AGM & Conference

Georgette Adonis

Founder & Managing Partner, Adonis Advisory Group

Georgette Adonis is the Founder and Managing Partner of Adonis Advisory Group, a UAE-based legal and regulatory advisory firm providing legal, regulatory and strategic advice to financial institutions, fintechs, digital asset businesses and international companies operating across complex and evolving markets.

A dual-qualified barrister with 13 years’ legal and regulatory experience, Georgette advises on corporate and commercial matters, financial services regulation, payments and fintech, digital assets, AML and financial crime, corporate governance and cross-border transactions.

Her work spans the UAE, Caribbean and international markets. She advises financial institutions, payment businesses, global corporates, founders and emerging technology companies on legal and regulatory strategy, market entry, business structuring, commercial arrangements, governance and compliance.

Originally from Saint Lucia, with a professional career spanning the UK, Caribbean and UAE, Georgette brings an international perspective to the legal, regulatory and commercial issues facing businesses and financial institutions operating across borders.

She regularly speaks and contributes on financial regulation, fintech, digital assets, cross-border payments and the future of financial services.

Dr. Armstrong Alexis

Deputy Secretary-General, Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretariat

Armstrong Alexis is Saint Lucian. He is a graduate of Walden University in the United States and holds a Doctoral Degree in Business Administration. Dr. Alexis also holds an MBA from the University of Durham in the United Kingdom and is a graduate of the University of the West Indies Mona Campus, Jamaica with a Master of Science Degree in Sociology and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Social Work.

Dr. Alexis has held numerous leadership positions both as a volunteer and professionally. He joined the Caribbean Community Secretariat as Deputy Secretary-General from 1 November 2021. He joined the Secretariat after having served as the Deputy Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Namibia Country Office. Prior to his assignment in Namibia, Dr. Alexis served as Deputy Resident Representative and Functional Head of Office for the UNDP in Suriname. He has also served as the Coordinator for Programme and Operations at the UNDP Pacific Centre in Fiji, as well as the Functional Deputy to the Resident Representative of the Multi-Country Office for Samoa, Niue, Cook Islands, and Tokelau, and as Operations Manager with the UNDP Sub-regional Office in Barbados. Armstrong has undertaken numerous special mission assignments with UNDP, most notably as Deputy Country Director for Operations, ad-interim in Haiti in 2010, Human Resources and Training Coordinator at UNDP Headquarters in New York in 2013, and Special Operations Advisor in Maiduguri, Nigeria in 2019.

Before joining the United Nations in 2007, Dr. Alexis served as Regional Director for the Commonwealth Youth Programme in the Caribbean, bearing responsibility for supporting government initiatives on youth development throughout the Commonwealth Caribbean. He has commendable experience in the public sector having served at senior levels with the Government of Saint Lucia, and in academia with the University of the West Indies, Mona Campus in Jamaica. In 1994, whilst reading for his Bachelor of Science degree at the Mona Campus of the UWI, Dr. Alexis was elected to the post of President of the UWI Guild of Undergraduates and served with distinction for one year.

In his current post, Dr. Alexis oversees the Corporate Services and Functional Management of the Secretariat and acts under delegated responsibility from the CARICOM Secretary-General in all aspects of the functions of the Secretariat.

Timothy N. J. Antoine

Governor, Eastern Caribbean Central Bank

Timothy N. J. Antoine is an economist and development practitioner from Grenada who has served as the third Governor of the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB) since 1 February 2016. In February 2026, he was reappointed for a third five-year term.During his tenure as Governor, Mr. Antoine has championed a transformative agenda focused on financial stability, digital innovation, financial inclusion, and sustainable economic development across the Eastern Caribbean Currency Union.

Mr. Antoine holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics from The University of the West Indies (UWI) and a Master of Science degree in Social Policy and Planning in Developing Countries from the London School of Economics and Political Science.

Before assuming the Governorship, he served for 14 years as Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Finance of the Government of Grenada, where he played a pivotal role in economic policy formulation and financial sector reform, including leadership of Grenada's successful Homegrown Programme and the establishment of the Grenada Authority for the Regulation of Financial Institutions (GARFIN).

From 2005 to 2007, he was based in Washington, D.C., serving as Advisor to the Executive Director for Canada, Ireland and the Caribbean at the World Bank Group.

