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Damien King is the Executive Director of the Caribbean Policy Research Institute (CAPRI), a public policy think tank, and formerly a lecturer in Economics at the University of the West Indies. He has written, supervised, and published academic work and policy papers in the areas of sovereign debt, economic modeling, international trade, and financial inclusion, amongst others. Damien is the author and editor (with David Tennant) of Debt and Development in Small Island Developing States, (Palgrave, New York). He earned his B.A. from York University, Canada, an M.Sc. from the University of the West Indies, Jamaica, and a Ph.D. from New York University, USA. Damien serves on corporate boards in the public and private sector. Recreational activities include watching cricket, hiking, and reading.
Accomplished Financial professional with a career of over 35 years that has advanced in the fields of finance, insurance and tourism. Ms Gomes further completed professional designations in accounting and insurance, CGA and FLMI respectively.
Currently Lisa’s day-to-day focus as Country Manager for the Jamaican arm of Chukka Caribbean Adventures Limited (CCA) keeps her motivated and busy. Ms Gomes board memberships include (a) Chairman of Proven Wealth Limited; directly chairing also its audit committee, (b) member of Kingston Property Limited Board; with direct responsibility for chairing its Corporate Governance Committee and (c) member of Kingston Properties Limited Investment Committee. These directorships keep her motivated and connected to the Asset Management field.
A firm believer in knowledge enrichment, Lisa holds a Certificate in General Management specialising in Leadership and Building High Performing Teams, in addition to having successfully completed professional courses linked to Project Management, Organization Innovation, Strategic Planning, as well as Understanding and Solving Complex Business Problems. Many of these courses were under the tutelage of MIT.
Ms. Gomes commitment to enhancing her knowledgebase is matched only by her ability to drive success for the various companies she worked for. Lisa’s proficiency in Finance, Investment Banking, and Pension Fund Management was honed with one of the Caribbean's largest integrated financial conglomerate (Guardian Holdings Limited), culminating in her role with Guardian Asset Management Jamaica Limited (GAMJA), where she, as President for nine years, was responsible for driving its growth in shareholders' equity from J$100M to J $1 Billion. Ms. Gomes, also piloted the successful and profitable sale of said company in 2010, when the parent company decided to exit that sector in Jamaica.
Lisa has also worked in the Hospitality sector for over five years with Sandals Resorts International as Director of Finance and Planning and led the team that executed government negotiations and acquisitions. Thereby, successfully facilitating the expansion of the group into the Eastern Caribbean.
A mother of two who continuously researches improvements in achieving organisational health, Lisa has placed all her knowledge and experience into founding Capsol Advisory Limited, a company formed to provide much-needed services in the Finance and Tourism sector. She recognizes that with the current drive to ensure sustainability, and ensure business resilience, it is essential to integrate Environmental, Social, and Governance into all organisations.
Her motto -"The best is yet to come".
Kadeen, is widely regarded as a visionary entrepreneur and strategist whose philosophy of “solving problems and creating businesses with the solutions” has resulted in extraordinary business success and inspiring initiatives.
In 2016, at the age of 24, after retiring from his banking ambitions at National Commercial Bank as a then supervisor with credit experience, Kadeen borrowed money to start his own Microfinance Institution called M24 Investments Limited. Three years later, he sold the assets of the then medium size lending outfit to the second oldest stock brokerage firm in Jamaica – with assets under management (AUM) then exceeding US$200M. At the time, the brokerage firm had a subsidiary called Dolla Financial Services Limited, a Micro Credit company, for which Kadeen was appointed Chief Executive Officer. .
