an opportunity and a threat to organizations as AI enables the perpetration of more sophisticated and sustained cyber-attacks, and organizational leaders need to be ready for this new reality. We also recognize that the issue of cyber security, while it is not new, is much more urgent than 20 years ago and that an attack on one organization is an attack on the wider industry.

Outcomes and Benefits: Participants will walk away with a renewed perspective and motivation to review their company’s cyber-security arrangements as well as a greater appreciation of their role in ensuring good governance. They will understand how technology and cyber-security form the foundation of the organization’s assets and ability to create value, and so there is a need to take a proactive risk-based approach to oversight of this area. Most importantly, they will leave with useful tools and ideas for educating themselves to ask the right questions and understand the answers. In doing so, they can make informed decisions that will help avoid potentially catastrophic attacks on their IT infrastructure with the subsequent financial, legal, and reputational fallout.

Who Will Benefit by Attending: Corporate and board secretaries, board and committee chairs, individual directors, boards (as a collective), and any senior management team member or governance professional that is involved with sustainability and who interacts with the governance function and/or the board in their organization.

Registration Fees:
EC$295 (US$110) payable to the Eastern Caribbean Securities Exchange Ltd by Credit Card, Wire Transfer or Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) on or before Friday 8 September 2023, to confirm participation.

Discounted Rate for ECSE Affiliates and CGIC Members – EC$270 (US$100)
(CGIC members must include their membership number to benefit from this discount)

Registration: The webinar will be delivered on September 13, 2023 at 9:00AM to 10:30AM UTC-4.
Click HERE to register

Your Facilitator:

Mr. Bruno Soares
Senior Executive Advisor | Professor
Bruno is an experienced Information and Technology professional with over 20 years of experience in Audit, Consulting, and Advisory. He has expertise in Governance, Risk, Control, Audit, Information Security & Privacy, and Digital Transformation. He worked for KPMG and Deloitte and in 2012 he founded GOVaaS – Governance Advisors as-a-service, where he is currently Senior Executive Advisor, and he actively collaborates with an ecosystem of local and international partners, particularly IDC Portugal where since 2015 he is the Leading Executive Senior Advisor for Digital Transformation, Governance, Strategy, and Security related areas.

He is a certified PMP, CISA, CGEIT, CRISC, COBIT and a LEGO SERIOUS PLAY Facilitator. He teaches at various universities in Portugal and abroad and is the founder and president of the ISACA Lisbon Chapter. In 2019, he was awarded the ISACA John Kuyers Award for Best Speaker. In 2021, he ran for Mayor of Lisbon, Portugal.

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Shareholder Contact Update SLH

S. L. Horsford And Company Limited Shareholder Contact Update

CPD Webinar Series: Regional Environmental and Social Governance: A Challenge and an Opportunity for Caribbean Boards

ECSE-PBC Governance CPD Webinar Series

Regional Environmental and Social Governance: A Challenge and an Opportunity for Caribbean Boards

Summary/Purpose: The world is changing rapidly and recent events such as wars, political instability, pandemic, and climate change are placing greater emphasis on the role that business plays as part of the wider community. The obligations that businesses, and, by definition, the boards and executive management have to the wider community and stakeholders means that environmental and social governance (ESG) is no longer a compliance checklist or promotional activity (if it ever was). It is now a strategic imperative, and needs to be built into the company’s strategy, culture, and reporting systems. However, getting ESG right can become a source of competitive advantage. The purpose of this session is to provide boards with a better understanding of ESG principles and reporting obligations; and how they can ensure that their organization can integrate ESG into their strategy to become a good corporate citizen; and meet the needs of their stakeholders to become a truly successful and valuable part of the wider community from which they draw their resources.

Content: The session will describe the evolution of ESG from the old CSR model to the modern integrated ESG model of today, including an overview of the various bodies that oversee the reporting of non-financial metrics. We define ESG and its pillars, and what boards need to do to integrate ESG systems and thinking into the strategy, culture, and DNA of the company. We propose that this is not only necessary, but presents a significant opportunity for innovation, enhancing the reputation of the organization, attracting capital investment, and attracting the brightest and best talent to the company as a desirable place to work. Although sustainability oversight and integrated reporting is at the nascent stage in the Caribbean, there have been some pioneers in this space, and we look at one or two examples that other companies in the region can aspire to.