Mr. Antoine has received numerous awards in recognition of his leadership and public service. In 2016, he was awarded the Order of Grenada Gold Award for Excellence. In 2018, he received an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from St. George's University, a Certificate for Outstanding Leadership and Public Service from The University of the West Indies on the occasion of its 70th anniversary, and was named Caribbean Central Bank Governor of the Year by GlobalMarkets. In 2025, he received Grenada's Golden Jubilee Award for Exceptional Contribution to Finance.

Mr. Antoine serves as Chairman of the Eastern Caribbean Home Mortgage Bank and the Eastern Caribbean Securities Exchange. He is also a Board Member of the Toronto Centre for Global Leadership in Financial Sector Supervision and is widely recognised for his contributions to economic development, financial stability, and regional integration in the Caribbean.

Wilfred Baghaloo

Partner, Advisory Deals, PwC Jamaica

Wilfred is a Partner at PwC Tax and Advisory Services Limited, bringing over 20 years of expertise to help clients navigate complex financial landscapes with confidence and clarity. His core focus spans banking services support, mergers and acquisitions, crisis management, balance sheet restructuring, business recovery, and project financing. Wilfred listens deeply to understand each client’s unique challenges and works collaboratively to craft tailored solutions that drive real impact.

He holds several professional qualifications, including Fellow of ACCA – Association of Chartered Certified Accountants, Licensed Insolvency Practitioner, and a Diploma in Business Administration from the University of Technology (formerly College of Arts, Science and Technology). These credentials reinforce his ability to provide authoritative guidance across accounting, financial management, negotiations, due diligence, corporate finance, restructuring, auditing, liquidations, receiverships, change management, litigation support, and forensic accounting.

Known for cutting through complexity, Wilfred champions transparency and truth-telling, ensuring clients have a clear view of opportunities beyond obstacles. His bold, candid approach empowers organizations to respond proactively to crisis and transformation, turning uncertainties into growth opportunities.

At PwC, Wilfred fosters open dialogue and encourages collaborative problem-solving, believing that together with clients, every challenge becomes a steppingstone to success. His optimism fuels partnerships that are resilient and forward-looking, creating lasting value in an ever-evolving business environment.

Nora Brown

Head of Operations, SME Finance Forum, World Bank Group

An international executive with 20 years of experience designing and managing large-scale, multi-year economic growth projects. Ms. Brown has worked across multiple geographies for a variety of clients including USAID, World Bank Group, and Goldman Sachs. Throughout Ms. Brown's career, she's focused on business-driven strategies to create real impact in global development and specializes in developing efficient operational processes and building strong partnerships. Ms. Brown currently serves as Head of Operations for the SME Finance Forum where she leads the Sustainable SME Finance Innovation Hub and the Americas Regional Chapter.

Chris Burt

Senior Corporate Governance Officer, IDB Invest

Chris Burt is a Senior Corporate Governance Officer within the Environmental, Social and Governance Division of IDB Invest, the private sector arm of the Inter-American Development Bank. Chris is based in Buenos Aires, where his work helps fosters the adoption of stronger corporate governance practices within the private sector across the Latin America and Caribbean region, promoting transparency, ethical leadership, and equitable growth. He has a particular focus on supporting IDB Invest transactions and market initiatives across the Caribbean. He holds a Master's degree from the London School of Economics, and has a decade of experience working in sustainability and corporate governance in both London and Buenos Aires.

Jacqueline Diaz Polo

Mastercard

Jacqueline Díaz Polo, is a payments, fraud, and cybersecurity leader at Mastercard, where she partners with financial institutions across Central America and the Caribbean to address evolving cyber threats, combat financial crime, and build trusted digital ecosystems.

Her work focuses on helping organizations move beyond traditional risk management approaches by combining advanced fraud prevention capabilities, cybersecurity strategies, and data-driven solutions to protect consumers and businesses in an increasingly digital world. Jacqueline has extensive experience advising banks on payment security, cyber resilience, digital identity, and emerging fraud trends, enabling them to strengthen customer confidence while driving innovation and growth.

