 | Maurice Bent - Head of Facilities, Construction Projects, Fleet Services, and Security at the National Commercial Bank Jamaica
Maurice Bent is an accomplished facilities management professional with over 15 years of experience specialising in engineering, disaster preparedness, and security management.
He currently serves as the Head of Facilities, Construction Projects, Fleet Services, and Security at the National Commercial Bank Jamaica, where he provides strategic leadership and oversight for critical facilities infrastructure and security operations.
Maurice holds a Diploma in Mechanical Engineering and a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering.
He is a Registered Professional Engineer and is both a Government Licensed Electrician and Government Licensed Electrical Inspector, demonstrating his strong technical expertise and commitment to industry standards and regulatory compliance.
In addition to his professional and technical roles, Maurice has contributed to national development through his service as a former member of the Jamaican Government Procurement Entity (GPE), where he supported transparent and effective procurement practices for energy efficient.
Throughout his career, Maurice has built a reputation for delivering resilient and efficient facilities solutions, particularly in high-risk and disaster-prone environments. His multidisciplinary expertise, combined with strong leadership capabilities, enables him to drive operational excellence while ensuring safety, security, and sustainability across all areas under his management. |
 | Dalini Bharath - Manager, Governance, Risk & Compliance, KPMG
Dalini Bharath is a Manager in Governance, Risk & Compliance at KPMG Caricom, with close to nine years of Big 4 experience across the Caribbean. She specialises in AML/CFT, Internal Audit, ICFR, and Regulatory Compliance, serving clients across the financial services, insurance, and public sectors in the Caribbean, Bermuda, Bahamas, U.S, and UK. Dalini has collaborated with regulators and fellow Big 4 firms to strengthen Central Bank AML/CFT frameworks in the region. Beyond her practice, she is a Toastmaster and a mentor for women in leadership. |
 | Keith Boldeau - Regional Director Caribbean Markets, Swift
A Banking & Payments Industry Consultant to financial institutions and central banks across 30+ Latin American and Caribbean markets; focused on Payments Innovation and Risk Management initiatives aimed to strengthen and elevate operational business capabilities in support of national economies.
Currently serving as the Regional Director for Caribbean Markets at Swift, bringing over two decades of experience in Payments, Technology, Financial Services Consulting, and Investment Banking throughout Europe and the Americas. Recognized for his expertise in digital finance, fintech partnerships and payments modernization, his leadership track record is marked by successful initiatives in digital payments, Open Banking, and PSD2.
His passion for technology and deep industry insights on the future of digital finance, make him a key contributor to discussions on digital transformation, particularly in enhancing financial inclusion in global markets. He brings a blend of expertise, passion, and forward-thinking to every discussion and is honored to serve in the advancement of digital transformations, inspiring progress and fostering collaboration among industry leaders.
Keith holds his degree in Banking and International Finance from Bayes Business School, where he specialized in corporate finance, private equity, asset management, and financial engineering.
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 | Stefano Capodagli - Chief Risk Officer (CRO), Caribbean Development Bank
Mr. Capodagli holds an International Executive MBA from Bocconi University School of Management, Milan (Italy and China), and a BA/MA degree in Finance and Banking from “La Sapienza”, University of Rome, Italy. Mr. Capodagli is a Certified Public Accountant and Internal Auditor and Certified Professional Coach and member of IRM UK and AIFIRM Italy.
Stefano has over 30 years of top management experience in risk, finance, development finance, and commercial and investment banking in Africa, Central Asia, Eastern, Southern and Western Europe, and the Caribbean. He performed financial and risk roles as Deputy CRO of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), and senior financial advisor to the Secretariat of the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States on EU-OACPS 11th EDF financial, risk and results management since 2020.
Previously, Stefano was appointed Group Chief Risk Officer at Hellenic Bank Group of Cyprus and led the risk management team at the time of Cyprus’ post-financial crisis recovery. He also served as CRO at the Bahrain-based Arab Banking Corporation’s Algerian subsidiary; and Chief Risk Reforms Officer within the newly created Group Chief Risk Officer Vice Presidency of the African Development Bank.
He has extensive experience as a motivational speaker, moderator and professional trainer for Banks, Insurance and Multilateral Development Bank (MDBs) in Risk Management, Development Finance, Banking.
Stefano is the author of several articles published in the UK, Italy and CEE on SME Finance, Development Finance, Banking and Risk management.
Last article in course of publication is entitled “Integrating ESG Principles and Risk Management: Enhancing Caribbean Resilience and Sustainability”.
He is fluent in English, French and Italian, with basic knowledge of Spanish and Ukrainian. |
 | Joseph Cox - Managing Partner, Joseph Cox & Associates Limited
Joseph Cox is a distinguished Applied Economist, Strategic advisor and a regional thought leader with more than 30 years of experience advancing economic transformation, institutional reform and competitiveness across the Caribbean. A Jamaican national, he holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Economics from the University of the West Indies and has built a career spanning economic policy, investment facilitation, governance and strategic advisory services.
