Theme: Fearless

This is an uncertain time. Yet, amid the physical, cultural and economic challenges we have faced personally and nationally – now is the time to engage. At TEDxPortofSpain 2020, we will call upon our collective fearlessness to create a step forward together! We’re fearless as ever!

Queens Hall Auditorium
1-3 St. Ann’s Road, St. Ann’s
Port of Spain, Port of Spain, 00000
Trinidad and Tobago

Abby Charles

Program Director at the Institute for Public Health Innovation (IPHI),

Abby Charles is a Program Director at the Institute for Public Health Innovation (IPHI), The public health institute for Washington, DC, Maryland, and Virginia. At IPHI she provides leadership and coordination for the Community Health Worker Initiatives, and provides oversight to a network of Community Health Workers and a portfolio of programs in which the Institute for Public Health Innovation addresses cross-jurisdictional policymaking and information sharing, program refinement, policy, research, training, implementation, evaluation and technical assistance. A believer in social responsibility, in 2015, Abby founded Bene Caribe, a “good for the Caribbean” social enterprise that creates statement pieces for people who want to make an impact while contributing to effective organizations and individuals making a difference in the Caribbean diaspora.

Angelique Nixon

Writer and Artist

Angelique V. Nixon is Bahamas-born, Trinidad-based writer and artist, carving out a unique space, that on the surface may seem at odds – creative and scholar, lecturer and activist, poet and researcher. She earned a Ph.D. in English from the University of Florida in 2008, where she specialised in postcolonial and gender studies. Her research and creative work has been published widely; she is author of two books – the poetry and art chapbook titled Saltwater Healing and the scholarly award-winning book titled Resisting Paradise: Tourism, Diaspora, and Sexuality in Caribbean Culture. Through activism, writing, and art, Angelique strives to disrupt silences, affirm healing and carve spaces for resistance and desire. Angelique is a lecturer and researcher at the Institute for Gender and Development Studies, The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine Campus, Trinidad and Tobago. She is also the director of the feminist LGBTI civil society organisation CAISO.

Angélique Parisot-Potter

Executive Vice President, Business Integrity and Group General Counsel of Massy Group

Angélique Parisot-Potter, a graduate of the University of the West Indies and the Hugh Wooding Law School has created and led business integrity programmes to protect companies and their brands over the last 10 years. As the Executive Vice President, Business Integrity and Group General Counsel of Massy Group, Angélique continues to do the same. She oversees the legal affairs of the Group globally and works with senior leadership to create a Speak Up and Listen Up culture so open secrets cannot thrive and issues are raised and quickly dealt with.

Camille Selvon Abrahams

Programme Coordinator for Animation Studies

Some stories need a form of expression different from the accustomed elitist deconstruction. In its silence, digital activism tells the stories of black, queer, gay, autistic, blind or whatever without permission yet hoping they will be heard without judgement. For twenty years, Camille Selvon Abrahams has encouraged the use of animation as a communication medium to share the human stories of business, life, passion and pain. Camille Selvon Abrahams is the Programme Coordinator for Animation Studies at the University of Trinidad and Tobago. She graduated from Goldsmiths University of London with a Bachelor of Arts in Media & Communication and a specialisation in Animation, She is the founding director of the NGO Animae Caribe Animation Festival which is celebrating its 19th year.

Golda Lee Bruce

Development Storyteller.

Golda Lee Bruce wants to leave the world better than she found it. She believes in the power of stories to motivate people and transform lives. As a journalist and news anchor for over a decade, Golda told the stories of the people of the Caribbean. She continues this work as a Development Storyteller. As a presenter, speaker, and writer Golda uses her platform to inspire young people in particular. She encourages them to aspire beyond their circumstances, something she was encouraged to do as a student. Golda earned her undergraduate degree in Media and Communication from the University of the West Indies, Mona and her graduate degree in journalism from Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism in New York.

