Click here for a programme of NVIDIA training workshops.
Click here for a PDF version of the conference programme.
Pre-Conference: Sunday 22 June 2025
UWI Five Islands Campus
Session Time
Activity
Presenter(s)
1:00 PM – 4:00 PM
AI in Education: Demystifying AI for Educators
Keynote address by the VP of Khan Academy
Location: Main Auditorium
Dr. Andrew Hunte, Lecturer, FIC Campus
KEYNOTE: Sandeep Bapna
VP International Partnerships, Khan Academy
6:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Opening Reception
@ Hodges Bay Resort and Spa
Social networking and cultural entertainment
MASTER OF CEREMONY
Indrani Bachan-Persad
UWI Head Economic Engagement & Industry Partnerships, UWI Office of Planning
Welcome Remarks:
Professor Justin Robinson
PVC & FIC Campus Principal
Dr. Stacy Richards-Kennedy
Regional Manager for the CAF, Caribbean Region
The Hon. Gaston Browne
Prime Minister, Antigua and Barbuda
Day 1: Monday 23 June 2025
MORNING SESSION • UWIFIC Auditorium
Time
Activity
Presenter
8:30 AM
Opening Ceremony
Master of Ceremonies (MC): Ercil Charles Jr.
8:35 AM
Introduction and Welcome Remarks
Professor C. Justin Robinson
Pro Vice-Chancellor and Principal, UWI Five Islands Campus
8:45 AM
Welcome Remarks
Hon. Daryll Matthew
Minster of Education, Sports & the Creative Industries, Gov. of Antigua and Barbuda
8:50 AM
Welcome Remarks
Dr. Stacy Richards-Kennedy
Regional Manager for the CAF, Caribbean Region
8:55 AM
Opening Remarks
Professor Aldrie Henry-Lee
Pro-Vice Chancellor for Graduate Studies and Research
9:00 AM
Keynote 1 Introduction
Ercil Charles Jr.
9:00 AM
Keynote Address 1:
“Platform Revolution: How AI is Reshaping Caribbean Economic Models”
Tianze Zhang
Founder, AI For Developing Countries Forum (AIFOD) CEO, ZAAN.com
9:25 AM
Keynote 2 Introduction
Ercil Charles Jr.
9:30 AM
Keynote Address 2:
“Empowering the South 2030: AI for Inclusive Digital Sovereignty in the Caribbean”
Tianze Zhang
Founder, AI For Developing Countries Forum (AIFOD) CEO, ZAAN.com
9:55 AM
Group Photos (Speakers / Participants)
Time
Activity
Presenter
10:00 AM
Opening Panel:
“Sustainable Strategic Diplomacy in an Age of AI and Shifting Geopolitics”
Policy Focus: Regional Resilience, Sovereign Engagement, and Global Partnerships
MODERATOR: Joy-Marie King
- Hon. E. P. Chet Greene – Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Trade and Immigration
- Dr. Armstrong Alexis – CARICOM Secretariat Deputy Secretary-General
- Dr. Craig Ramlal – United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Global Policy Network’s AI Expert, UWI Lecturer
- Ms. Andrea Jacobs – AI National Focal Point for Antigua & Barbuda and Crown Counsel
10:40 AM
REFRESHMENTS BREAK
Plenary Session II - BLOCK 1
Time
Activity
Presenter
11:00 AM
CAF Roadmap for National AI Implementation
Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean (CAF).