In 2019 Kadeen’s dreams of providing debt to micro, small and medium enterprises were well on its way through Dolla, but his pending aspirations to provide equity to businesses were unfulfilled. In August of that year 2019, Dequity was formed as a Private Investment Holding company with its first investment involved owning a 20% stake in Dolla Financial Services valued US$600,000, whilst retaining 100% stake in M24 Investments Limited he founded; focusing on Cambio and Remittance Services. In 2020, Kadeen partnered with First Rock Capital Holdings (Listed on the Jamaica Stock Exchange – Main Market) in a transaction valued at US$1,800,000.00, which saw Dequity maintaining an associate stake in Dolla Financial alongside First Rock as a majority shareholder.
Kadeen has over 14 years of experience in the financial sector, starting at 18 working within Credit Unions, Commercial Banks, Investment Banks, Venture Capital Companies and Founding of Micro Finance Institutions. Among his many personal accomplishments, Kadeen is a Certified Expert in Micro Finance from Frankfurt School of Finance & Management- Germany, and has received Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the Montego Bay Community College – Management Major and pursued a Masters of Business Administration with a major in Marketing from the University of Technology Jamaica.
Kadeen spearheaded the initial public offering on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange in 2022. Dolla has disbursed over US$1.3M in funds to over 6,000 customers since inception. The global micro-finance institution which serves individuals, as well as small to medium-sized enterprises has a staff complement of 47 with eight locations in Jamaica; with a location in Guyana. Dolla Financial Services has reported a net profit of US$388,792 billion for 1Q 22, up from US$76,003, a 412% increase year over year.
Kadeen has over 14 years of experience in the financial sector, starting at 18 working within Credit Unions, Commercial Banks, Investment Banks, Venture Capital Companies and the Founding of Micro Finance Institutions. Among his many personal accomplishments, Kadeen is a Certified Expert in Micro Finance from Frankfurt School of Finance & Management- Germany, and has received a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the Montego Bay Community College – Management Major and pursued a Master of Business Administration with a major in Marketing from the University of Technology Jamaica.
Kadeen is a member of the Forbes Business Council which sees him writing articles and giving expert advice on business and entrepreneurship. In 2018, Kadeen was nominated for the young entrepreneur award by the Montego Bay Chamber of Commerce. He is also a member of the Jamaica Association of Micro Financing, and the Business Process Industry Association of Jamaica.
Kerry has over 16 years of experience in the financial industry specializing in investments. She has a unique blend of charisma, boldness and wit which one could easily attribute in part to her success. Over the life of her career, she has been instrumental in closing some of the Caribbean region’s largest and most significant transactions in both private & public debt & equity.
Kerry is the founder and director of Amani Consulting Partners; a boutique firm that will guide and represent clients in various capacities. Prior to consultancy, she built her career at two of the Caribbean’s leading financial institutions, the last of which she was a senior executive accountable for wealth management. In this capacity she led the largest team in the organization and was responsible for charting the strategy for sales and distribution of the firm’s investment products. This saw her spearheading sales operations, customer experience, digital channels, wealth marketing strategy, and syndication which expanded across the company’s regional entities. She was also integral in key strategic projects which saw her working alongside renowned international consultants and other leaders across the Group of Companies.
Kerry has a passion for financial literacy and freedom, mentoring, and philanthropy. She has served on the boards of the Statistical Institute of Jamaica (STATIN) and Rotary International (Club TNH).
She’s a firm believer in never allowing one's mindset nor circumstance to limit one's God-given potential; her mantra “if you can dream it, you can do it” ~ Walt Disney.
Kerry is a Certified Financial Planner and holds an MBA (Finance) from University of Manchester, UK and BSc. (Business) from Norfolk State University, USA. She also completed executive education: Canadian Investment Fund (CIFC), corporate finance, and leadership from Stern (NYU) and Chicago Booth Business Schools.
Mr. Steele is a qualified Chartered Accountant and holds a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from the University of the West Indies. He also completed a Master of Business Administration from Florida International University and an Executive Program in General Management at Harvard Business School.