She holds an MBA from INCAE Business School, an Engineering Degree, and a Professional Cybersecurity Certificate from MIT xPRO. Through her leadership and industry engagement, she advocates for a proactive approach to cyber risk, helping organizations transform security into a competitive advantage and a foundation for digital trust.

Keisha Fraser

Financial Advisor, Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF)

Keisha Fraser is a Financial Advisor with the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF), where she has served for the past four years, contributing her extensive regulatory expertise and strategic insight to strengthening regional AML/CFT/CPF frameworks and the effective implementation of global standards.

Prior to joining the CFATF, she served as a Compliance and Outreach Officer at the Financial Intelligence Unit of Trinidad and Tobago (FIUTT), dedicating over seven years to advancing national compliance and enhancing AML/CFT supervisory frameworks.

Keisha holds the Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist (CAMS) designation, with a specialization in CAMS Risk Management. She also holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Management and a Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Management.

Jeff Gorsuch

Executive Vice President and Head of Global Banking, United Texas Bank

Jeff Gorsuch is Executive Vice President and Head of Global Banking at United Texas Bank (UTB), where he leads the bank’s global correspondent banking, payments, and digital asset businesses, with a strong focus on the Caribbean and Latin America.

Jeff brings more than 25 years of experience in financial services, payments, and banking. Before joining UTB, he spent 15 years at MoneyGram International, most recently as Head of Strategic Operations, overseeing onboarding, customer due diligence, payments, settlement, and risk management across 350,000 agent locations in more than 200 countries. Earlier in his career, he advised financial institutions on operations as a management consultant with BearingPoint and Mitchell Madison Group.

Jeff holds an MBA in Finance from Columbia Business School and a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Rochester.

Dr., The Most Honourable Kevin Greenidge, F.B.

Governor, Central Bank of Barbados

Throughout his illustrious career, Kevin has held several key positions where he significantly influenced economic policy and strategy. Since March 2023, he has been serving as the Governor of the Central Bank of Barbados, overseeing the country's monetary policy and financial stability. Prior to this, he was the Senior Economic Advisor to the Prime Minister of Barbados and the Government of Barbados from August 2018 to December 2022. In this role, he played a pivotal part in designing and advising on the Barbados Economic Recovery and Transformation (BERT) programme, successfully negotiating with international institutions including the International Monetary Fund (IMF), and leading the government’s economic team in critical discussions.

His tenure at the IMF from August 2011 to July 2018 showcased his expertise in international economics, policy review, and strategic economic planning across various countries. As a Senior Economist, he contributed to numerous policy papers and economic reviews that impacted low-income developing countries.

Kevin's earlier roles at the Central Bank of Barbados, including Director of the Research and Economic Analysis Department and Senior Economist, underline his commitment to developing sound economic intelligence and policy advice. His leadership ensured the delivery of high-quality economic and statistical analysis, fostering a deeper understanding of Barbados's economy and contributing to its policy formulation.

In addition to his professional roles, Kevin is actively involved in several professional affiliations, contributing as a referee and member to prestigious economic societies and journals. His vast experience also includes consultation roles for central banks and organisations across the Caribbean, emphasising his expertise in econometrics, economic modelling, and policy restructuring.

Kevin's academic contributions are equally impressive, with numerous publications in refereed journals and books focusing on economic growth, financial liberalisation, and the macroeconomic impacts of policy programmes in small economies. His work has received notable recognition, including awards for his PhD dissertation and contributions to economic literature.

Kevin Greenidge's career is marked by a deep commitment to advancing economic understanding and policy effectiveness, demonstrating his exceptional capabilities as an economist, advisor, and leader in both national and international contexts.

Raymond Haynes

Partner, Consulting — Strategy, Risk & Transactions | Deloitte

Mr. Raymond Haynes is a Consulting Partner at Deloitte, leading Strategy, Risk & Transactions for clients across Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean. He brings more than 20 years of financial services experience spanning commercial banking, insurance, mutual funds, credit union regulation, and Big Four professional services.

Raymond advises large and medium-sized corporate entities on complex financial and operational matters, including M&A strategy, capital and debt advisory, restructuring and insolvency, risk advisory, and valuation and business modelling. As Deloitte's regional Valuations leader, he sets the strategy for and coordinates the delivery of valuation services across the Caribbean.

