Castries, Saint Lucia, June 11, 2021: The Caribbean Electric Utility Services Corporation successfully hosted its annual Chief Executive Officers’ (CEOs) and Leadership Conference on May 25th & 26th, 2021. This year’s conference was held virtually under the theme ‘Transformational Leadership: Optimising the Human Potential’. Through the years, the CEOs and Leadership Conference has been dubbed as CARILEC’s premiere event, featuring eminent electric energy leaders throughout the region over a two (2) day period. This year’s conference, although virtual, was not any less elaborate! CARILEC’s conference agenda included a grand opening ceremony which featured an illustrious keynote speaker, power-packed panel discussions by elite Utility leaders and regional pioneers, and captivating presentations from CARILEC’s Associate and Affiliate membership leaders and industry experts.
CARILEC is pleased that this regional leadership forum provided electric Utility CEOs and executive decision-makers the opportunity to explore leadership imperatives for organisational and sectoral transformation, within the energy sector. A few noteworthy sub-themes discussed included: Sustainability in the Face of Crisis, Sourcing of Capital Investments in the Marketplace, Talent Retention through Innovation, and Leading Change: A Neuroscience Perspective.
The conference’s opening ceremony featured a keynote address by Dr. Thackwray “Dax” Driver, CEO of the Energy Chamber of Trinidad and Tobago, since 2003. Mr. Driver has pioneered numerous new initiatives and activities for the Chamber and is also the current Chair of the Caribbean Chambers Network. In his address, Dr. Driver urged Caribbean Utility and energy leaders to employ transformational leadership to spearhead the transition to renewable energy generation and usage in the region. He further articulated that transformational leadership empowers colleagues to develop creative solutions to current problems.
Other highlights from the two (2) day conference included a panel discussion on the conference theme, which featured Dr. Cletus Bertin, CARILEC’s Executive Director, Mr. Albert Gordon, General Manager of Nevis Electricity Company Limited (NEVLEC), Mrs. Ruth Forbes, President and Chief Executive Director (CEO) of Fortis TCI Limited, Mr. Peter Williams, Former CEO of Emera Caribbean Incorporated and former CARILEC Chairman and Board Director and Mr. Thornley Myers, CEO of St. Vincent Electricity Services Limited (VINLEC). During this panel discussion, Utility leaders explained their use of transformational leadership within their respective organisations and how they intend to further inspire and motivate positive change and maximise the human potential within the regional energy sector.
CARILEC’s 2021 CEOs and Leadership Conference was proudly sponsored by Wärtsilä (Diamond Sponsor), Aggreko (Platinum Sponsor), Karpowership (Gold Sponsor) and New Fortress Energy (Gold Sponsor), and MSHS (Silver Sponsor) and Eagle LNG Partners (Silver Sponsor). This conference recorded a virtual attendance of 190 delegates.
