Register Now! JEF Virtual Convention May 18-19, 2023 - Members: $35,000.00 Non-Members: $45,000.0

  The Most Honourable Andrew Michael Holness is Jamaica’s ninth Prime Minister.

With a Master of Science in Development Studies and a Bachelor of Science in Management Studies from the University of the West Indies (Mona Campus), Mr. Holness brings a vibrant, pragmatic energy to the transformation of Public Sector Administration and to making Government more agile and responsive.  The focus of his Government is to grow the economy, create jobs and improve the well-being of the Jamaican people. 

Minister of Labour and Social Security

The Hon. Karl Samuda is a businessman, farmer and a technocrat and, is best known as a veteran politician.

  He previously served as Minister of Education, Youth and Information, Minister of Industry, Commerce Agriculture & Fisheries as well as Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation (MEGJC). He has also served as a Minister of State in earlier administrations. 

Inclusive Leadership

Shirley Davis brings a unique background as a seasoned HR and Diversity & Inclusion global thought leader, a senior executive, a certified leadership coach, and a former Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer for several major Fortune 100 companies. She has worked in more than 30 countries on five continents and delivers more than 80 speeches a year. She continues to consult, coach, and present to leaders at all levels of an organisation, in all business sectors, and across several industries. 

Using the fundamentals of Organization Development (OD) to invigorate Innovation, Integration, and Implementation

Gilmore Crosby has practiced Organisation Development (OD) since 1984, and in the Caribbean since 1999. Gilmore followed in the OD footsteps of his father, Robert P Crosby. In the creative spirit of Kurt Lewin, Gilmore combines Lewin’s methods with emotional intelligence and a plethora of other sources. He recently wrote his sixth book, “Diversity without Dogma.” 

Mr. Crosby considers it an honor that many Jamaicans call him a “yaardie.” He is a father, a grandfather, and he is happily married to a Jamaican.

Creating a Future-Ready Jamaican Workforce: “A Holistic Approach to Innovation, Integration, and Implementation"

Taneisha Ingleton is a dynamic professional who embraces a culture of excellence and creativity. She is a decisive and strategic thinker with expertise in organizational development and analysis, competency-based programme design and training, project management, and leadership development. She has a proven track record of consistently delivering quality results, on time, and within budget. 

Dr. Ingleton possesses superior communication skills, is a big-picture thinker, a change agent, and visionary. She is also an educator with demonstrable capability of collaborating, leading and managing multiple issues at once. 

She is a team player who is solutions-oriented, and committed to contributing to the intellect, talent and creativity of all individuals. She is motivated by challenges.

A Traditional Furniture Factory: Innovate, Integrate & Implement

Deanna McFarlane is a business development consultant specialising in evaluating business operation efficiency, strategic business planning, feasibility studies, business plan development complete with financial projections, and MSME, business and competitiveness improvement training. 

She also provides mentorship for SME clients and lending institutions. 

She was the first female president of the Small Business Association of Jamaica. Her working experience spans banking, commerce, manufacturing, construction, marketing, and business training.  

 What you need to know about the Sexual Harassment (Prevention and Protection) Act, 2021

Gavin Goffe is the Head of the Litigation Department at MF&G. His practice is generally focused on employment law, public law and tax. The Labour Practice Group that he leads has been involved in several landmark court decisions related to unjustifiable dismissal in Jamaica. He has conducted seminars and workshops on a variety of employment law and industrial relations topics. 

Consequences of COVID-19: Revealing Insights on the Skills Gap

Paul Golding, is a Professor of Information Systems; former Dean of the College of Business and Management and former Head of School, School of Computing and Information Technology at the University of Technology, (Utech) Jamaica. 

He is an academic, an innovator, consultant, guest columnist, author and philanthropist.

Paul is an author of The First 21 Years of the 21st Century Observations from Jamaica. Currently, he has been writing teaching cases on Jamaican companies for use locally and internationally.

Paul is a multiple winner of several of Utech’s most prestigious awards for excellence including; research (twice); community service (twice); teaching; and innovation. 

Impostor Syndrome in the Workplace 

Vanetta Morrison is an Emotional Wealth Strategist and the Director of 'The Blueprint Way', an online counselling, coaching and consulting business whose mission is to help Black & Brown women develop and maintain their emotional wealth, so they can thrive, from the inside out.

