MISSION STATEMENT

Amanda with a BSc in Business Administration and MBA with a major in Marketing, held various positions both in Trinidad & Tobago and the UK corporate world. In 2007 she established  her own company Image Matters Ltd. which has grown to be one of the region’s most reputable marketing and event companies. With her experience she lectured at the Arthur Lok Jack Global School of Business on event management, etiquette and protocol and also conducts her own corporate sessions.

She served on the Board of the Media Complaints Council of Trinidad & Tobago in 2016/2018 and is currently on the ANSA McAL Foundation Board. One of her notable moments was representing Trinidad and Tobago at an International Pageant in 1998.

Known as an ‘achiever’ she agreed to join WAND in 2022 so that she can use her skill set helping others, maximizing her reach with their established following. “True success is not measured by personal achievements alone, but by the positive impact you have on others along the way”.

Leah has a BSc in Industrial Engineering from The University of The West Indies. Over the past 25 years she has worked on technical teams in a variety of industries including HVAC, project management, industrial gases, construction equipment, power generation and even consumer goods.  

Since taking a hiatus from employment in the public sector in 2006, she offers technical and operational support to a local agro-processing operation in Freeport.  Through her portfolio in Freeport she is able to interact with many in need and try to positively impact the lives of many passing through.  This builds on the examples set by her parents (both educators) whom she shadowed as they served the communities in which they worked and lived.

Joining WAND in 2022 perfectly coincided with her schedule relaxing.  Leah believes that WAND offers a platform to help effect change on a greater scale in Trinidad and Tobago. 

Lorraine Ferguson is the Chief Operating Officer-Finance, IT and Administration at the Kenson Group of Companies where she is also a Director.

Lorraine has a varied range of work experience from large multinational corporations to a locally owned and operated entrepreneurial organization. She completed her undergraduate degree in Information Systems Management in Washington, DC and subsequently completed her MSc in Computer Science at Pace University, New York.

She started her career at the New York Stock Exchange where she worked on a key project in the historic transformation of the New York Stock Exchange from a manual auction system to a highly automated trading system (Hybrid Market).  She then assumed the position of Lead Application Developer at Kellogg Capital Markets Ltd. before moving on to Citigroup where she was the Head of Solution Architecture for the Institutional Client Group.

In 2015 she returned to Trinidad to take up the position of General Manager at CWD Enterprises Ltd., the manufacturing subsidiary of the Kenson Group of Companies gaining significant operational, financial, marketing and HR and IR experience. In 2018 she took up the position of Chief Operating Officer-Finance, IT and Administration with the Kenson Group of Companies. Since then, she has played a lead role in the restructuring of the Group, in the implementation of modern Technology Platforms and in the optimization of it’s Governance Systems and Procedures. This work, combined with her 15 years’ experience in the Financial Technology industry, led her to be nominated to the Board of Directors of the Central Bank of Trinidad and Tobago where she has served since 2019.

Lorraine is passionate about animal welfare, especially wild birds and she owns two sun conures. She is also an avid collector of wine and art. She is certified by the Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET) Level 2 and is currently pursuing Level 3.

Chelsea John is an attorney-at-law, called to the Bar of England and Wales and Trinidad and Tobago. After qualifying as a Barrister in the United Kingdom, Chelsea retuned to Trinidad  where she was called to the Bar and entered Chambers. Since 2016 she has maintained a practice in a variety of areas including criminal and civil litigation, family, corporate and  commercial and probate. Though litigation is her passion she also enjoys the non-contentious areas of practice.

Subsequent to qualifying as a Barrister in 2015, Chelsea  also became an ADRgroup Accredited Civil and Commercial Mediator after successfully  completing   a course in alternative dispute resolution.

Prior to becoming an Attorney -at-Law, Chelsea obtained a Bachelor of Commerce with a Major in Law in Canada. 

Outside of law Chelsea has a passion for cooking and baking and enjoys running and travelling as hobbies.

Chelsea is proud to be the youngest serving member on the WAND Board and looks forward to making a wholesome contribution to the Board and to all the charitable endeavours of WAND.  Chelsea is committed to service of others and making a positive change and believes that a lot can be achieved by working together towards a common purpose.

Dr. Sabita Harrikissoon is a product of the Naparima Girls’ High School and graduated top of her class from the School of Dentistry, University of the West Indies in July 2001receiving a medal in Oral Surgery and a commendation in Child Dental Health.

In July 2002 Dr. Harrikissoon was admitted to practice as a Dental Surgeon and has her own Dental Practice, Dental Designs Limited at Wellness House in Cocoyea.

In 2006 she was appointed to the Executive of the Naparima Girls’ Alumnae and in 2007 an Honorary Game Warden.

Dr. Harrikissoon is a former Secretary of the Dental Council of Trinidad and Tobago. In 2013 she was appointed a Director of the Trinidad and Tobago Heart Foundation and Chair of its Go Red for Women campaign dedicated to the prevention, diagnosis and control of heart disease in women.

Dr. Harrikissoon returned to the School of Dentistry in January 2011 as a part time clinical instructor and facilitator in the Special Needs Dental Clinic providing dental services to children with neurological and developmental challenges including Down’s Syndrome and Cerebral Palsy.

In April 2011 Dr. Harrikissoon was appointed President of Soroptimist International San Fernando (SISF) which is a local chapter of Soroptimist International. The latter is a global service organization for women committed to a world where women and girls achieve their individual and collective potential, realize aspirations and ambitions and have an equal voice in creating strong, peaceful communities worldwide; she is also the

Chairman of Shangri-La Soroptimist Retirement Home Limited which is the longest standing Club project of SISF.

Sabita is a keen Rotary Partner and has received a Paul Harris Fellow from the Rotary Club of San Fernando South (RCSS) which is Rotary’s highest honour; she has for many years led joint Health Outreach projects of SISF and RCSS providing a range of medical screenings for impoverished persons in rural and isolated villages.

Dr. Harrikissoon comes from a family with high moral standards and deep spiritual values. As a result of that upbringing she places the highest emphasis on decency, integrity, philanthropy and civic mindedness.

Dr. Harrikissoon, who is 47, is married to Mr. Ronnie Bissessar S.C. who is an Attorney at Law and they have a daughter Sveva (16) and a son Seth (9).

Pettal John- Beerens is an Attorney-at- Law of approximately twenty-four (24) years’ standing with considerable experience in both the public and private sectors. Her work experience includes international organizations such as the United Nations (FAO), the BG Group and is currently the Deputy Director (Legal) at the Occupational Safety and Health Agency (“OSHA”) having served as Executive Director when required. 

She began her career at the Solicitor General’s Department, Ministry of the Attorney General where she provided advice to various Ministries bodies and Departments of the Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago and successfully represented the Attorney General and various bodies before the High Court and Court of Appeal. 

Ms. John-Beerens has certification, experience and training in mediation, negotiation and corporate governance. As a result, she has served on Boards and various Committees (including Event Committees). She has also been on the panel of judges for Ms. World Trinidad and Tobago and has had some involvement in the fashion industry.

Nation-building is one of Ms. John-Beerens’ primary areas of interest and she has created the “Good Morning Neighbour” Facebook Page geared towards (re-)instilling values surrounding respect in Trinidad and Tobago.