Policy Focus: AI Policy; National Strategic Planning
Mr. Enrique Zapata
Coordinator for Artificial Intelligence and GovTech – CAF
11:40 AM
REFRESHMENTS BREAK
ACADEMIC PAPER PRESENTATIONS - BLOCK 1
Time
SESSION 1A (Music Room)
SESSION 1B (A305/306)
SESSION 1C (Auditorium)
12:00 PM
AI & Caribbean Digital Transformation
Session Chair: Dr Edward Dixon
Paper 1: AI at the Crossroads – Navigating the Caribbean’s Digital Destination (Andrea Bhagwandeen)
Paper 2: Leapfrogging Barriers with Generative AI: A New Path for Digital Transformation (Nadeen Matthews Blair)
Paper 3: Accelerating AI Adoption in the Caribbean: The Vision, People, Value Framework for Human-Centric Digital Transformation (Stacey Hines)
AI for Healthcare Sustainability
Session Chair: Dr Dalano Dasouza
Paper 1: Integrating Artificial Intelligence into Caribbean Social Work Practice: Ethical, Professional and Ethical Considerations for Workforce Readiness (Cheryl-Ann Sarita Boodram)
Paper 2: Virtual Influencers as Promoters of Healthy Food Choices: The Effect of Disclosure Timing, Message Sidedness and Brand Familiarity (Barney G. Pacheco, Marvin Pacheco, Brevard Nelson)
Paper 3: Smart, Secure, and Connected: AI and Big Data for Caribbean Health (Travis G. Paul, Wayne Goodridge)
AI for Enhanced Quality Higher Education
Session Chair: Dr Andrew Hunte
Paper 1: UTech Syllaboost: A Case Study in Using AI to Foster the High-Impact Instructional Practices needed to Transform Education in the Caribbean (Camille Rutherford)
Paper 2: On the Correlation between Teacher to Student Ratio and Student Performance (Nicholas Mendez, Patrick Hosein)
Paper 3: On Extending Fairness to Teaching Assistants (Kris Manohar, Patrick Hosein, Alana Sankar)
12:45 PM
LUNCH BREAK (1 hour)
AI Insights – THEMATIC PANELS – BLOCK 2
Time
SESSION 1A (Auditorium)
SESSION 1B (A305/306)
SESSION 1C (Music Room)
1:40 PM
Panel: “AI for the Future of Work”
The world of work is changing faster than ever—AI is at the wheel. Thought leaders and industry trailblazers reveal how machine learning, intelligent automation, and data-driven insights are reshaping Caribbean workplaces.
MODERATOR: Mrs. Wendy Jackson-DeSouza – President, Human Resource Professionals of Antigua and Barbuda
Mr. Richard P. Kessler – AI Governance & Risk Management at Protiviti Global Business Consulting
Mrs. Melinda Tijerino, CIPP – Director, AI Risk Management, Moody’s Analytics, Inc.
Lorenzo Hodges
CEO, Plain White Table
Panel: “Healthy Futures: AI for Sustainable Caribbean Healthcare”
AI is transforming healthcare across the Caribbean right now. Hear from regional health leaders and AI pioneers using predictive analytics to spot outbreaks before they spread.
MODERATOR: Dr. George Mansoor
Dr. Michael Lingzhi Li
Assistant Professor at Harvard University (HBS TOM Unit) and
Chief Data Scientist at Waffle Labs
Dr. Cherie Tulloch – Obstetrician & Gynecologist, Consultant at The Sir Lester Bird Medical Centre in Antigua
Dr. James Hospedales
Former Executive Director of the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA)
Panel: “AI for Accessibility: Enabling Inclusive and Sustainable Futures”
Join leading technologists and advocates as they unveil cutting-edge tools to support Accessibility.
MODERATOR: Dr. Kwasi K Tonge
H. E. Walton Webson – Ambassador, Permanent Representative, Permanent Mission of Antigua and Barbuda to the United Nations
Ms. Maxine Williams – Vice President of Accessibility and Engagement at Meta
Plenary Session III - BLOCK 2
Time
SESSION 2A (Auditorium)
3:30 PM
Smart Farming: AI for a Sustainable Agricultural Future
Join Dr. Ranveer Chandra, Microsoft’s visionary CTO of Agri-Food, as he unveils how AI, edge computing, and sensors are transforming farming from intuition-driven to data-driven—empowering farmers to boost yields, cut waste, and adapt to climate change. Discover how these smart technologies are seeding a sustainable agricultural revolution across the globe, including right here in the Caribbean
MODERATOR: Samantha Marshall
Dr. Ranveer Chandra
Vice President, Copilot Tuning,
M365 Copilot and CTO Agri-Food,
Microsoft
AI Insights – THEMATIC PANELS – BLOCK 2
Time
SESSION 2A (A305/306)
SESSION 2B (Music Room)
SESSION 2C (Auditorium)
4:30 PM
Panel: “AI and Climate Change: Building Resilience Across Sectors”
Innovators reveal how AI can forecast weather, protect crops, and fortify roads.