His recent financial services work reflects this breadth: developing internal capital adequacy assessment processes, including Pillar II risk quantification, scenario modelling and stress testing grounded in the Basel framework; facilitating strategic transformation workshops to align business models, digital initiatives and channel strategies; and leading both buy-side and sell-side M&A advisory mandates.

Raymond holds an Honours Bachelor of Mathematics in Actuarial Studies from the University of Waterloo. He is a member of the Canadian Institute of Chartered Business Valuators, the American Society of Appraisers, the Chartered Professional Accountants of Canada, and the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Barbados — where he also serves on the Advocacy & Public Policy Committee. He is a Member of Council of the Barbados Chamber of Commerce & Industry.

Candice Huggins

Financial Crime Specialist, Compliance & AML/CFT Advisor

Candice Huggins is an accomplished Attorney-at-Law and Compliance Executive with over two decades of experience in legal, regulatory, and risk management across the Caribbean and international financial services sector. She specializes in anti–money laundering (AML), counter-terrorist financing (CTF), financial crime risk, and regulatory compliance, with a growing focus on digital and virtual asset regulation and payments enablement. Candice is a respected advisor to boards, regulators, and international standard-setters, and is a sought-after trainer and speaker on financial crime prevention, regulatory reform, and governance.

She has been called to the Bar in Trinidad and Tobago, the British Virgin Islands, and the Cayman Islands, and has advised extensively on international financial regulation, white-collar crime litigation, and compliance program development. Candice’s expertise spans banking, fintech, securities, and insurance, where she has led enterprise-wide risk and compliance frameworks and regulatory readiness initiatives.

As a former Head of Compliance for a major regional financial institution, she directed the development and implementation of the AML/CTF, Sanctions, Privacy and Data Protection, and Ethics programs. Her leadership ensured alignment with international standards, including FATF, Basel, and regional supervisory frameworks.

Candice has a passion for Compliance Academics and Learning and to that end has lent her expertise to various institutions such as UWI, FIBA, IBAF and ACPTT in facilitating seminars, conferences and lectures in the financial crime area.

Candice has also served as a consultant/advisor to international and multilateral organizations, including the International Monetary Fund (IMF), World Bank Group, and Organization of American States (OAS). Her consultancy work includes national risk assessments, CFATF mutual evaluations, and AML/CFT capacity-building initiatives across the Caribbean with a focus on:

• AML/CFT program design and implementation for financial institutions and fintechs.
• Correspondent Banking Risk
• Digital and virtual asset compliance advisory, including regulatory licensing, FATF Travel Rule implementation, and risk framework alignment.
• Payments enablement and cross-border compliance for emerging payment systems and digital finance platforms.
• Fraud and financial crime investigations, including forensic audit coordination and internal control strengthening.
• Regulatory engagement and readiness for institutions under FATF and regional oversight.

Candice brings a unique combination of legal acumen, regulatory insight, and practical compliance expertise, enabling institutions to navigate complex regulatory environments while achieving strategic and operational resilience.

Jonathan Humperies

Howden

Martin Jaundoo

EVP, Chief Compliance Officer & BSA Officer, United Texas Bank

Martin Jaundoo is EVP, Chief Compliance Officer and BSA Officer at United Texas Bank, a foreign correspondent banking-focused institution, where he leads the bank’s KYC and BSA/AML/OFAC compliance function. With over 20 years of experience building and remediating compliance programs for banks, MSBs, and fintechs including leading the remediation of an OCC Formal Agreement at Axiom Bank and a Federal Reserve Cease and Desist Order at United Texas Bank. Martin brings a firsthand view of how disciplined compliance programs can sustain, rather than sever correspondent banking relationships.

His work sits at the center of the de-risking conversation: building the AML, sanctions, and due-diligence infrastructure that gives global counterparties confidence to keep the corridor open, rather than exit it. Martin will bring this perspective to the panel on De-risking, Trust, and Access to Global Finance.

Michelle Johnson

Marketing Manager - SME/Business Segments | Group Marketing and Communications, Republic Bank Limited

Michelle has enjoyed an extensive banking career with Republic Bank Limited. At a strategic Bank Marketing Level, she has served the Bank in Guyana, Cayman and currently in Trinidad where she holds the title of Marketing Manager, SME/Business Segments, Group Marketing and Communications supporting a business portfolio covering Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), Commercial, Corporate, Investment Banking, Wealth Management, and Life Insurance.

