Registration & Breakfast

7:30am - 9:00am

Tech Hub Islands Summit (t.h.i.s) 2024: BREAKTHROUGH

The annual Tech Hub Islands Summit is one of the ways AMCHAM T&T works toward advancing digital transformation efforts and initiatives in our country and making Trinidad and Tobago a major player in the global tech ecosystem. The theme 'Breakthrough' signifies a powerful convergence of innovation and determination to overcome obstacles and achieve transformative success in the digital age. In an era defined by rapid technological advancements and ever-evolving challenges, 'Breakthrough' encapsulates our collective drive to shatter barriers and propel forward. This theme underscores the importance of breaking through limitations, embracing bold ideas, forging new paths to shape the future of technology, redefining what's possible and leading the charge towards a future where technology knows no bounds.


Welcome & Opening Remarks

9:00am - 9:15am

Nirad Tewarie
CEO
AMCHAM T&T

Title Sponsor's Remarks

9:15am - 9:30am

  P. Vic. Salickram
Group Vice President, Republic Financial Holdings Limited & Vice President, 
Republic Bank Limited

Minister's Remarks

9:30am - 9:55am

Senator the Honourable, Hassel Bacchus, Minister of Digital Transformation 
The Government of the Republic of Trinidad & Tobago

Opening Keynote Speaker 

10:00am - 10:30am

Carlos Andres Neva Vargas  
Senior Customer Engineer - Public Sector
LATAM 
Google

Executive Panel: BREAKTHROUGH - The Importance of Leadership 

10:30am - 11:30am

Stuart Franco
President
AMCHAM T&T

Carina Cockburn
Country Representative
Inter-American Development Bank

Abraham Smith
CEO
Digicel Trinidad & Tobago


Karen Yip Chuck 
CEO
Group Vice President


Anna Henderson
CEO
Amaranth Business Solutions Ltd


Lunch Break & Networking
11:30am - 12:50pm

Getting it Done: How companies are adopting and integrating emerging technologies 

1:00pm - 2:30pm

Discuss the practical considerations and challenges SMEs face when adopting and integrating emerging technologies into their operations. Topics may include Identifying relevant technologies (e.g., AI, IoT, blockchain) that offer the most value for SMEs. Overcoming barriers to adoption, such as cost constraints, lack of technical expertise, and resistance to change. Best practices for integrating new technologies with existing systems and processes.

Dr. Nicholas Fuller
Vice President, A.I. and Automation 
IBM Research

Raees Rahim
Chief of Technology
NOVO International


Vijay Pradeep
Founder & CTO 
Virtana

Johnason Nath    
Senior Manager, Digital Programme Management, Chief Information & Digital Transformation Office
Republic Bank Limited


Vitra Gopee
Consultant

Coffee Break & Networking
2:30pm - 3:00pm

Catalyzing Change: The evolving role of FinTech in driving economic empowerment and inclusive economic growth 

3:00pm - 4:30pm

Explore recent developments and emerging trends in the FinTech sector, such as digital payments, peer-to-peer lending, blockchain technology, and AI-driven financial services, and their impact on economic growth and social transformation. Explore the evolving role of financial technology in creating opportunities for underserved populations, enhancing customer and user experiences, and overcoming cross-border payment challenges. We'll also address the complexities of FinTech adoption, examining both its inclusive benefits and potential for exclusion, and discuss how banks and financial institutions are responding to these challenges. This session promises to offer valuable insights into the innovations and strategies shaping the future of inclusive economic development through FinTech.

Dr. Jan Schröder 
Chief System Architect
CaribCoin

Dalton Fowles
Country Manager (Jamaica, Trinidad & Tobago, Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean)
Mastercard

Shiva Bissessar
Managing Director
Pinaka Consulting Ltd

Ian T. Alleyne
Director
Paywise Limited

John Outridge
Chief Executive Officer
Trinidad & Tobago
International Financial Centre