A registered counsellor with the Association of Christians in Counselling (ACC) and British Association of Counselling & Psychotherapy (BACP), Vanetta has worked with diverse clients, focusing on anxiety and depression, abuse and trauma, and grief and loss.

Vanetta is also an experienced life and career coach, leveraging 15+ years of leadership, management and psychology experience and facilitating significant individual and organisational successes; both in the higher education and charity sector.  

Working Smart: Why Strategy Must Align to the Culture

Thirty-three years ago, Dr David Cohen transitioned from education to corporate consulting. As a consultant, he has earned a reputation as a contrarian consultant because he does not always follow what is popular. 

David works with leaders helping them understand what is and is not required to build a thriving organisation with a desirable employee experience. He helps leaders to step into life's challenges, inspiring them to create a sustained approach through a values-based focus, resulting in better business results. 

  The Future of Customer Experience in a Technology Driven Era 

Rodcliffe “Junior” Robertson is an Arbitrator at the Industrial Dispute Tribunal (IDT-West Panel), Human Resource & Training Consultant and a part-time lecturer. 

He has a wide range of experiences in various industries. He previously worked with companies like NCB Jamaica Limited, Sandals Resorts, Grand Palladium, Couples Resorts, and his own business Total Training & Development.  

 From Case Study to Case Story: Business Support Beyond Marketing

Michel Neray is a professional speaker, consultant, creator of Inside-Out storytelling, and the founder of momondays -- a monthly storytelling event that pre-COVID, was in 16 cities. Michel has helped thousands of individuals and organizations to drill down to their core message, become category kings through category design, and craft more impactful, ‘Inside-Out’ stories to become effective leaders, salespeople, coaches, teachers, trainers, speakers, and influencers of all types. He also uses the Inside-Out approach to differentiate, position, and brand organisations in the market.

Be The Spark – Ignite the Re-Start 

(Managing Workplace Challenges Arising from the Impact of COVID 19)

Dr. Robert Lemon is a renowned professional speaker, author and entrepreneur. He has risen to prominence by delivering a high energy message which inspires people to take responsibility for their lives and live up to their greatness.  A leading corporate and workforce speaker, Robert combines the ageless tool of storytelling with a profound understanding of today's culture. For years, thousands have been touched by his keynotes and trainings. Robert was selected by Legacy Magazine, published in the Miami Herald honoured as one of "South Florida's Most Powerful and Influential  Business Leaders" of 2018. 

Converging ESG and Innovation – Tailoring an ESG Strategy to Strengthen the Corporate Governance Structure

Acres Stowe has a proven track record of more than 25 years in the Commercial Industry coupled with five years in the legal industry.  Mr. Stowe is the author of the book, Beyond Intellect and Reasoning -- a scale for measuring the progression of artificial intelligence systems (AIS) to protect innocent parties in third-party contracts. 

Talent Pipeline Development – ‘Catch-Um and Keep-Um’

John Sherman is the Manager of Pipeline Talent Development for Altec Industries, the world’s largest manufacturer and service provider of utility vehicles (bucket trucks, diggers, and cranes) for the utility (power/light) tree service, sign, cable, and high-speed technology industries. 

Prior to Altec, Sherman was a 23-year executive with FedEx and consultant with expertise in sales, marketing, human resources, labour relations, quality, communications, learning/development and leadership education. Sherman is a motivational speaker, professional vocalist, business consultant, and certified executive coach.

 Winning in the Work Life Balance  

Wayne St. Aubyn Henry, is the Director General of the Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ). He has been making significant contributions to the country’s growth and development for more than 20 years. Dr. Henry has served as lecturer in the Department of Economics, University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona; head of the World Bank Jamaica Country Office; special advisor in the Ministries of Agriculture and Fisheries, Finance & the Public Service, and Vice President for Government Affairs at the Scotiabank Group. 

Since his appointment at the helm of the PIOJ in 2016, Dr. Henry has been actively and integrally engaged in advancing Jamaica’s sustainable development policy. Under his stewardship at the PIOJ, several activities were initiated in support of the country’s implementation of the National Development Plan – Vision 2030 Jamaica, and the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals SDGs) 

The Psychological Effects of a Health & Safety Pandemic on Workers in the Workplace

Janice Green is the International Commission on Occupational Health, (ICOH), National Secretary for Jamaica. She is a Certified Safety Professional (CSP) of the Board of Certified Safety Professionals, (BCSP), USA and a member of the American Society of Safety Professionals. 