She is also an educator, certified Arbinger Trainer, globally accredited Chartered Practitioner of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR), UK, Associate Member of the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM), and Co-Chair for the Americas Chapter of the SME Finance Forum.

Adam Kasraoui

Sales Manager, UK & Caribbean, ERI Banking Software

Adam Kasraoui is Sales Manager for the UK and Caribbean at ERI Banking Software, where he works with financial institutions navigating core banking transformation and aligning technology investment with strategic and operational priorities.With more than 20 years of experience in strategic sales and business development, his career spans core banking, digital banking, trade finance, international payments and foreign exchange.

Through his work with diverse financial institutions across the Caribbean and international markets, Adam brings a practical perspective on technology transformation, with a particular focus on early-stage strategy, stakeholder alignment, effective vendor engagement and building long-term partnerships that support sustainable change.

Gerald Lindo

Caribbean Chapter Director, Glasgow Financial Alliance for Net Zero (GFANZ)

Gerald Lindo serves as Caribbean Chapter Director for the Glasgow Financial Alliance for Net Zero (GFANZ), part of Bloomberg's global climate finance team, where he works with regional banks, regulators, CARICOM institutions, and the multilateral development banks to mobilize private capital for the Caribbean's energy transition and climate resilience.

Before GFANZ, he spent two decades advising institutions on climate risk and the clean energy transition. He wrote Jamaica's first Nationally Determined Contribution under the Paris Agreement, represented small island states on the UN Executive Board of the Clean Development Mechanism, oversaw USAID's Caribbean clean energy portfolio, and led work on energy sector reforms across thirteen Caribbean countries. He has also served as technical advisor on energy efficiency retrofits and power procurements — the work that determines whether a project is bankable long before it reaches a credit committee.

He is a GARP-certified Sustainability and Climate Risk professional and a Certified Energy Manager.

Richard Look Kin

Group Chief Risk Officer, NCB Financial Group and Guardian Holdings Limited

Richard Look Kin, CFA is the Group Chief Risk Officer of NCB Financial Group and Guardian Holdings Limited, two of the Caribbean's leading financial services organizations. With more than 25 years of experience across banking, investment management, and risk management, he has held progressively senior leadership roles at regional and international financial institutions, developing deep expertise in corporate banking, investment banking, enterprise risk management, and strategic risk oversight.

Throughout his career, Richard has played a pivotal role in strengthening risk governance frameworks, enhancing organizational resilience, and supporting sustainable growth across complex financial institutions. As a senior risk executive, Richard is particularly passionate about risk culture, financial stability, governance, and the role of innovation and emerging technologies in shaping the future of financial services across the Caribbean.

An active contributor to the regional business community, Richard previously served as a Director of the American Chamber of Commerce of Trinidad and Tobago (AMCHAM TT) and is a former President and Director of CFA Society Trinidad & Tobago, where he helped advance professional standards and financial education within the industry.

Richard holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Toronto and an MBA with Distinction from Heriot-Watt University. He is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) Charterholder and has completed the Professional Risk Manager (PRM) examinations.

Outside of his professional responsibilities, he enjoys football and spending time with his family.

Damon Magnuski

Founder, CEO, and Chairman of the Board, Acceleron

Damon Magnuski is the Founder, CEO, and Chairman of the Board of Acceleron, a company building cutting-edge software that enables community banks and credit unions to conduct international payment transactions profitably through a foreign exchange (FX) marketplace. A wire automation patent holder, he is focused on helping community financial institutions turn cross-border payments into meaningful non-interest income, without the operational drag that’s kept them on the sidelines. This focus is backed by two decades of hands-on experience across engineering, risk management, and financial markets. Damon currently designs and implements advanced API technology, sanctions screening, pricing, data management, and compliance controls at a foreign exchange-focused bank, work that puts him in direct, regular contact with state and federal regulators. With over 10 years of project management experience, he’s led technical teams through complex builds and spearheaded collaborations with engineers, compliance officers, and business leaders to deliver innovative solutions.