MODERATOR: Dr. Chris Jones
Dr. Cynthia Zeng – Assistant Professor at the NYU Stern School of Business in Abu Dhabi
Dr. David Farrell – Director of the Caribbean Institute for Meteorology and Hydrology (CIMH)
Dr. Sandeep B. Maharaj – Director School of Pharmacy, Senior Lecturer & Coordinator Pharmacy Administration
Panel: “Financing the Future: AI-Driven Sustainable Finance and Investment in the Caribbean”
Uncover how AI is revolutionizing the financial sector to support sustainable growth in the Caribbean. This panel will
explore the transformative impact of AI on green financing, sustainable investment strategies, and ESG initiatives
MODERATOR: Dr. Dalano Dasouza
Dr. Cleopatra Gittens
Lecturer, UWI School of Business & Management
Dr. Gale T C Rigobert
Propel Ltd., CEO and Principal Consultant
Zuleka Fraser, MBA, HCCP, RHDFP
Founder and Principal Consultant of Frazher Consulting, a financial services firm
Panel: “Financing the Future: AI-Driven Sustainable Finance and Investment in the Caribbean”
Uncover how AI is revolutionizing the financial sector to support sustainable growth in the Caribbean. This panel will
explore the transformative impact of AI on green financing, sustainable investment strategies, and ESG initiatives
MODERATOR: Dr. Dalano Dasouza
Dr. Cleopatra Gittens
Lecturer, UWI School of Business & Management
Dr. Gale T C Rigobert
Propel Ltd., CEO and Principal Consultant
Zuleka Fraser, MBA, HCCP, RHDFP
Founder and Principal Consultant of Frazher Consulting, a financial services firm
ACADEMIC PAPER PRESENTATIONS - BLOCK 3
Time
SESSION 3A (Auditorium)
SESSION 3B (A305/306)
SESSION 3C (Music Room)
5:15 PM
AFTERNOON BREAK
5:30 PM
AI Policy & Governance
3 Academic Papers (15 mins each)
Topics: AI governance frameworks, policy development, regulatory approaches
AI for National Development
3 Academic Papers (15 mins each)
Topics: National AI strategies, development planning, implementation roadmaps
AI Ethics & Responsible Implementation
3 Academic Papers (15 mins each)
Topics: Ethical AI development, responsible deployment, bias mitigation
Closing Session 3
Time
Activity
Presenter
6:15 PM
Day 1 Closing Remarks
Curtis B. Charles, PhD.
Day 1 Social Networking Reception – Taste of the Caribbean 2025
Time
Activity
7:00 PM – 10:00 PM
Day 1 Reception: “Taste of the Caribbean”
@ UWI FIC Campus
Live Soca Entertainment and Caribbean Cuisine
Day 2: Tuesday 24 June 2025
PLENARY SESSION 1 • UWIFIC Auditorium
Time
Activity
Presenter
8:30 AM
Introduction
Master of Ceremonies (MC): Ercil Charles Jr.
8:35 AM
Welcome Remarks
Dr. Karen Murdock
Senior Lecturer, and Head, UWIFIC School of Business & Management
8:40 AM
Keynote 1 Introduction
Ercil Charles Jr.
8:45 AM
Keynote Address 1:
Digital Currency and AI: Transforming Caribbean Financial Ecosystems
Timothy N. J. Antoine
Governor, Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB)
9:05 AM
Keynote 2 Introduction
Ercil Charles Jr.
9:10 AM
Keynote Address 2:
The New Empire of AI: Governing Global Inequality in the Caribbean Context
Rachel Adams, PhD
Founder and CEO, Global Centre on AI Governance
Research Associate, Leverhulme Center, University of Cambridge
9:30 AM
Keynote 3 Introduction
Ercil Charles Jr.
9:35 AM
Keynote Address 3:
TTLAB – A Case Study in Caribbean AI Innovation
Prof. Patrick Hosein
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, UWI, St Augustine |
Founder, TTLAB
10:00 AM
Group Photos (Speakers / Participants)
AI Insights – THEMATIC PANELS – BLOCK 3
Time
SESSION 3A (A305/306)
SESSION 3B (Music Room)
SESSION 3C (Auditorium)
10:10 AM
Panel: “AI and Justice: Crime Reduction and Law Enforcement”
This panel explores the transformative role of AI in enhancing
regional safety and justice systems. Experts will discuss AI applications for crime prediction, advanced surveillance techniques, and data-driven law enforcement strategies.
