Feature Address
Hon. Mark Brantley, the Premier of Nevis, is a lawyer by profession who received his Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of the West Indies – Cave Hill Campus in 1992 and his Legal Education Certificate of Merit from the Norman Manley Law School in 1994 where he graduated First in Class. He also holds a Bachelor of Civil Law from the University of Oxford (1995) having won the Winter Williams Commonwealth Scholarship.
Having been called to the St. Kitts-Nevis Bar in 1994 he has practiced extensively before the High Court and Court of Appeal. He has appeared as an expert witness on Nevis Commercial Law in various international jurisdictions including Singapore. He is a member of several Bars in the OECS and holds membership in several international professional associations. He was the Managing Partner of the St Kitts-Nevis based law firm Daniel Brantley.
Hon. Brantley entered politics in 2006 as a senator in the Nevis Island Assembly for then Opposition Party, the Concerned Citizens Movement (CCM). In 2007 he was elected to the Federal Parliament of St. Kitts-Nevis and became the Leader of Her Majesty’s Loyal Opposition. He retained his seat in the 2010 Federal elections and continued as Leader of the Opposition until January 2015.
Hon. Mark Brantley is also a speaker for Plenary Session 1 – Insights on the Future of Tourism in the Caribbean.
View full biography of Hon. Mark Brantley.
Moderators
- Val Henry - Plenary Session I - Insights on the Future of Tourism in the Caribbean
Mr. Val Henry is a marketing expert, communications specialist, entrepreneur, and a trained and qualified journalist.
As a citizen of St. Kitts & Nevis, he has dedicated over four decades of service through leadership and visionary roles in Tourism, Journalism, Sport, and Community Development.
He is the owner and CEO of Vh Communications & Marketing Agency, the leading public relations and advertising company in St. Kitts and Nevis. He also owns and manages My Vue News.com, an online news organization.
He worked as a correspondent for the Caribbean News Agency, CANA, and was a Senior Radio & Television News Presenter at ZIZ, (St. Kitts).
He is a graduate of the University of the West Indies, (Honours). In 1992, he responded to the call to help advance the tourism sector of St. Kitts & Nevis and was appointed as Executive Director of the Hotel & Association.
After eleven (11) years at the helm, Mr. Henry transformed the organization into a powerful and influential body, becoming the leading private sector representative agency for hotels and allied businesses in his twin-island nation. In 1994, he created and founded the St. Kitts & Nevis Visitor Magazine, and served as the main writer and first editor of what is now the premier tourist guide for the destination.
His service of excellence in tourism was recognized in 1999 when the Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association presented him with the Tourism Executive of the Year Award.
Mr. Henry is highly respected in Caribbean tourism circles and served for four (4) years as a Member of the Board of Directors of the Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association, in addition to being on the Executive Committee.
He was also elected for 4 consecutive terms as President of the Caribbean Society of Hotel Association Executives, representing 32 countries in the Caribbean and Latin America.
- Waveney Henry - Plenary Session III - Navigating the New Talent Landscape
Waveney Henry is the accomplished Director of Human Resources for Park Hyatt St. Kitts, where she brings with her an impressive career in Human Resources spanning 17 years.
With an extensive background of 20 years in the hospitality industry, she has cultivated a deep understanding of the unique challenges and opportunities in this dynamic field.
Beyond her role at Park Hyatt St. Kitts, Waveney is also the visionary founder of The People’s Brand, a highly regarded coaching and development company. Her passion lies in empowering new managers to flourish by honing their communication skills and cultivating positive work relationships. Through her expertise and guidance, she equips emerging leaders with the tools to succeed and thrive in their professional journeys.
Waveney’s unwavering dedication to Human Resources and her commitment to fostering growth and excellence in the Hospitality sector have made her a well-respected figure in the industry. Her impact extends far beyond her current role as she continues to make a significant difference in the careers of countless others.
Speakers
- Anne Crick - Regional AH Audit, Plenary Session III - Navigating the New Talent Landscape
Anne Crick is currently senior lecturer and former head of the department of Management Studies and the Centre for Hospitality and Tourism Management of the University of the West Indies Mona Campus.
Before joining the U.W.I. she worked for several years in some of Jamaica’s leading hotels in training and food and beverage management. She has a BSc in Hotel Management from the University of the West Indies, a M.S. in Organizational Management from Penn State University and a PhD in Organizational Management from Rutgers University.
Her research areas include organizational culture, quality service management and Caribbean hospitality and tourism.
Anne is also a certified trainer and has worked with several of Jamaica’s leading hotels and financial institutions on various training and developmental programmes. She has recently concluded a major HR audit of tourism in the Caribbean region where she acted as Team Lead. She is a former Board Member of the Human Resource Management Association of Jamaica (HRMAJ) where she chaired the Research and Publications Committee.
She is also a member of the Jamaica Customer Service Association and a director of the Group Board of Jamaica Money Market Brokers (JMMB). Her passion is for quality service delivery to internal and external customers in all areas of organizational life.
- Philip Mondor - Keynote Address, Future Skills Framework, Plenary Session III
Philip Mondor
President and CEO, Tourism HR CanadaPhilip is an accomplished leader with nearly 35 years of experience working with labour market stakeholders across Canada and abroad including foreign governments, pan-global organizations, Canadian and non-Canadian businesses, and various education and training bodies. His work spans over 15 industrial sectors and in 11 countries, with most of his career focused on the tourism industry.