Drawing on this cross-disciplinary background, Damon founded Acceleron to address a clear gap he saw in the market: giving community banks and credit unions the tools they need to compete in international payments. As CEO and Chairman of the Board, he remains deeply committed to supporting and empowering community banking worldwide.

Sekou Mark

Regional Lead, English-Speaking Caribbean, International Finance Corporation, World Bank Group

Sekou Mark is a passionate career banker with over 25 years’ experience in the capital markets of Latin America and the Caribbean.

As a transformational leader skilled in Project Finance, Corporate Finance, Asset Management, International Development, Mergers and Acquisitions, and Strategic Innovation, Sekou has significantly contributed to the economic development of the Caribbean Region.

His pioneering initiatives include the establishment of the first Representative Office of an Indigenous Caribbean bank in Central America: First Citizens Costa Rica, and launching the first tradable Index Fund in the English-Speaking Caribbean, the Calypso Macro Index Fund, which raised over US$70 million in a landmark IPO in Port of Spain, Trinidad.

Other notable pioneering achievements include the creation of the UTC Analyst Games, a leading investment literacy program that educated over 3,000 young adults and children, and the establishment of the UTC Global Balanced Fund, the first retail-level Mutual Fund in the Eastern Caribbean. GBFL democratized access to global financial markets for persons of “big dreams and modest means” across the Eastern Caribbean.

Currently serving as the Regional Lead, English-Speaking Caribbean for the International Finance Corporation, World Bank Group, Sekou continues to strive towards building strong, resilient, impactful, and sustainable communities in our Caribbean community.

Dr. Tanya Cecile McCartney DBA, CAMS

President, GEM Management & Advisory Services Ltd.

Dr. Tanya Cecile McCartney DBA, CAMS, Chartered Banker is a UK-trained barrister and seasoned compliance professional with over two decades of leadership in legal, regulatory, and financial services. She is the President of GEM Management & Advisory Services Ltd., a licensed financial and corporate service provider, and serves as Assistant Professor of Law at The University of The Bahamas.

Dr. McCartney holds a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) from the University of Reading (UK), a Master of Laws (LLM) from the London School of Economics and Political Science, an MBA in Leadership from The College of The Bahamas, and a Chartered Banker MBA from Bangor University (Wales, UK). She earned her Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) from Edinburgh Napier University, with a dissertation focused on change readiness strategies in the Bahamian financial services sector. She is also a Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist (CAMS) and holds an ICA Special Certificate in Money Laundering Risk in Betting and Gaming.

Her career spans senior roles in government, banking, and international financial services, including Assistant Counsel in the Office of the Attorney General, Regional Manager for Compliance at RBC covering The Bahamas and the Caribbean, and Managing Director of RBC FINCO. As former CEO of the Bahamas Financial Services Board, she led strategic responses to global regulatory initiatives and promoted The Bahamas as an international financial centre across North America, Europe, and Latin America.

Dr. McCartney is a founding member and former President of the Bahamas Association of Compliance Officers, co-chair of the Bahamas Chapter of ACAMS, and author of Strategies for Success: A Roadmap for the Compliance Professional in Financial Services. Her governance experience includes appointments to the Senate of The Bahamas, the Bahamas Airport Authority, and multiple public boards. She continues to champion ethical leadership, AML integrity, and regulatory excellence across the financial sector.

Racquel Moses

Chief Executive Officer, Caribbean Climate-Smart Accelerator

Racquel Moses is CEO and Director of the Caribbean Climate-Smart Accelerator and Chair of GFANZ Caribbean, where she works to mobilise investment and accelerate climate solutions across the Caribbean. A technology and investment executive, she has held senior leadership roles including Head of Microsoft Trinidad and Tobago, President of InvesTT and Regional Vice President at Fujitsu. She has also served on Salesforce’s Global Web3 Board and as a Trustee of the Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee. Racquel is recognised for bringing together business, government, finance and global partners to advance innovation, investment and sustainable development across the region.

Paula Peirao

LAC Regional Lead, UNEP Finance Initiative (UNEP FI)

Paula has twenty years of experience in sustainable finance, developing sustainability integration strategies in financial institutions, including incorporating socio-environmental risk analysis and designing new financial mechanisms in the credit and investment segments.