He is Managing Partner of Joseph Cox & Associates Limited, a regional advisory practice supporting governments, institutions and businesses in economics, strategy, innovation and institutional development. Through this platform, he has contributed to initiatives focused on growth acceleration, business competitiveness, financing structures and sustainable economic development.
Mr. Cox previously served for nine years as Assistant Secretary-General at CARICOM, where he led regional economic integration initiatives and supported policy reforms across energy, ICT, agriculture, investment and transportation. His work contributed to post-pandemic recovery planning, sustainability initiatives and programmes designed to strengthen regional competitiveness and resilience.
Prior to CARICOM, he served as Executive Director of the Growth Secretariat at Planning Institute of Jamaica and as Managing Partner at the Centre for Growth and Development, helping establish development and financing mechanisms and facilitating approximately US$174 million in business financing while advancing reforms to improve investment access and economic performance.
Mr. Cox has served on the boards of Caribbean Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency and Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre, contributing strategic oversight in energy transition, climate resilience and regional governance.
He currently also serves as Managing Partner of the Institute for Innovation and Growth, where he launched initiatives including H.I.N.T. (Behavioural Policy Optimisation) and CAPRELYST.
Beyond his advisory and regional leadership roles, Mr. Cox is Publisher and Host of Caribbean Business Review and curates a portfolio of Caribbean intelligence products—including Caribbean Financial Dispatch and CBR Intelligence Notes—which provide strategic analysis across economics, finance and regional development. He is the author of several publications on economic policy and business transformation, including The New Normal – A Post-COVID Primer for Business, Utility of VAT Holidays, and most recently From SORROW to L.U.C.K.. |
 | Ricardo Murrel - Associate Director, KPMG
Ricardo Murrel is a Financial Risk Leader with deep expertise in advising financial institutions across the Caribbean on navigating regulatory complexity and strengthening financial risk frameworks. As an Associate Director at KPMG with over 15 years of professional experience in financial services, Ricardo leads high-impact engagements focused on credit risk, liquidity risk, stress testing and regulatory transformation. Ricardo is known for translating complex risk data into clear, strategic, insights that enable executive decision making and enhance institutional resilience in an evolving landscape.
A respected voice within the regional risk and regulatory community, Ricardo actively contributes to thought leadership and industry dialogue, supporting the advancement of sound risk practices across the financial sector. |
 | Gabriel Perez - Latin America & the Caribbean Coordinator, V20 Sustainable Insurance Facility – UNEP FI
Gabriel Pérez is the Regional Coordinator for Latin America and the Caribbean at the V20 Sustainable Insurance Facility (V20 SIF), hosted by the United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative (UNEP FI), a role he has held since 2023. In this capacity, he leads the Facility's regional agenda on climate risk insurance, parametric solutions, and blended finance to strengthen the resilience of MSMEs and financial institutions across the region.
He previously served as Chief Executive Officer of Costa Rica's National Insurance Institute (Instituto Nacional de Seguros), bringing extensive leadership experience across the insurance and financial services sectors. A Certified Public Accountant, he holds a Master's in Digital Transformation from INCAE Business School.
His work spans climate risk and credit, sustainable insurance, and the design of risk transfer mechanisms aligned with the Principles for Sustainable Insurance, positioning the V20 SIF and UNEP FI as strategic partners for the public and private financial sector in the region. |
 | Dr. Stacy Richards-Kennedy - Regional Manager, Caribbean CAF – Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean
In November 2022, CAF – Development Bank for Latin America and the Caribbean – officially launched its Regional Management Office for the Caribbean located in Port of Spain, Trinidad and headed by Dr. Stacy Richards-Kennedy, Regional Manager for the Caribbean.
CAF has a US$34 billion-dollar portfolio of projects across Latin America and the Caribbean and Dr. Richards-Kennedy is leading CAF’s efforts to provide increased development financing to governments and private sector clients across the region.
Dr. Richards-Kennedy has over 25 years’ experience in multilateral negotiations, development management and international finance. Her diverse experience includes forging strategic partnerships, leading multi-disciplinary teams and marshalling resources for the successful execution of projects in Europe, Africa, Asia and the Pacific, and Latin America and the Caribbean.
Dr. Richards-Kennedy formerly served as Pro Vice-Chancellor for Global Affairs at The University of the West Indies, which is ranked among the top 1.5% of universities globally. She also has extensive experience working in multilateral development agencies. She was Assistant Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) for Trinidad and Tobago, Aruba, Curaçao and St Maarten; Chief Technical Advisor, Inter-American Development Bank (IDB); Consultant, The World Bank, Washington DC and Programme Specialist, UNESCO Headquarters, Paris.
