The Caribbean Electric Utility Services Corporation (CARILEC) successfully concluded its premiere calendar event; the 2022 Chief Executive Officers’ (CEOs’) and Leadership Conference with Corporate Governance Track. The event signalled the return of CARILEC’s face-to-face events, after a two-year hiatus, due to travel restrictions brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic. From all indications, the event was a resounding success, with delegates indicating that they found the conference to be highly valuable, offering opportunities for networking, learning and development, and relationship and capacity building. Of particular importance to the Association is the opportunity presented by this conference to partner with its trusted member utility, Bahamas Power and Light Company Limited (BPL) in hosting the event. The BPL Team was an excellent co-host, bringing together several Bahamian government officials, artistes, cultural performers, and private sector corporations who all tremendously increased conference value.
Under the theme ‘Leadership Matters: Living and Learning through Disruption and Dislocation’, the conference commenced on May 15th with a grand opening ceremony. This momentous event gathered several prominent delegates, including CARILEC’s & BPL’s Board of Directors; CEOs and senior managers from CARILEC’s utility, associate, affiliate, and independent power producer (IPP) members; Bahamian business CEOs and corporate governance executives and most notably, the conference keynote speaker, Honourable Philip Edward Davis, Prime Minister, and Minister of Finance of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas. CARILEC also took this opportunity to hold its first in-person Board of Directors meeting, since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. This meeting was particularly significant, as board members discussed the way forward for the resurgence of CARILEC’s face-to-face conferences and other stakeholder engagements, and how such events would be managed amidst the pandemic.
Other conference highlights included a ‘Breakfast Conversation with Caribbean Utility CEOs’, which was hosted by CARILEC’s regional partner, the Caribbean Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (CCREEE). This forum presented an avenue for regional utility leaders to provide feedback and engage in discussion on CCREEE’s ongoing projects, including Integrated Resource and Resiliency Planning (IRRP), Integrated Utility Services and Regional Electric Vehicle Strategy. During this forum CARILEC also presented on the Development of an Emergency Response Strategy & Action Plan (ERSAP) for the regional energy sector.
Also well received by delegates was the Caribbean Leaders Panel Discussion, moderated by CARILEC’s Executive Director, Dr. Cletus Bertin. The panel consisting of BPLC’s newly appointed CEO, Mr. Shevonn Cambridge; Mr. Leroy A. E. Abraham, CARILEC’s Chairman and General Manager of the British Virgin Islands Electricity Corporation (BVIEC); and Ms. Ana Amicarella, CEO of Ethos Energy (a CARILEC Associate Member). The discussion examined various challenges faced by regional energy based organsisations, such as the renewable energy transition, incorporating diversity and inclusion into the workplace, and managing employees during a pandemic.
Delegates also indicated that they found the Speed Networking Event held on May 17th to be extremely valuable and efficiently executed. The one-hour networking forum allowed CARILEC’s associate and affiliate members to pitch their product and service offerings and business solutions to utility and IPP members. Overall, it was also a prime opportunity to build mutually beneficial industry relationships and connections. The final two (2) days of the conference focused on Corporate Governance, a welcomed addition for utility corporate secretaries and legal officers who indicated a high level of satisfaction from the corporate secretary training workshop delivered by Dr. Ron Sookram, Academic Director at the Arthur Lok Jack Global School of Business, University of the West Indies (UWI). The workshop provided in-depth knowledge on critical trends in corporate governance, board functions and responsibilities, and the corporate governance framework.
The Association is pleased with the feedback received from delegates post event, given that almost 75% of survey respondents indicated that the CARILEC Events Team was extremely helpful, and 100% revealed that the event quality met or surpassed their expectations. Respondents also advised that they greatly appreciated the high quality of conference sessions, multiple networking opportunities, and the long anticipated face-to-face interactions with fellow colleagues. Following the conclusion of this milestone leadership event, CARILEC is preparing for its highly anticipated CAREC Conference and Exhibition, (a merger of the Renewable Energy and Smart Grid and Engineering and Procurement conferences) in September 2022.