Paula is currently LAC Regional Lead at UNEP Finance Initiative (UNEP FI). Previously, Paula was VP ESG at VERT. Before that, she was Partnership Manager of IFACC (Financial Innovation for Amazonia Cerrado and Chaco), a joint initiative of TNC, Tropical Forest Alliance of the World Economic Forum, and UNEP. Paula has also worked as a specialist in sustainable finance at WWF-Brasil, as well as at the Center for Sustainability Studies at Fundação Getulio Vargas. She started her career at HSBC Asset Management as a financial analyst, where she was also co-manager of the ISE (Corporate Sustainability Index) fund and responsible for ESG analysis of equity and fixed income in Latin America.

Paula has a Bachelors degree in Management Science & Engineering from Stanford University, California, USA. She has a Specialization in Sustainability Management from FGV-EAESP and a Master's in International Relations from Instituto Empresa (IE-Madrid).

Patricio Puga

Financial Inclusion Lead, AS LAC

Patricio brings more than 25 years of distinguished experience in the banking and financial services industry. His professional trajectory encompasses senior leadership roles across multilateral organizations, international financial institutions, and major corporations, where he has successfully led high-impact initiatives in Financial Inclusion, Commercial Banking, Corporate Banking, and Investment Banking. He possesses deep expertise in strategic design and execution, underpinned by robust Risk Management knowledge and a strong track record of delivering sustainable growth and transformational impact.

Patricio currently serves as Financial Inclusion Lead for FIG AS in Latin America and the Caribbean at IFC, a member of the World Bank Group. Prior to joining IFC, he held leadership positions at Citibank, served as Chief Executive Officer of a microfinance bank in Latin America, and acted as Regional Vice President of ING Bank in Brazil.

Patricio holds a Master’s degree in Finance from Swiss Business School in Zurich, Switzerland, as well as an MBA from Universidad Francisco de Vitoria in Madrid, Spain.

Dereck Rajack

Chief Executive Officer, CariCRIS

Mr. Dereck Rajack is the Chief Executive Officer of Caribbean Information and Credit Rating Services Limited (CariCRIS), the only regionally focused credit rating agency serving the Caribbean. A seasoned risk management practitioner and strategic leader, Mr. Rajack brings over two decades of dedicated experience within the Caribbean financial services sector, including more than 15 years in executive and senior leadership capacities.

Throughout his career, he has built a reputation for steering complex enterprise risk management (ERM) frameworks, with deep expertise in credit risk, market risk, and capital adequacy. He is an effective and proven leader, having successfully led teams of professionals with varying technical and cultural backgrounds across multiple territories to drive institutional growth, governance, and operational resilience. As CEO, he leads CariCRIS’s strategic agenda to advance regional capital market development, enhance investor transparency, and uphold international rating standards.

In addition to his executive remit, Mr. Rajack is actively engaged in regional dialogue around emerging financial risks, regulatory framework modernization, and capital market development alongside industry working groups and supervisory authorities. He holds a B.Sc. in Mathematics with First Class Honours from the University of the West Indies. Committed to global best practices in risk governance, he earned both the Financial Risk Manager (FRM) designation and the Sustainability and Climate Risk (SCR) certification from the Global Association of Risk Professionals (GARP).

Shane Seepersad

Senior Manager | FOREX/Group Treasury, Republic Bank Limited

Shane Seepersad, CFA is a senior treasury professional with more than 14 years of experience across treasury management, asset-liability management, liquidity, funding, fixed income markets, foreign exchange, and balance sheet strategy within the Caribbean financial sector.

He currently works in Group Treasury for Republic Bank Limited, with responsibility for liquidity and funding management, balance sheet optimization, investment portfolio oversight, foreign exchange activities, and broader financial risk management. His role includes supporting the management of interest rate, liquidity and market risk, while helping to align balance sheet strategy with earnings, capital and regulatory objectives.

Over the course of his career, Shane has held roles spanning treasury, trading, portfolio management and capital markets. This has provided him with broad experience in managing bank balance sheets, multi-currency investment portfolios, wholesale funding programmes and liquidity across several Caribbean jurisdictions. His work also includes asset-liability strategy, regulatory engagement, financial market analysis, and providing treasury and balance sheet advice to senior management and boards.

Shane holds a Master of Science in International Finance, graduating with distinction, and became a CFA Charterholder in 2016.