MODERATOR: Mr. Jose Vanterpool
Ms. Cathrona Samuel
Director, Stakeholder Engagement, Caribbean Agency for Justice Solutions CAJS
Mr. Theo Jones
Director, Legal Services, CAJS
Mr. Kevin Khelawan
Chief Executive Officer, Advent AI
Panel: “Accelerating AI Use Case Adoption Using Governance as Enablement”
In order to speed up AI adoption, organizations that are employing leading practices are enhancing their AI and product development lifecycles. They typically create comprehensive use case data models and corresponding checklists across responsible AI principles’ domains (e.g., privacy, security, accountability, ethics/fairness, human-centered design, transparency). Using pre-defined processes, tollgates, and decisions points, they incorporate a risk-tiering and risk-tailored approach to right-size rigor and effort to the actual risk. Join us to explore how this is done in more detail and some of the challenges that come with it.
MODERATOR: Ercil Charles Jr.
Mrs. Melinda Tijerino, CIPP
Director, MA Risk Management, Moody’s AI Analytics, Inc.
Mr. Richard P. Kessler – AI Governance & Risk Management at Protiviti Global Business Consulting
Panel: “From Sargassum to Sustainability: Tech-Driven Solutions for Ocean Health”
This panel explores how the Caribbean is transforming the sargassum crisis into a platform for innovation and sustainability. It highlights the Rapid Sargassum Modeling (RSM) Project, which uses AI, immersive technologies, and real-time data visualization to monitor blooms, predict environmental impacts, and support coral reef resilience. Alongside it, Rum & Sargassum Inc. unveils a breakthrough renewable natural gas (RNG) made from sargassum, sheep manure, and rum distillery wastewater—recently demonstrated to power electric vehicles and stabilize energy grids. Together, these initiatives showcase how technology can turn environmental threats into scalable solutions for clean energy, marine health, and climate resilience.
MODERATOR: Dr. Ilenius Ildephonce
Dr. Mario Costa Sousa
Professor of Computer Science at the University of Calgary, Canada
Dr. Legena Henry
CEO-Founder, Rum and Sargassum Inc.;
University Lecturer at University of the West Indies: Cave Hill
10:50 AM
REFRESHMENTS BREAK
PLENARY SESSION I - (Auditorium)
Time
Activity
Presenter
11:05 AM
Official Launch of Antigua and Barbuda’s UNESCO Ethics in AI Readiness Assessment Report
“Charting the Course: Antigua and Barbuda’s AI Journey”
Opening Remarks:
Hon. Melford Nicholas – Minister (Ministry of ICTs, Utilities & Energy)
Brief Presentation on RAM recommendations:
Dr. Ilenius Ildephonce
Panel Discussion:
Ms. Paula Istúriz-Cavero (Session Moderator)
Q & A Moderator: Dr. Ilenius Ildephonce – RAM Consultant
Dr. Paul Hector, Director for Communication and Information, UNESCO Caribbean
Ashton Fearon, CEO and Co-Founder, TickeTing Inc.
Andrew Doumith, CEO, AllMart
Ms. Andrea Jacobs, AI National Focal Point for Antigua & Barbuda and Crown Counsel
PLENARY SESSION II - (Auditorium)
Time
12:50 PM
Panel: Supporting Public Sector Reform: “AI, Ethics & Responsible Implementation”
This foundational panel addresses the critical ethical considerations and governance frameworks essential for responsible AI deployment in the pursuit of Public Sector Reform in the Caribbean.
MODERATOR: Ercil Charles Jr.