A national of Trinidad and Tobago, Dr. Richards-Kennedy is fluent in Spanish, French and English and has a working knowledge of Portuguese and French Creole. She holds a Doctorate in Education from The University of Sheffield, an MSc in Development Management from American University (Washington DC), an MBA specializing in International Finance from American University (Washington DC) as well as a Postgraduate Diploma (International Relations) and Bachelor of Arts in Foreign Languages, both from The University of the West Indies (St. Augustine, Trinidad).
Dr. Richards-Kennedy has served on several national as well as international boards and committees and has received various awards and recognitions, including the IDB Martin Luther King Award for outstanding contribution to the promotion of social inclusion, American University’s Ernest M. Aiken Award to Outstanding International Scholars, selection as one of the 50 Most Distinguished Alumni of The UWI Institute of International Relations, and many others. |
 | Professor Justin Robinson - Principal, The University of the West Indies Five Islands Campus
Professor C. Justin Robinson serves as Principal of The University of the West Indies Five Islands Campus. Hailing from St. Vincent and the Grenadines, he holds a BSc in Management Studies from Cave Hill Campus, an MSc in Finance and Econometrics from Florida International University, and a PhD in Finance from the University of Manchester.
As Professor of Corporate Finance, his research encompasses capital markets in developing countries, public and corporate finance, and financial risk management, yielding over 50 refereed publications. With more than 25 years of university leadership experience, Professor Robinson has served as Dean of Social Sciences, Executive Director of Sagicor Cave Hill School of Business & Management, and Pro Vice-Chancellor for Undergraduate Studies.
His extensive public service portfolio includes Director of the Central Bank of Barbados, Chair of CARICRIS Ratings Committee, and First Vice President of the Barbados Museum and Historical Society. Appointed as the third Principal of Five Islands Campus on August 1, 2023, he was inducted in January 2024. |
 | Roberto Rubio - Associate Operations Officer and Project Lead, International Finance Corporation
Roberto Rubio is an Associate Operations Officer and Project Lead within the Financial Institutions Group Advisory team at the International Finance Corporation, a member of the World Bank Group, based in Panama. He focuses on climate finance and financial inclusion across Latin America and the Caribbean, supporting financial institutions in developing sustainable finance strategies and products, green and sustainable taxonomies, and sustainable financing frameworks. Roberto has worked with banks, regulators, and market participants across the region to help mobilize capital toward sustainable and inclusive growth. He holds a degree in Economics and an MBA. |
 | Dr. Modaldo Tuñón - Professor, Panama Technological University.
Bachelor's, master's and doctoral studies in the areas of Systems Engineering and Industrial Engineering at universities in the United States.
Coordinator of the Artificial Intelligence, Robotics and Data Science Commission of the Panama Technological University, 2023-2025.
Coordinator of the University, Business, State and Society Linkage Commission (UnEES) of the Panama Technological University, 2023-.
Member of the Board of Trustees of the City of Knowledge (2008-.
Member of the Board of Trustees of the Private Sector Council for Educational Assistance CoSPAE, 2020-
Published Books: Vensim Simulation Software (published by UTP Editorial Board); Arena Simulation Software (published by the UTP Editorial Board); System Dynamics (5th Edition under review); Systems Simulation (4th Edition under review); Basic Mathematics Review Guide (1st Edition under review); in addition to articles in different indexed magazines.
Speaker at more than 80 conferences, congresses, national and international symposiums on topics related to management, leadership, systems engineering and industrial engineering, Artificial Intelligence. Modeling and Simulation, among others.
Founder and First Dean of the Faculty of Computer Systems Engineering of the Panama Technological University and one of the founders of the Panama Technological University.
Former Rector of the Latina University of Panama, 2006-2014.
Former president of the Council of Rectors of Panama, 2010. |
 | Mr. Michael Walcott - General Manager, Internal Audit, Republic Bank Limited
Michael Walcott, General Manager, Internal Audit of Republic Bank Limited is a risk management and business process improvement professional with significant industry expertise in Compliance, Process Improvement, Operational Risk, and Auditing. In his current role, Mr. Walcott is responsible for the streamlining of activities conducted throughout the Group.
A member of Republic Bank’s managerial team for more than a decade, Mr. Walcott has served as General Manager - Overseas Operations; Acting General Manager - Group Enterprise Risk; Senior Manager - Corporate Operations Process Improvement/Operational Risk; and Manager, Corporate Activities, Internal Audit. Prior to which, he has also served as Compliance Manager (with regional oversight), Internal Auditor, and Business Risk Analyst in various organisations throughout Trinidad and Tobago and the region.
Mr. Walcott holds a Bachelor of Arts in Accounting from Morehouse University, Atlanta, Georgia, is certified in Professional Anti-Money Laundering under the Florida International Bankers Association (FIBA), and was awarded a Certificate in Compliance from Citigroup. He has completed several courses in credit risk; anti-money laundering; fraud prevention and detection; occupational health and safety; business writing; and financial statement analysis. |
 | 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. |