A past president of the Jamaica Occupational Health & Safety Professionals Association, Mrs Green is a member of Workplace Health Without Borders, Canada.

The Future of Work: Exploring the Impact of Digital Transformation, The 

Metaverse, Artificial Intelligence, Virtual and Augmented Reality

Christopher Reckord is a Tech Entrepreneur with almost 40 years of experience in the delivery and implementation of Information Technology, Cybersecurity & Digital Transformation solutions. 

Chris is a member of the PSOJ and currently serves as chairman of their Innovation and Digital Transformation committee. His love for the business of wine has seen him become the leading voice on the topic of wine in Jamaica, writing a weekly column for the Jamaica Observer for over 10+ years. 

For public service, Chris serves on a number of boards for the Government of Jamaica and other organisations. 

  The Pandemic and Pensions: An Employer’s Source of Income for Valued Employees …

Magdalena has been in the life insurance industry in Jamaica and the following countries since 1985. She has worked in the Cayman Islands to assist with the marketing of the pension plan; Turks & Caicos Islands and St. Lucia. She is currently at Solid Life & General Insurance Brokers Ltd as a Pensions Consultant. Her current focus is to market Approved Retirement Schemes (ARS) to corporate entities. 

Conversations for Transformation of Organisations

Professor Neville Ying is currently Professor (Hon), Educational Measurement and Evaluation, Mico University College.

He has had a distinguished career and a proven track record in the public, private, and social sectors, and higher education institutions. 

He has provided service and institution building and transformative contributions to over 50 organisations and Transformational Projects at the international, regional and national levels.

In 2022, he authored a new book titled Servant Leader In Action: Transformation in Motion

Personal and Common-Sense Tips on 

Minimising and Avoiding Industrial Conflicts 

At the Workplace

Gregory Reid, attorney-at-law, is currently the Managing Partner of  Zaidie, Reid & Company. 

He works extensively in the areas of Industrial and Human Relations 

and has been a Specialist Practitioner in Labour Laws for over 23 years. 

Mr Reid is a former chairman of the Jamaican Bar Association Standing Committee 

on Labour Laws and Industrial Relations.

The impact of COVID on how firms do Business and plan for Succession

Thirty-three years ago, Dr David Cohen transitioned from education to corporate consulting. As a consultant, he has earned a reputation as a contrarian consultant because he does not always follow what is popular. 

David works with leaders helping them to understand what is and is not required to build a thriving organisation with a desirable employee experience. He helps leaders to step into life's challenges, inspiring them to create a sustained approach through a values-based focus, resulting in better business results. 

People Centered Implementation: How Putting People at the Centre of Transformation Can Bridge the Gap Between Innovation and Benefits Realization

Cordell Williams-Graham is a seasoned Change & Transformation strategist, consultant, and coach, serving some of the leading organisations and government entities across the Caribbean. 

Her results-driven approach has empowered successful design, planning and delivery of large and complex change and transformation across a broad range of industries and in high change velocity environments. She has worked with the Jamaican Prime Minister’s appointed Economic Growth Council on the Government’s successful implementation of the IMF Standby Agreement.  

  Ethical Corporate Culture: Growing Honesty for Business Sustainability

Cecile Dennis is an innovative and result-driven professional with extensive experience in the fields of research, strategic planning, revenue management, and human resource management, gained across the retail, financial, housing and utility industries. She is a business consultant and an adjunct lecturer at the University of the Commonwealth Caribbean (UCC). 

In August 2022 she was awarded the Doctor of Business Administration degree by Walden University, having successfully defended her thesis, Strategies to Prevent Occupational Fraud in the Financial Sector,a topic that she found interest in, based on her observation of fraud occurrences in the financial industry 

Innovate or Evaporate: From Vision to Implementation

Ilsa H. duVerney JP, MA, is a Certified Organisation Development (OD) Process Consultant, Founder/Chairman/CEO of Caribbean Centre for Organization Development Excellence Limited (CARICODE 2006), Process Consultant, Master Facilitator, and Certified Work Team Coach. She has expertise and years of experience in OD, Transformation, Culture Change, Start-up operations, Customer Service, and HRM/ HRD.