Philip is an industry representative to the Deputy Minister’s Advisory Council, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. Currently, he is an advisory member of the Labour Market Information Council and a Director on the Board of the Tourism Industry Association of Canada. Throughout his career, he has been called upon to offer input to various workforce policy directives with governments and associations. Philip has worked with a variety of boards and committees, and volunteers for causes that help advance workforce issues and improve opportunities for people to engage in community and meaningful employment.
- Todd Brodie - Master Class 2, Plenary Session IV - Navigating Technology
Dr. Todd Brodie, Ph.D.
With extensive experience as a Senior Human Resources Leader, Todd excels at guiding global organizations towards success by implementing cutting-edge talent management approaches to attract, retain, and develop high-potential individuals across various regions, including North America, Latin America, Australia, New Zealand, West Africa, MENA, European Union, and the UK.
Todd is widely recognized for his expertise in devising and executing strategies that drive international teams and individuals to surpass financial, operational, growth, and customer service objectives in diverse industries, such as Insurance, Financial Services, Hospitality, Sports & Entertainment, and Professional Services. His profound understanding of Human Resources and Front-Line capacities enables him to create and implement initiatives that motivate teams and individuals to achieve outstanding results.
Throughout his career, Todd has provided leadership and direction to numerous cross-functional Human Resources teams, consistently delivering high-quality, efficient, and cost-effective HR solutions for organizations ranging from non-profit entities to large global corporations. His unique strength lies in his ability to align strategic business initiatives with human resource policies and programs, including Employee Experience, Leadership Development, Employee Relations, Executive Coaching, Performance Management, Organizational Change Management, and Organizational Development. Additionally, he excels in areas such as HR Metrics, Succession Planning, Mentoring, Diversity and Inclusion, and Talent Management.
As a consultant, Todd has lent his expertise to specialized projects, offering invaluable guidance and advice on areas such as Employee Satisfaction and Engagement, Employee Retention, Organizational Restructuring, Pre/Post Merger and Acquisition Integration, HR Operations, and Immigration and Expatriate Administration.
Todd holds a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD.) degree in Management and Leadership Development. His doctoral research focused on identifying supportive leadership attributes and their positive impact on organizations. This academic achievement reflects his commitment to advancing the field of management and leadership while also enhancing his ability to guide organizations toward sustainable growth and success.
- Dr. Ricardo Neil - Plenary Session IV - Navigating Technology
Dr. Ricardo R. Neil is a distinguished professional in the field of Information Technology and an influential figure in the Caribbean’s academic community.
As the Chairman and Founder of the St. Kitts and Nevis Robotics Association (SKNRA) since its inception in 2015, he has been a driving force in shaping the landscape of robotics and technology in the region.
In his role as Chairman of the SKNRA, Dr. Neil has displayed exceptional leadership and vision. Since 2017, under his guidance, the St. Kitts and Nevis Robotics Team has achieved remarkable success and garnered international acclaim, emerging victorious in prestigious competitions worldwide, including the FIRST Global Robotics Olympics held in the United States, Mexico City, the United Arab Emirates, Switzerland, and Singapore. These victories stand as a testament to the team’s dedication, innovation, and technical prowess, solidifying their position as a force to be reckoned with in the global robotics arena.
Beyond his influential role as Chairman, Dr. Neil actively participates as a mentor and manager for the St. Kitts and Nevis Robotics Team, nurturing a culture of excellence and driving them to consistently push the boundaries of technological innovation. His dedication to cultivating talent and fostering a spirit of competitiveness has propelled the team to the forefront of the global robotics community, instilling pride and inspiration in the youth of the Caribbean to explore their passion for robotics and STEM fields.
- Ms D. Tracy Polius - Plenary Session I - Insights on the Future of Tourism in the Caribbean
Ms D. Tracy Polius
Chief Director (Policy) of the Eastern Caribbean Central BankMs D. Tracy Polius, a national of Saint Lucia, assumed the position of Chief Director (Policy) on January 7, 2019.
Ms. Polius is an economist with a blend of experience in public policy, commercial banking and academia. She has worked with the Government of Saint Lucia in various capacities including: Deputy Director of Economic Affairs from 2002 to 2007 and Permanent Secretary, Planning and National Development from 2014 to 2017. Immediately prior to this appointment, she served as Permanent Secretary in the Departments of Housing and Physical Planning from 2017 to 2018.
During her tenure with the Government of Saint Lucia, Ms. Polius served on the boards of the following organisations:
• Saint Lucia Development Bank
• Saint Lucia Social Development Fund
• Trade and Export Promotion Agency
• National Telecommunications Regulatory Commission
• Development Control Authority
• Caribbean Development BankMs. Polius has also worked as a Research Fellow at the Caribbean Centre for Money and Finance, UWI, where she served as co-editor of the Journal of Business, Finance and Economics in Emerging Economies among other duties. She functioned as Group Economist/Strategy Analyst for CIBC FirstCaribbean with responsibility for production of the quarterly intelligence publication on CIBC/FCIB territories. Her appointment as Chief Director (Policy), marks her second stint at the ECCB having previously worked as an Economist from 1999 to 2002.
Ms Polius has published regionally and internationally in the areas of reserve pooling, financial sector stability, price formation and labour markets.
Ms Polius holds an MSc in Economics from the University of the West Indies, Saint Augustine.