Presenters Page 2
Halden Morris is professor of Career, Technical and Vocational Education and Training and the is the coordinator of the TVET Programmes in the School of Education, UWI, Mona. He holds a Ph.D. degree from the Southern Illinois University (Carbondale) in Occupational Education and is an alumni of the University of Technology, Jamaica and the University of Western Ontario, Canada. Professor Morris is a registered Professional Engineer (PE) in Jamaica and is a senior member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE).
Hellen Mukiri-Smith is a development expert and barrister. She currently works as a Consultant at the Economic Development and Planning Unit in the Office of Prime Minster in The Bahamas. She has a Master of Science degree in Development Studies from the London School of Economics and Political Science, a Master of Laws degree from King’s College London and a Bachelors of Laws degree from the University of Northampton.
Heidi Janes, M. Ed., is a curriculum development specialist at the Fisheries and Marine Institute of Memorial University, St. John’s, NL, Canada. She has significant international work experience, including consulting in and collaborating with technical and vocational education and training (TVET) stakeholders in Tanzania and in the Caribbean.
Icilda Ffrench Is a lecturer in the Family and consumer Studies Programme, Faculty of Education and Liberal Studies at the University of Technology, Jamaica. She is also the current Teaching Practice Coordinator at the University and published book reviews in Home Economics.
Ms. Ffrench holds a B. Sc in Home Economics and M. Ed. Specializing in Instructional Supervision from Prairie View A & M University, Texas.
James Gregson is a professor in Adult and Technical Education as well as in Environmental Science at the University of Idaho (Moscow, Idaho, U.S.A.). He currently also serves as Associate Dean. His scholarship consists of over 40 publications, 60 presentations and over $4 million of external funding, and he has been involved in research, teaching, and service related to TVET for sustainable development and appropriate technology.
Jodine Williams, is an Assistant Registrar, Syllabus and Curriculum Development Division, Caribbean Examinations Council with direct responsibility for the TVET portfolio. She holds a Master of Arts in Education with an emphasis in Curriculum and Instruction from the Northern Caribbean University, and a Bachelor of Education (first class honors) from the University of Technology, Jamaica.
Joan Vickers is an educator at the Waterford High School in St. Catherine Jamaica. She holds a teacher’s diploma from Shortwood Teachers’ College, a Bachelor’s Degree in Library and Information Studies; a Master of Education in Educational Administration, UWI, Mona, and is currently pursuing a Master of Philosophy in Leadership in TVET and Workforce Development at UWI, Mona.
Justine Pierre is a Director at Dunn, Pierre, Barnett and Associates Limited, and also serves as business & Entrepreneurial Development Manager. He holds an MSc in Workforce Education and Development from The University of Technology Jamaica, an MBA in Marketing and Finance, a degree in Business Management and a Diploma in Labor Market and Co-operative Studies. Mr. Pierre is an experienced Labour Market consultant.
Jacqueline Solomon-Wallder currently works at the HEART Trust/NTA as the Acting Vice Principal at the Vocational Training Development Institute (VTDI).
She is a trained teacher and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business and Management, from the University of Wolverhampton, a Master’s degree in Business Administration from the University of East London, and currently pursues a PhD in Educational Leadership and Management at the University of Technology, Jamaica.
K. Anderson Lowe is the Consultant Manager to the Competency-Based Training Fund (CBTF) Management Unit in Barbados. In addition to being an Engineer, Anderson has been a Chartered Accountant for the past seventeen years and is a fellow of the Association of Chartered Accountants (ACCA) of the United Kingdom and the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Barbados (ICAB).
Kerisha Donaldson is presently a teacher at the secondary level in the field of Family and Consumer Management. She is an Assessor with the National Training Agency in Food Preparation. She holds a BSc in Food Service Management and a Teaching Diploma in Secondary Education. She is presently pursuing a MA in TVET and Workforce Development at the University of the West Indies Mona, Jamaica.
Keshawna Salmon-Ferguson currently serves as the Head of the Education Division in the Faculty of Education and Liberal Studies at the University of Technology, Jamaica. She has obtained a PhD in Education with emphasis on leadership and a Postgraduate Diploma in Education. She also holds a Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology and a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science and Economics.
Kevin Baxter is currently employed to the HEART Trust NTA as Manager (Acting) in the Monitoring and Evaluation Department within the TVET Development and Support Systems Division. He is a certified Automotive Technician and a trained teacher. Mr. Baxter holds an M.A. (Distinction) in Leadership in TVET and WFD from The UWI and a B.Ed. (Hon) in Mech. Tech. from The UTech. Jamaica.