Jean-Claude Cournand

Poet and Social Entrepreneur

Jean-Claude's mission in life is to find what is undervalued and develop it. He is a Chevening Scholar and an emerging innovation and social enterprise specialist from Trinidad and Tobago. His development work has led to him being featured on University of Edinburgh Business School's Alumni 100 list (2020) and receiving the Queen's Young Leader Award at Buckingham from Queen Elizabeth II (2018). He graduated with distinction from University of Edinburgh (2019) where he pursued an MSc in Entrepreneurship and Innovation. Jean-Claude has provided consulting services for organizations regionally and in the UK, including co-developing an open innovation process for the Scottish local government. He also a co-founder of the 2 Cents Movement, and his spearheading of the National Poetry Slam. He has backpacked to 34 countries to date and is a happy Pokemon go player, currently at level 35 (out of 40 levels). Above all he aims to grow as a human being and one day be a good father.

Justin Sobion

Lawyer and Artist

Justin Sobion, international lawyer and artist, although seemingly contradictory, these two professions compliment each other beautifully, as to be an exemplary lawyer, one must have a creative mind. Justin is a graduate from the University of West Indies and the Hugh Wooding Law School. He was admitted to practise law in Trinidad and Tobago (2002) and Dominica (2008). He also holds a Masters in International Law from the University of Cape Town, South Africa. Justin served as a diplomat at Trinidad and Tobago’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland. Currently he is researching for his PhD on Environmental Law at the University of Auckland, New Zealand. Outside of the law, Justin is an artist with his work being showcased in the Caribbean and parts of Europe. In 2019, he launched his book The West Indian Lawyer – a biography on the life and times of his late father Keith Sobion.

Kara Barnett

Senior Producer and Senior Writer with the BET Network

Born in Trinidad and Tobago, Kara Barnett is a rising star in world of entertainment production. Most recently, she has been selected as a Senior Producer and Senior Writer with the BET Network where she contributed year-long celebrity-based campaigns for the BET Network’s 40th Anniversary. Prior to this, she was a Lead Producer on BET’s Digital Editorial team where she oversaw the creation of content for the relaunch of their Youtube and Facebook channel and created social editorial presence for BET at key events such as the Colin Kaepernick Rally at the NFL Headquarters and The Tribeca Film Festival. With more than 15 years experience, Kara started her career with “America’s Next Top Model” and has since worked on projects for MTV, VH1, BET, E! Entertainment Television, Lifetime, TLC, Oxygen, and OWN. Kara was selected to be the Consulting Producer for Caribbean’s Next Top Model and helped to create the structure of the Caribbean franchise of the popular American show.

Marla Dukharan

Economist

Marla Dukharan has a clear and deep commitment to making a difference in the Caribbean, and this is the driving force behind her career and work. Marla is recognized as a leading economist and advisor in the Caribbean, and is known for her insightful and frequent analysis on the regional implications of international events. She has taken a leading role in driving discussion, public policy formation and action that foster gender equality, reduce income inequality, and promote new models of fiscal and economic resilience to lead the region toward a more prosperous and sustainable future.

Rueanna Haynes

Climate law and governance specialist

Rueanna Haynes is an experienced international climate law and governance specialist who is currently Team Lead for Climate Analytics support to the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) in climate change negotiations. At Climate Analytics Ms. Haynes also leads the regional climate education and outreach project - Regional Climate Champions, which is entering its third year of implementation. Ms. Haynes has a strong background in climate and other multilateral environmental negotiations, having participated in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) for just over a decade. During that time, she has been a lead negotiator for the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) and the G77 and China in the climate and sustainable development fields.

Shaka Hislop

Soccer analyst and commentator

Neil Shaka Hislop is currently the soccer analyst and commentator for ESPN. When off the air, he is a founder/patron and Honorary President of the UK’s anti-racism educational charity ‘Show Racism the Red Card’. In 2019 he founded the Second Half Sport Foundation which collects second-hand and used soccer equipment for distribution and use by the TT Police Service in their kids and community outreach programs in some of T&T’s most at-risk communities.