- Hon. Melford Nicholas – Minister (Ministry of ICTs, Utilities & Energy)
- Dr. Christopher Jones, Dept. Electrical Engineering
- Dr. Donovan Johnson, Assistant Professor of Public Policy and Administration, Florida International University (US)
- Ms. Laleta Davis Mattis CD JP – University General Counsel, Office of the Vice Chancellor
1:20 PM
LUNCH BREAK (1 hour)
ACADEMIC PAPER PRESENTATIONS - BLOCK 4
Time
SESSION 4A (Auditorium)
SESSION 4B (A305/306)
SESSION 4C (Music Room)
2:20 PM
AI in Education and Learning Environments
Session Chair: Mrs Kadian Camacho
Paper 1: Augmenting Human Potential with AI-Assisted Research (Avanelle Joseph-Edwards)
Paper 2: The End of Education is Character: A Theory of Learner Effectiveness for an AI World (Tanushree Luthra)
Paper 3: Examination of the Educator’s Perspectives on Generative Artificial Intelligence in Student Assessments (Fariah Hyatali)
Paper 4: Critical Thinking and Reasoning Skills in the Age of Artificial Intelligence; A Statistical Evaluation of Student Performance on Selected Caribbean Examinations Council Assessments. (Atiba D. Griffith)
AI in Financial Services & Green Investment
Session Chair: Dr Dalano Dasouza
Paper 1: The Bite of Accountability: A Framework for Enforceable AI Governance in Caribbean Government Systemes (Jeane Warner)
Paper 2: The use of AI to Detect Fraud in Government Treasury Departments in Small Islands of the Eastern Caribbean (Cleopatra Gittens)
Paper 3: Evaluation of Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices (KAP) Related to Artificial Intelligence (AI) Among Small Business Owners and Entrepreneurs in the Greater Hartford Area: A Cross-Sectional Survey (Eben Afarikuman)
Paper 4: Community Tourism Innovation and Technological Advancements (Michelle Allen)
AI and Sustainable Development
Session Chair: Dr Edward Dixon
Paper 1: Using Agentic RAG Systems to Accelerate Sustainable Development in Small Island Developing States (SIDS) (Abdulla Ali, Tamika Ramkissoon, Akil Hosang, Kevan Rajaram, Letetia Addison, Kris Manohar, Patrick Hosein)
Paper 2: Artificial Intelligence, Human Intelligence and Truth – Some Thoughts on the Future of Social Scientific Research (Godfrey St. Bernard, Hafeeza Hosein Shah)
Paper 3: The Critical Importance of Launching a Caribbean Center for Collective Intelligence in Antigua and Barbuda (Andy Williams)
Paper 4: Reclaiming the Digital Frontier: AI, Creative Sovereignty, and the Future of Caribbean Cultural Expression (Lloyda Alicia Garrett)
3:20 PM
REFRESHMENT BREAK
PLENARY III - Block 4 - (Auditorium)
Time
3:35 PM
AI & Cyber Resilience: Fortifying the Caribbean’s Digital Borders
This panel will bring together leading cybersecurity experts, AI practitioners, and policymakers to explore how intelligent
technologies are transforming the region’s digital defense.
MODERATOR: Ercil Charles Jr.
Edward Millington, CISPP
Professional Security Consultant, Snr. Lead Risk Manager
Stephen Lee
Cybersecurity Lead, Development Solutions Agency / Program Director, CaribNOG
Dr. Sean T. Miller
Lecturer, Dept. Computing, UWI Mona
ACADEMIC PAPER PRESENTATIONS - BLOCK 6
Time
SESSION 6A (Auditorium)
SESSION 6B (A305/306)
SESSION 6C (Music Room)
4:20 PM
AI in Creative Industries & Arts
2 Academic Papers (15 mins each)
Topics: Creative applications, cultural preservation, media innovation
AI for Economic Development
2 Academic Papers (15 mins each)
Topics: Economic diversification, business innovation, market development
AI Innovation & Entrepreneurship
2 Academic Papers (15 mins each)
Topics: Startup ecosystems, innovation frameworks, technology transfer
4:50 PM
REFRESHMENT BREAK
Closing Panel: “Next Frontiers”
Time
Activity
Presenter
5:05 PM
“Vision 2040: Forecasting the Caribbean’s AI-Driven Future”
Moderator: Dr. Curtis Charles
Dean & Director of Academic Affairs, The University of the West Indies Five Islands Campus
Dr. Tianze Zhang, Founder, AI for Developing Countries Forum (AIFOD); CEO, ZAAN.com
Topic: Digital Sovereignty and Strategic Forecasting for the Global South
H. E. Walton Webson – Ambassador, Permanent Representative, Permanent Mission of Antigua and Barbuda to the United Nations
Prof. Patrick Hosein
Founder, TTLAB; Professor, UWI St. Augustine
Topic: The Science of AI Simulation—Forecasting for Caribbean Innovation Ecosystems
Mr. Enrique Zapata
DCoordinator for Artificial Intelligence and GovTech – CAF
CLOSING SESSION
Time
Activity
Presenter
6:00 PM
Vote of Thanks
UWIFIC Registrar Dr. Camille Samuel
6:05 PM
Closing Remarks
UWIFIC Director of Academic Affairs Dr. Curtis B. Charles
6:15 PM
CONFERENCE CLOSE
FINAL NETWORKING: Lime on the Greens
Time
Activity
6:30 PM – 9:00 PM
Conference Closing Reception
Social Networking Event on the FIC Greens