Conference Networking Cocktail
4:45pm - 6:30pm

Registration & Breakfast Day 2 Opening Keynote Speaker Getting Digital-Ready: Leadership lessons to future-proof the digital workplace Hacked! Strategies to securing the future and building cyber-resilience Data, the Strategic Asset - Harnessing data-driven decision-making and analytics  e-Government Evolution: Unlocking digital potential  A.I.m to Disrupt! Tech's potential to disrupt traditional business models and create new opportunities 

Registration & Breakfast

7:00am - 8:20am

Day 2 Opening Keynote Speaker

8:30am - 9:00am

Karen Warnick-Elinan
Regional Sales Manager, Public Sector
Entrust 

Getting Digital-Ready: Leadership lessons to future-proof the digital workplace

9:00am - 10:00am

Explore strategies for driving change and fostering organizational adoption of digital initiatives. Gain insights into best practices and successful approaches from industry leaders. Discuss strategies for building digital capabilities within the organization, including recruiting and retaining talent with the right skills, fostering cross-functional collaboration, and investing in training and development programs. Highlight the importance of executive sponsorship and accountability in driving digital transformation initiatives forward. What role should executives play in championing digital initiatives, allocating resources, and holding teams accountable for results. Explore best practices for managing organizational change and overcoming resistance to change. Disucss the key challenges that executives face in driving change, and how can they effectively lead their teams through the transformation process. Address the cultural shifts required for successful digital transformation, including fostering a culture of innovation, collaboration, and continuous learning. How can leaders cultivate a digital-first mindset and empower employees to embrace change and adapt to new ways of working?

The Honourable Pennelope Beckles-Robinson  
Minister of Planning and Development
Government of the Republic 
of Trinidad & Tobago

Navin Dookeran  
 CEO
EximBank

Richard Shepherd  
Managing Director
Proman USA

Maria Chong Ton 
CEO
Eve Anderson Recruitment

Raj Ramdass 
CEO
RSC International

Danielle Dumas 
Director, Market & Business Development
Mastercard

Hacked! Strategies to securing the future and building cyber-resilience

10:00am - 11:15am

This topic encompasses the journey organizations must take from understanding cybersecurity risks to implementing proactive measures that enhance resilience against cyber threats. Explore various strategies, best
practices, and emerging technologies that empower organizations to withstand and recover from cyber attacks
effectively. Topic will include discussions on: Understanding common cyber threats and vulnerabilities faced by
SMEs, such as phishing attacks, ransomware, and data breaches. Implementing basic cybersecurity measures,
such as employee training, endpoint security, and regular software updates. Compliance with relevant data
protection regulations (e.g., GDPR, CCPA) and the implications of data privacy for SMEs. Developing incident
response plans and backup strategies to mitigate the impact of security incidents.

David Green
VP, Sales, North America
Hitachi Systems Security

Jeremy John  
Pre-Sales Solution Architect 
Digicel Business

Dr. Ronald Walcott
Managing Director
Precision Cybertechnologies

Joel Gooding  
Systems Engineer
Fortinet

Coffee Break & Networking

11:15am - 11:30am

Data, the Strategic Asset - Harnessing data-driven decision-making and analytics 

11:30am - 12:45pm

Explore the role of data as a strategic asset and discuss how businesses can harness data-driven
decision-making, advanced analytics, artificial intelligence, and machine learning to derive actionable insights,
optimize processes, and improve decision-making across all aspects of the organization. This topic should also
cover data governance, privacy, and security considerations.

Learie Hercules
Founder 
Heft IQ

Miguel Kalloo
Manager, Analytics and Insights, Data Governance and Management Unit
Republic Bank Limited

 Dr. Letetia Addison
Adjunct Lecturer, School of Science Computing and Artificial Intelligence
UWI, Five Islands Campus

Naresh Mongroo
VP, Technology Excellence & 
Enablement
Guardian Group

Leslie Lee Fook
Managing Director
Incus Services

Lunch Break & Networking

12:45pm - 1:40pm

e-Government Evolution: Unlocking digital potential 

1:45pm - 3:00pm

In today's increasingly digital world, governments around the globe are embracing technology to transform the way they interact with citizens, deliver services, and govern. This session will delve into the exciting opportunities and challenges presented by the evolution of e-government, exploring how digital technologies are revolutionizing governance and unlocking new possibilities for citizen engagement, transparency, and efficiency. The panel will share insights, experiences, and best practices on topics ranging from digital service delivery and open data initiatives to cybersecurity, citizen participation, and the role of partnerships in driving e-government success. Explore the explore the transformative power of digital innovation in shaping the future of governance and public service delivery. 