Konstantinos Pagratis is an Assistant Programme Specialist (Education) at the UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning (UIL) in Hamburg, Germany, focusing on capacity development, research and networking in the field of adult learning and education and non-formal education from a perspective of lifelong learning. He holds a double MA degree in Lifelong Learning Education Policy Management awarded by Aarhus University (Denmark) and Deusto University in Spain.
Kenny Ott is a Professor of Adult and Career Education at Valdosta State University in Valdosta Georgia, USA. He holds a B. M. E. and a M.Ed. from the University of Central Oklahoma in Edmond, Oklahoma. He also holds a Doctorate of Education in Occupational and Adult Education from Oklahoma State University. He has over 25 years of experience in educational, governmental, and corporate environments.
Kimroy Bailey received his Bachelors in Electrical Engineering from the University of Technology, Jamaica. He has experience in the field of Robotics and Renewable Energy, and is a Consultant with the Caribbean Examination Council in the development of a new course called Green Engineering and has also been contracted by the Ministry of Education to execute training workshops for science teachers. He also installs hybrid alternative energy systems.
Lora Backes is an ASHA certified Speech-Language Pathologist. Currently she is an assistant professor and clinical supervisor for the VSU Speech-Language and Hearing Clinic at Valdosta State University. Her primary areas of interest are with preschool and school-age individuals with communication disorders as well as adults with developmental disabilities.
Lola Bennett holds a MSc in Hospitality and Tourism Management and is presently pursuing a MPhil/Ph.D. degree in Career and Technical Education at the University of Technology. She is presently a Lecturer at Church Teachers’ College, Mandeville and serves as Board Member of the Roger Clarke High School, Treasurer of the Jamaica Home Economics Association and Public Relations Officer of the Caribbean Association of Home Economists.
Linda Cooke is the Regional Coordinator for the CARICOM Education for Employment Program and the Colleges and Institutes Canada Representative in the Caribbean. She has worked on TVET projects in Zanzibar, Tanzania and South Africa, and has lectured as an adjunct professor in the English Department at the University of Ottawa where she received a Ph.D. in English Literature.
Marcia Rowe Amonde is currently Senior Director at the HEART Trust NTA where she has responsibility for leading the development of learning resources, capacity building of TVET professionals and monitoring and evaluation of TVET programmes. Marcia is a trained teacher who holds a Masters in Instructional Design from the University of Twente Holland and a doctorate focusing on effective learning in TVET programmes from the University of Manchester, UK
Madgerie Jameson-Charles, PhD is the Coordinator Master of Arts: Leadership in Technical and Vocational Education, and Foundations Lecturer in the School of Education, The University of the West Indies St. Augustine Campus, Trinidad & Tobago.
Mairette Newman is a Lecturer in the School of Education at the University of the West Indies Mona campus. Her primary areas of research and her teaching include school leadership, teacher education and teacher development. She has a strong interest in how TVET is understood and represented in Jamaica.
Myrna Ransome is an Assistant Professor at the University of Trinidad and Tobago, in the departments of Research, and Special Needs Education. She holds a Ph.D. in Research and Evaluation from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech), an M. Ed. in Special and Inclusive Education from the University of Sheffield and a B.Sc. in Behavioural Sciences from Andrews University.
Matthew Greaves is the General Manager: Global Green Development Inc. (GGD), which is a Renewable Energy company in Barbados.
He holds MSc in Development Economics, from the University of London, with emphasis on Development Finance; B.Sc. Economics and Accounting, Double Major, Honors, The UWI, and is a Fellow of the Life Office Management Institute of Canada (F.L.M.I.), Life and Health Insurance.
Marcine Taylor Brown holds an MBA in Human Resources Management from MSBM, a BSc in Hotel and Restaurant Management from UTECH and is a Certified Hospitality Educator (CHE). Employed to HEART Trust/NTA for over 12 years at Instructional, Administrative, and Senior Management levels. She possesses demonstrable competence in Quality Assurance, Learning Resource Development, Competency Based Education & Training (CBET) methodology and Leadership.
Nellian Hutton-Rose is an MPhil/PhD Career and Technical Education (CTE) Student in the faculty of Education and Liberal Studies, University of Technology, Jamaica. She is an educator and is guided by philosophy “education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world”.
Nadine Valentine holds a M.Sc. in Tourism and Hospitality Management from the University of the West Indies, Mona Campus and has research interests in wellness tourism and workplace wellness. She is the Manager of Information & Communication Technology Support Unit in the School of Education UWI, Mona. Mrs Valentine received an award from The Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) to conduct research on wellness tourism.
Nicole Amaral is a Senior Associate in the Labor Markets Division of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) since 2016, where she focuses on skills systems, technical and vocational education and training (TVET), and youth employment. A Princeton fellow at Endeavor Chile, Nicole holds a M.A. in Latin American Studies with a concentration in political economy from Georgetown University.