He began his finance career at KPMG as a Senior Accountant and later joined the Carreras Group Limited in 1998, where he held various Senior Finance roles such as Finance Planning Manager and Marketing Finance Manager. In 2004, he successfully led the migration of Caribbean legal entities into the regional shared service center as the Country Readiness Manager for the Caribbean at British American Tobacco Caribbean and Central America's Area Office in Costa Rica. He then became Finance Planning and Reporting Manager for BAT's operations in the Caribbean and Central America in 2005.
Mr. Steele was appointed to the Carreras Board of Directors in 2007 and served as Finance Director and Company Secretary until 2011. He was later seconded to Carisma Marketing Services Limited, a BAT company in Trinidad, as Country Manager, where he managed the company's businesses across 24 markets in the English, French, and Dutch Caribbean. He returned to Carreras in 2013 as Managing Director, serving on the Board of Directors until 2020.
Currently, Mr. Steele serves as a Director of Proven Wealth Limited and is a member of its Audit Committee. He is also a Director of Catherine Peak Bottling Company and Spike Industries Limited, where he serves as Chairman of their Audit Committees. Previously, he served as the Chairman of the Board of Directors at Demerara Tobacco Company Limited in Guyana until February 2020. In 2014, Business Suite Magazine recognized Mr. Steele as the Top CEO in Jamaica and 3rd in the Caribbean. When not working, he enjoys reading, dancing, cricket, football, and athletics. He has two children, Marquis and Sonique, and lives by his personal motto, "My today's best should be my tomorrow's worse."
Dr. Germaine Spencer is a Cosmetic-Gynaecologist and Laparoscopic surgeon practising in Montego-Bay Jamaica. He is the CEO/Founder of Baywest Wellness Hospital and Clinics, GetWell Medical Solutions Ltd, Laser Vaginal Rejuvenation of Jamaica and 876 Beach Club in Trelawny, Jamaica. He is the medical director for BHI Therapeutic Sciences Jamaica and Hook Diagnostics Lab in San Diego, California. He is a graduate of the University of West Indies, where he earned MBBS and Doctor of Medicine degrees. He completed several post doctorate programs including a gynae-oncology fellowship at TATA Memorial Hospital in Mumbai, a diploma in sonography and
minimal access surgery from the world association of Laparoscopic surgeons. He is a fellow of the International Society of Cosmetic Gynaecology and Laser Vaginal Rejuvenation Institute of America.
CEng, PE, PMP, LEED AP, FASHE, EDAC
Garold Hamilton is a Senior Vice President and Healthcare Practice Lead at WSP, one of USA’s largest engineering and infrastructure firms. He is a licensed professional engineer in USA as well as in the Europe. He has over 26 years of experience in the design healthcare facilities in the USA, Canada, Europe, and the Caribbean. He has designed and constructed over 5 billion square feet of healthcare facilities globally. He is a Healthcare Thought Leader and written over 30 articles in multiple healthcare and engineering publications. He is also a seasoned presenter and has presented nationally and internationally at several engineering conferences and seminars. His work has been recognized with several design honors, including the American ASHRAE Technology 1st Place Award for Healthcare Engineering design for several hospital designs. In 2015 he was named 40 under 40 (best engineers in USA under 40) by the Consulting-Specifying Engineer Magazine for engineers who stands out in a variety of personal and professional aspects in their lives. He has a passion for real estate investments and is a director and partner for Real Equity Ltd and is an owner of Hamilton Estates Residential Ltd.
Adrian Smith holds a Bachelor's Degree in Finance from the University of Tampa which has been included on Forbes' annual ranking of America's Top Colleges. His academic achievements are paired with many years of professional experience within Jamaica’s financial sector. His experience has seen him hold the positions of Executive Wealth Advisor at NCB Capital Markets amongst other financial institutions working in both the capacity of Securities Trader and later promoted to Head of Commercial.
Through these positions and subsequent exposure, Adrian has managed several accounts in excess of US$100 million and has been successful in raising over J$1 billion for two IPOs within the Jamaican Stock Market.