Raul Kaidro
CEO 
RaulWalter

Karen Warnick-Elinan
Regional Sales Manager, Public Sector
Entrust

Carlos Andres Neva Vargas
Senior Customer Engineer - Public Sector, LATAM
Google

Cory Belfon
Permanent Secretary
Ministry of Digital Transformation

  Michael Khan
 VP, Revenue Generation
The TSL Group

Coffee Break & Networking

3:00pm - 3:15pm

A.I.m to Disrupt! Tech's potential to disrupt traditional business models and create new opportunities 

3:15pm - 4:45pm

Showcase cutting-edge technologies such as blockchain, Internet of Things (IoT), augmented reality (AR), and virtual reality (VR). Highlight the benefits of cloud computing, including scalability, flexibility, and cost-efficiency, and discuss strategies for migrating to the cloud and optimizing cloud infrastructure. Examine the transformative potential of AI and machine learning technologies across various industries, including applications in automation, personalization, and predictive analytics. Highlight the importance of ethical considerations in the development and deployment of AI technologies, including issues related to bias, transparency, and accountability. 

Darren Mohammed 
Director, Microsoft Azure 
Microsoft

Dr. Rajini Haraksingh 
Lecturer Biotechnology, UWI
Director of Panomics & Chair, 
Biobanking Working Group

Eldred Garcia 
Senior VP, Business & Partner Development
First Atlantic Commerce

Learie Hercules 
Founder 
 Heft IQ

Emilio Vazquez 
Head Acceptance Solutions, Caribbean & Central America, VISA

Zia Paton 
Digital Services Lead
 PwC

Start with the customer – find out what they want and give it to them.


What is t.h.i.s.?

t.h.i.s. is a hybrid summit with a mashup of networking, education & tech to help you meet the leaders & talent in the Caribbean tech scene and understand the potential application of tech in your company and your life. Ultimately, t.h.i.s. will catalyse the development of a local Tech industry and put T&T and the wider Caribbean on the global Tech map.

Who is coming to t.h.i.s.?

Everyone from startups to multinationals to government agencies to investors to tech gurus to disruptors. Tech is today’s biggest change agent, and standing still is the equivalent of moving backward. However, there is a nexus for tech in T&T. There is a lot of good work happening, but it occurs in pockets with little collaboration. We need a truly connected ecosystem to drive real change.

If the tech industry is to explode, T&T needs to bring all tech groups together.

AMCHAM T&T has taken on the challenge of bringing tech groups together to advance the tech industry and to advance the digital transformation in Trinidad and Tobago. 

We plan to build a national tech ecosystem and marketplace that will allow local businesses to export tech services to international markets, develop a critical mass of local talent, and put the established businesses in touch with the young disruptors so that they can work together on solutions.

​The theme for t.h.i.s. 2024 is BREAKTHROUGH.  

Breakthrough signifies a powerful convergence of innovation and determination to overcome obstacles and achieve transformative success in the digital age. 

In an era defined by rapid technological advancements and 
ever-evolving challenges, Breakthrough encapsulates our 
collective drive to shatter barriers and propel forward. 

This theme underscores the importance of breaking through limitations, embracing bold ideas, forging new paths to shape the future of technology, redefining what's possible and leading the charge towards a future where technology knows no bounds. 

Topics will include:

  • Getting it Done: How companies are adopting and integrating emerging technologies
  • Catalyzing Change: The evolving role of FinTech in driving economic empowerment and inclusive economic growth
  • Getting Digital-Ready: Leadership lessons to future-proof the digital workplace
  • Hacked! Strategies to securing the future and building cyber-resilience
  • Data, the Strategic Asset: Harnessing data-driven decision-making and analytics
  • e-Government Evolution: Unlocking digital potential
  • A.I.m to Disrupt! Tech's potential to disrupt traditional business models and create new opportunities