George Thomas

Senior Vice President – Technology Development and Delivery, Sagicor Group Caribbean

George Thomas is the Senior Vice President, Technology Development and Delivery at Sagicor Group Caribbean. A champion of the digital revolution, he brings more than thirty years of experience across the finance and technology sectors and most recently led Sagicor Bank (Barbados) from pre-launch through market entry and growth.

Throughout his career, George has driven digital transformation through the delivery of internationally recognized, cutting-edge technology solutions for global banks, fintechs, and consulting firms. He was the architect behind the initial implementation of Internet Banking, Mobile Banking, Telephone Banking, and Online Payments at a leading Canadian-owned regional bank.

George also served as Consulting Lead for digital transformation initiatives at two leading mass-market retailers and was instrumental in the evolution of one of Barbados' newer card products into a digital wallet.

A Barbadian national, George has held executive leadership roles across the United States, Canada, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, providing strategic direction and technology leadership in diverse international markets.

George holds a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from The University of the West Indies and a Master of Science in Electrical Engineering, with a concentration in Computer Engineering, from Louisiana State University.

He currently serves as President of the Barbados Coalition of Service Industries and is a board member of the National Payments System Council, the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, the Copyright Society of Composers, Authors and Producers, and GovTech Barbados, where he chairs the Technology and Operations Committee.

Audrey Tugwell Henry

President & CEO, Scotia Group Jamaica Limited
Senior Vice President, Caribbean North & Central

Audrey Tugwell Henry has a combined 36 years of experience in banking with over 20 years at the executive level and a proven track record leading businesses within the Financial Services Industry.

Her current role is President & CEO, Scotia Group Jamaica Limited and Senior Vice President, Caribbean North & Central. In this position, Audrey has overall responsibility for the growth and profitable development of corporate, commercial and retail banking, insurance and wealth management through a network of branches and subsidiaries companies across Jamaica, as well as the North and Central Caribbean islands.

She serves as a Director on the Boards of Scotia Group Jamaica Limited, The Bank of Nova Scotia Jamaica Limited, Scotia Investments Jamaica Limited, Scotia Jamaica Life Insurance Company, Scotiabank Jamaica Foundation, Scotia Jamaica Building Society, Finbiz Processing Jamaica Limited, Scotiabank Caribbean Holdings Limited and Scotiabank (Bahamas) Limited.

Audrey is passionate about women empowerment and diversity and inclusion. She spearheaded the launch of the Scotiabank Women Initiative in Jamaica, a Scotiabank Global Program supporting women-led and women-owned businesses. Jamaica was the first country outside of Canada to launch this program.

Additionally, she places much of her focus on the development of talent and provides guidance, coaching and mentorship through the Scotiabank Caribbean Network’s Mentorship Program, as well as direct coaching.

Tanya Watson-Francis

Executive Vice President – Treasury & Capital Management, NCB Jamaica Limited

As Executive Vice President – Treasury & Capital Management at NCB Jamaica Limited (NCBJ), Tanya has responsibility for Treasury, Capital Management, and Strategy. She is a visionary leader, entrusted with the critical responsibility of shaping the Bank's financial architecture and driving its long-term strategic direction. Her leadership is pivotal in fortifying the Bank's balance sheet and ensuring its sustained growth and resilience in a dynamic global market.

Tanya's portfolio is a testament to her extensive expertise. She provides decisive leadership for the Bank’s Asset and Liability management, expertly navigating the intricate landscape of investment portfolio management, interest rate fluctuations, liquidity, funding, and foreign exchange risk. Her strategic oversight of Capital Management ensures the Bank remains robustly capitalised, while her stewardship of strategy positions the institution to capitalise on emerging opportunities and navigate future challenges.

With a career spanning over two decades in Treasury management, Tanya has been an integral part of NCBJ since 2004. Her influence extends beyond the Bank to the wider Caribbean financial community, where she serves as a respected member of the Caribbean Association of Banks' Board of Directors.

As a key member of the NCBJ’s leadership, Tanya is a strong contributor to several management committees. In her role as Head of the Institute of Leadership and Organisation Development (ILOD) within NCBJ, she is dedicated to cultivating the next generation of leaders, leaving an indelible mark on the institution's future.