Presenters Page 1
Allison Brown-Tucker is a graduate of the University of the West Indies where she completed both her Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees in Demography. She also has a certificate from the UWI Open Campus in Small Business and Entrepreneurship and has been employed with the Jamaica Customs Agency for seven years.
Alison Mead Richardson is the Education Specialist for Skills Development at Commonwealth of Learning and has a background in corporate communications, broadcasting and management consultancy. She holds a Master’s degree in Distance Education from the University of London and her doctorate was awarded by UNISA on new technology in technical and vocational education and training.
Alia Wedderburn is the Head of the School of Aesthetics and Cosmetology at the Excelsior Community College, Jamaica. She holds an M.A. in Leadership in TVET and Workforce Development (UWI) and a B.Ed in Applied Technology (VTDI). She has represented Jamaica in several skills competitions abroad before achieving the first place award in the UNESCO/UNEVOC Skills in Action competition in 2015, for her dedication to TVET.
Ainsworth A. Savage is a senior MPhil/PhD student in the CTE programme at the University of Technology, Jamaica (UTech). He has worked in the public service of Jamaica for 20 years and holds BA, MBA and a post graduate diploma in management. He is presently preparing for candidacy exam in the PhD programme at UTech
Alejandro Paredes Trapero, PhD, PMP, SPP is Regional Director, Executive Director, Project Manager, Strategist, Consultant, International Speaker, and University Professor.
He is currently COP – Chief of Party - Regional Director of the Advance Program - USAID/LAC/RSD Regional Workforce Development Program/FHI360. He has been a consultant on strategic planning, project management, university professor and keynote speaker for international congresses in Latin America.
Alejandro holds a PhD (Cum Laude) in Economics and Business Administration from the European University of Madrid, a Master’s degree in Project Management, Specialization in Management Development at the George Washington University. He also wrote a digital book (Amazon) “Systemic Intelligence”.
Bridget Johnson-Smith is currently employed by the University of Technology Jamaica (UTech), where she is also pursuing a master’s degree in Career and Technical Education. She holds a postgraduate diploma in Human Resource Management from the Management Institution for National Development, as well as a BSc.in Science and education Biology/ Chemistry major. She is the recipient of the presidents and Faculty awards from UTech.
Charles Backes received his Ph.D. from Louisiana State University. He teaches professional education courses at Valdosta State University in Valdosta, Georgia. Dr. Backes is also the Director of Professional Education for the National Training Institute, which is an instructor-training program of the Electrical Training Alliance. He is Professor of Adult and Career Education at Valdosta State University and works in Teacher Education throughout Georgia.
Carmel Roofe-Bowen is a teacher educator and a lecturer in Curriculum and Instruction in the School of Education, University of the West Indies, Mona. She is an active education researcher and has authored and co-authored several publications in local and international journals. Her research interests lie in the areas of teacher preparation, curriculum implementation, online learning and Technical Vocation Education and Training.
Conrad Valentine is employed to the Ministry of Education as Senior Business Education Officer in the Technical & Vocational Unit. He is a graduate of the University of Technology and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business. He is currently pursuing a Master Degree in Leadership in TVET and WFD at the University of the West Indies.
Disraeli Hutton is currently a senior lecturer in the School of Education, UWI, Mona in the areas of Educational Leadership and Management and Leadership in Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET). His areas of research interests include: school leadership, funding of education, and skills development in the Caribbean.
Dee D Ott is a certified family nurse practitioner who is in her fourth year as an Assistant Professor in the College of Nursing and Health Sciences at Valdosta State University in Valdosta Georgia, USA. She has a BSN from VSU, MSN from Georgia State University in Atlanta, Georgia, and a Doctorate of Nursing Practice from the University of South Alabama in Mobile, Alabama.
Dave Muir, Electrical Engineering, with a Mechanical minor from Georgia Tech is a Professional Engineer, certified energy manager and currently Chair of the IEEE, Region 3 Area 9. He is a Fulbright scholar with a postgraduate diploma in education, growing publishing and consultancy cadre with interests in Automation, Energy and Sustainability. Dave is a partner of the KB Robotics and Renewable Energy initiative.
Delize Williams is Director/Principal of the Vocational Training Development Institute (VTDI). She holds a Master of Science Degree in Computer Science from the McGill University in Montreal Canada, and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Computer Science and Mathematics (first class honours) from the University of the West Indies. This repertoire also extends to notable tertiary level qualifications in teacher education, leadership and management studies.
Diane Wright is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Adult and Career Education at Valdosta State University (VSU). She holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and a master’s degree in Education from VSU; a master’s degree in Education Media Design and Technology from Full Sail University; and a doctorate in Educational Leadership from Nova University.
Elaine Shakes is a TVET professional with over thirty years of experience at the practitioner, administrative and managerial levels. She was Assistant Registrar/Syllabus and Curriculum development for the Caribbean Examinations Council where she managed the portfolio for TVET and the CVQ.
She holds a Master of Science degree in Educational Leadership and is a 2009 ILO/International Training Centre TVET fellow.
Essa Al Mulla is the Executive Director of the Knowledge and Human Development Authority of ENDP. The mandate of this program is to develop and train UAE nationals to join the private sector. He graduated from University of Lincolnshire & Humberside BA (BIS) and also attended the Young Management Programme (YMP) by INSEAD in Fontainbleau –France and Singapore
Elizabeth Richard is a faculty member at Temple University in the Center for Professional Development in Career and Technical Education. She is also responsible for Technical and Professional Development and Support of TVET teachers across all content areas. Areas of expertise include the Occupational Competency Assessment process, cooperative education, and field-based teacher education.
Fernando Pavon has worked with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) since 2004 and is currently a Specialist in the Labour Markets and Social Securities Division of the Bank. Over the years, he has facilitated important assignments in Honduras, El Salvador and Washington USA. His current assignment requires him to be based in Jamaica.
Mr. Pavon has a Master in Public Policy from the Maxwell School of Citizenship & Public Affairs, Syracuse University.
Grace McLean is the Chief Education Officer of Jamaica. She holds a PhD in CTVET, MBA in HRM and BSc in Education. She also holds a Certificate from The Harvard Business School in Strategic Business Management. She is a fellow of the City and Guilds of London Institute as well as the Institute for Educational Administration and Leadership (IEAL-J)
Gareth Phillips is a lecturer in the School of Technical and Vocational Education at the University of Technology, Jamaica, and currently specializes in Quality Assurance and Higher Education. His training in external quality assurance was with QAA in the UK. He also worked with the UCJ as an Accreditation Officer. His more recent research focuses on quality assurance issues in TVET and TVET leadership.
Gossett Oliver is a professor and is the President of Institute of International Recognized Qualifications (IIRQ). He has had a distinguished career in Production Engineering, Metallurgical Engineering and TVET. He is a EUR ING, Chartered Engineer, who holds the highest distinction (Fellow) of City and Guilds of London Institute and was appointed Fellow for the Jamaican Institute of Management and the Jamaica Institution of Engineers.
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