KEYNOTE SPEAKER
Dr. Nyan Gadsby-Dolly attended San Juan S.D.A. Primary, where she sat SEA and subsequently completed her secondary education at St. Augustine Girls’ High School. She then moved on to the University of the West Indies, St. Augustine Campus, where she obtained her Bachelor’s degree in Analytical Chemistry, Post-Graduate Diploma in Educational Technology and her Doctoral degree in Organic Chemistry.
Dr. Dolly served as an educator for 11 years- starting her career at St. Francois Girls’ College from 2004 – 2009, and moving to the tertiary level as a Senior Lecturer at COSTAATT for 6 years, where she obtained her certification as an Online Instructor. Following her years at COSTAATT, Dr Dolly was elected Member of Parliament for St. Ann's East in 2015, and served as Minister of Community Development, Culture and the Arts in the Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago from 2015- 2020. As a part of her service at the Parliament from 2015-2020, Dr. Dolly also chaired the Joint Select Committee on Human Rights, Equality and Diversity.
A member of the acclaimed Lydian Singers, she is an avid reader and researcher, with a lively interest in history. Born and raised in Newalloville, San Juan, where she currently resides, she is the last of 4 siblings. One of Dr. Dolly’s favourite pastimes is interacting with young people. As a mother of three teenagers, she is passionate about youth motivation, development, and success.
Dr. Nyan Gadsby-Dolly, having been re-elected as MP for St. Ann's East. Now serves as the Minister of Education of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago.
GUEST SPEAKER
Mr Wayne Christopher Chen is President of the Caribbean Employers Confederation, a regional association representing 18 national employers’ organizations and is a member of the CARICOM Human Resource Development Commission. He was the Jamaica Observer’s 1998 Business Leader of the Year and is coauthor of ‘Reggae Routes: The Story of Jamaican Music’ published by Temple University Press.
Mr Chen is also Chairman of Super Plus Food Stores, CVM Television, and Jamaica’s Southern Regional Health Authority. He is a past Chairman of NCB Insurance, NCB Cayman, West Indies Trust Company, Jamaica’s Urban Development Corporation and National Land Agency, and the National Gallery of Jamaica. He has also been a director of the National Commercial Bank and Victoria Mutual Building Society.