Outcomes and Benefits: Participants will walk away with a different perspective around ESG and be motivated to challenge management to develop ESG policies and practices that will position the company for growth in the future and meet its obligations to its various stakeholders. ESG represents an enormous opportunity for businesses, and attendees will not only understand the benefits, but leave with useful tools and ideas for integrating ESG into their boardroom and the wider organization.

Who Will Benefit by Attending: Corporate and board secretaries, board and committee chairs, individual directors, boards (as a collective), and any senior management team member or governance professional that is involved with sustainability and who interacts with the governance function and/or the board in their organization.

Registration Fees:
EC$295/US$110 payable to the Eastern Caribbean Securities Exchange Ltd by Credit Card, Wire Transfer or Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) on or before Friday 30 June 2023, to confirm participation.

Discounted Rate for ECSE Affiliates and CGIC Members – EC$270/US$100
(CGIC members must include their membership number to benefit from this discount)

Registration: The webinar will be delivered on Wednesday July 5, 2023 at 9:00AM to 10:30AM UTC-4.
Click HERE to register

Your Facilitator:

MR WENDELL E LAWRENCE, OBE, MSc, CPA, CGMA
Wendell E Lawrence OBE has considerable experience in assisting clients in a range of matters including governance, finance, management, and taxation. His intimate knowledge of St. Kitts and Nevis and of the Caribbean region has helped to establish Caribbean Governance Consultants Inc, the company he founded, as one of the Caribbean’s leading providers of financial consultancy and governance services to clients in the region interested in improving corporate governance in their organizations and to international clients interested in establishing a presence, investing, or doing business in the Caribbean.

He has acquired first-hand knowledge of the legal and regulatory framework and business climate of various Caribbean Jurisdictions through the roles he played as the Financial Secretary of St. Kitts and Nevis, a Director of the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB), Chairman of the Regional Debt Coordinating Committee (RDCC), a Director of the Caribbean Development Bank, a member of the Regional Judicial and Legal Services Commission (RJLSC) that plays a key role in the Governance of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), and St. Kitts and Nevis Ambassador Plenipotentiary and Extraordinary (with accreditation to the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) and the Association of Caribbean States (ACS). He was instrumental in the restructuring of the Caribbean Community in the role of Project Manager, and in reviewing the Governance structure of the Caribbean Court of Justice in a consultative role.

Panel Discussions on Creating Wealth in the ECCU

Panel Discussions on Creating Wealth in the ECCU

As part of the 21st Anniversary of the Eastern Caribbean Securities Market (ECSM), the Eastern Caribbean Securities Exchange (ECSE) and the Intermediary Working Group of licensed ECSE member broker-dealers (IWG), held two public panel discussions to promote participation in Eastern Caribbean Securities Market (ECSM) to potential corporate Issuers and Investors. The panel discussions were held on April 24th and 25th at the Harbor Club Hotel in Saint Lucia.

The panel held on Monday 24th April, which targeted businesses and business advisors, focused on Financing Business Growth via the ECSM. The discussion was moderated by Laurent Hadley, Manager, Treasury & Investments, Bank of St Vincent & the Grenadines Ltd and included the following panelists:
o Trevor Blake, Managing Director, Eastern Caribbean Securities Exchange Group
o Norlann Gabriel, Head – Regional Operations, First Citizens Investment Services Ltd
o Samantha Lewis, Analyst, Eastern Caribbean Securities Regulatory Commission
o Romario Sterling, Assistant Manager, Capital Market, VM Wealth Management Limited

The panel held on Tuesday 25th April targeted current and potential investors under the general theme of Investing on the Eastern Caribbean Securities Market (ECSM). The presentations focused on the role of the ECSM market institutions and provided insights on the process of building an investment portfolio.
The session was moderated by Aaron Logie, Executive Manager, Finance, Grenada Cooperative Bank Ltd and included the following panelists:
o Geron Burnett, Senior Manager, Operations Division, Eastern Caribbean Securities Exchange
o Francine Felicien, Analyst, Eastern Caribbean Securities Regulatory Commission,
o Gale Cumberbatch, Senior Investment Associate, First Citizens Investment Services Ltd, and
o Cedric Charles, Senior Manager, Investment Banking Services, Bank of Saint Lucia Ltd

Recordings of these panel discussions will be disseminated for the benefit of the wider regional public in the coming weeks via various media platforms and via the ECSE’s and member broker-dealers’ YouTube pages and social media channels.