Mr. Smith will support the firm in identifying local and regional investment opportunities in multiple sectors, as well as supporting Dequity Capital portfolio companies and their leadership teams in executing their operational and strategic growth.
He has led various teams in both marketing and sales leading to significant gain for the companies he worked with. His exemplary knowledge, leadership skills, and commitment to success have led to him being awarded the Customer Service Award from the Jamaica Stock Exchange for two consecutive years in 2017 and 2018.
With years of leadership experience, Adrian Smith is a world-class executive with deep sector expertise and multicultural experience.
Kevon McIntosh is a Chartered Accountant with the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Jamaica and a Certified Public Accountant in the United States through GUAM. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Management Studies with a Major in Accounting from the University of the West Indies, and is currently pursuing the Certified Financial Analyst designation. Kevon has over 5 years of audit experience working at KPMG Jamaica and KPMG Cayman Islands. Within that period, he focused on the Financial Services industry, working with Asset Management Companies such as Hedge Funds, Mutual Funds, Funds of Funds and Private Equity Funds. He has worked with various teams and clients across the United States of America, The Cayman Islands and South America. Kevon is the SLP and YCPO Chairman for The Kiwanis Club of Young Professionals of Western Jamaica and is a member of the Cornwall College Old Boys Association. He is currently on the Board of Directors at Cornwall College. Kevon is a firm believer in financial literacy and spends a great deal of his spare time sharing his financial knowledge with his colleagues.
Vyktor Drum, the Chief Legal Officer for Dequity Capital Management Limited has a Bachelor’s degree in Law, LL.B from the University of the West Indies and a Legal Education Certificate from Norman Manley Law School. He has years of experience as a Legal Intern and Company Secretary for National Housing Trust and as an Associate Attorney-at-Law for Depass & Co. Attorneys-at-Law, one of the most prestigious law firms in the Country. At Depass & Co., Vyktor practiced a wide cross-section of civil law with special focus on Corporate and Commercial Law for large and medium-sized corporate entities, Company Law, Conveyancing, Real Estate Law and Employment and Labour Law. He has managed and had conduct of in excess of 200 files over a 2 year period during which time he lead development of new practice areas within the Firm, including Restrictive Covenant Discharge and Civil litigation amongst other aspects of law. He was awarded the NCB Nation Builder Award in 2016. Vyktor’s personal statement is to utilize his disciplined work ethic, keen attention to detail, analytical thinking and strong research skills to contribute to an organization’s growth and realization of its goals.
Kira Azan, the Corporate Planning Manager at Dequity Capital Fund Managers Limited has over 10 years of experience in management, team building, professional development, strategic implementation, and company collaboration. “How you do anything, is how you do everything” is Kira’s philosophy and applies this to all aspects of life. She believes that consistency is the key component to achieving goals. She is a forward thinking, goal-oriented and self-motivated professional, offering high-quality leadership and administrative skills. Kira is also a licensed Realtor® with Coldwell Banker Jamaica Realty and a member of the Realtors® Association of Jamaica which is an affiliate of the National Association of Realtors® in the United States of America. Equipped with initiative and armed with knowledge of the market she is dedicated to guiding clients to finding exactly what they want for the best possible price. Before being appointed Corporate Planning Manager, Kira was the General Manager at Alpha and Omega Company Limited and was responsible for managing daily operations to guarantee success in meeting all operational effectiveness and efficiencies. She also managed the human resource department which included staff recruitment, training and management, amongst other responsibilities. She implemented several strategies and policies, including creating a monthly profit predictions system and transforming the human resource policies to improve staff performance and overall moral. After graduating from the American International School of Kingston with High Honours and receiving the Renaissance award, Kira went on to study Advertising and Public Relations at the University of Tampa in Florida, U.S.A. She has participated in a number of charities such as the Jamaica National Children’s Home, Jamaica Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and the Ozanam Home for the Aged. Kira is passionate about helping others and giving back where she can.
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