Monday
November
03 - 05
2025
Time zone
AST

Location
Barbados
Events

Caribbean Sustainable Infrastructure Conference 2025

Oct 6, 2025

Logos of CDB, UK International Development, European Union, and AFD above the CSIC 2025 Caribbean Sustainable Infrastructure Conference logo.

About the Event

The Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), in association with the United Kingdom Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and the Agence Francaise Developpement (AFD), will host the inaugural Caribbean Sustainable Infrastructure Conference (CSIC), from November 3–5, 2025, in Bridgetown, Barbados.

CSIC 2025 will spotlight the urgent need to scale up sustainable infrastructure investments that balance economic growth, social inclusion, environmental resilience, and institutional strength.
The Conference will drive regional action through four key themes: tackling climate risks; promoting equity and gender inclusion; advancing innovation-led economic development; and fostering strong governance through collaboration. These pillars reflect the core dimensions of sustainability, supported by effective leadership and coherent institutions.

This initiative is another step in advancing sustainable development across the Caribbean. 

 

Agenda

Please see draft agenda below.

8:30 a.m.

Opening Ceremony

Speakers:

  • Her Excellency the Most Honourable, Ms. H. Elizabeth Thompson Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Barbados with Responsibility for Climate Change, Small Island Developing States, and Law of the Sea

  • Dr. Isaac Solomon, Vice President (Operations), Caribbean Development Bank
  • Mr. Marc Dubernet, Regional Director, Agence Française de Développment

  • Ms. Victoria Penson, Deputy Director for the Caribbean, UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office

 

8:55 a.m.

Blueprint Connections

Mistress of Ceremonies, Ms. Belle Holder

 

9:00 a.m.

Keynote Address

Ms. Racquel Moses, Chief Executive Officer, Caribbean Climate-Smart Accelerator, Trinidad & Tobago

 

9:20 a.m.

Project Spotlight 1 - Sandy Bay Sea Defences Resilience Project, Saint Vincent & the Grenadines

Ms. Elisabeth Mondon, Coastal Engineer and Vice President of Operations, Smith Warner International Limited, Jamaica

 

9:40 a.m.

Project Spotlight 2 - Kingstown Port Modernisation Project, Saint Vincent & the Grenadines

Mr. Paul Saunders, Operations Officer, Environmental Sustainability Unit, Caribbean Development Bank

10:00 a.m.

Project Spotlight 3 - Sea and River Defence Resilience Project, Guyana

Mr. Jermaine Braithwaite, Project Manager - Donor Programmes, Sea and River Defence Department, Works Services Group, Ministry of Public Works, Guyana

 

10:20 a.m.

Project Spotlight 4 - Climate Resilient and Sustainable Integrated Coastal Zone Management

Mr. Leo Brewster, Director, Coastal Zone Management Unit, Barbados

 

10:40 a.m.

BREAK

 

11:00 a.m.

Oxford Style Debate: Rising Tides, Rising Challenges: Coastal Protection in Changing Climate 

Topic: “The house believes that governments should prioritise nature-based solutions over engineered infrastructure for coastal protection in the Caribbean region.”

Speakers:

  • Ms. Elisabeth Mondon, Coastal Engineer and Vice President of Operations, Smith Warner International Limited, Jamaica

  • Mr. Duvaughn Henlon, Senior Civil Engineer - Construction Project and Contract Manager, Smith Warner International Limited, Jamaica
  • Mr. Jermaine Braithwaite, Project Manager - Donor Programmes, Sea and River Defence Department, Works Services Group, Ministry of Public Works, Guyana

  • Mr. Leo Brewster, Director, Coastal Zone Management Unit, Barbados

 

  • Moderator - Ms. Tonya Millar, Operations Officer (Financial Analyst), Economic Infrastructure Division, Caribbean Development Bank

 

12:00 p.m.

LUNCH

 

1:00 p.m.

Presentation 1- Safe and Sustainable Building Practices in the Face of Climate Change

Dr. Grenville Phillips, President, Walbrent College, Barbados

 

1:20 p.m.

Presentation 2- Data Driven Policy Making- Systemic Risk Analysis Tool (SRAT)

Mrs. Patrine Cole, Environmental and Geospatial Analyst, Sustainable Development and Regional Planning Division, Planning Institute of Jamaica 

 

1:40 p.m.

Presentation 3- Sustainable Materials and Engineering

Dr. Michael Ramage, Professor of Architecture and Engineering, University of Cambridge

 

2:00 p.m.

Presentation 4- Sustainable Design and Architecture

Ms. Neomie Tavernier, Associate/Architect, Gillespie and Steel, Barbados

 

2:20 p.m.

BREAK

 

2:40 p.m.

Panel Discussion 1 - From Blueprint to Impact: Sustainability in Infrastructure Development Projects

Speakers:

  • Dr. Michael Ramage, Professor of Architecture and Engineering, University of Cambridge

  • Mrs. Patrine Cole, Environmental and Geospatial Analyst, Sustainable Development and Regional Planning Division, Planning Institute of Jamaica 

  • Ms. Heather A. E. Pinnock, Managing Director, Lucea Caribbean Ltd., Jamaica

  • Mr. Neil Hutchinson, Managing Director, Studio Blue Architects, Barbados

  • Dr. Grenville Phillips, President, Walbrent College, Barbados
  • Moderator- Mr. William Ashby, Division Chief (Ag.), Economic Infrastructure, Caribbean Development Bank

 

4:00 p.m.

Blueprint Connections

Mistress of Ceremonies, Ms. Belle Holder

 

4:15 p.m.

Key Takeaways Day 1

Ms. Antonia Hart, Operations Officer (Civil Engineer), Economic Infrastructure Division, Caribbean Development Bank

 

4:30 p.m.

Mix, Mingle, Mobilise: Creating Change Through Connection

8:00 a.m. 

Registration

 

8:55 a.m.

Six Degrees of Separation

Mistress of Ceremonies, Ms. Belle Holder

 

9:00 a.m. 

Welcome Remarks 

Dr. Martin Baptiste, Division Chief, Social Sector Division, Caribbean Development Bank

 

9:05 a.m. 

Keynote Address

Ms. Heather A. E. Pinnock, Managing Director, Lucea Caribbean Ltd., Jamaica

 

9:20 a.m.

Presentation 5: Advancing Sustainable Housing Solutions for Low Income Communities 

Dr. Ana Gatoo, Lecturer in Regenerative Design, University of Westminster, London, United Kingdom

 

9:40 a.m.

Project Spotlight 5: UKCIF Experience: Lessons and Experience on Integrating Gender Equality, Social and Disability Inclusion

  • Ms. Cherianne Clarke, Social Development Adviser, Caribbean Development Team, UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO)
  • Ms. Kemberley Gittens, Social Analyst, Social Sector Division, Caribbean Development Bank
  • Ms. Kristal Tucker-Clarke, Social and Gender Specialist, UKCIF, Jamaica
  • Mr. Lenski Douglas, Operations Officer (Civil Engineer), Economic Infrastructure Division, Caribbean Developmenty Bank
  • Mr. Michelan Gilharry, Project Engineer at Ministry of Infrastructure Development & Housing (UKCIF Belize Project)

 

10:40 a.m.

BREAK

 

11:00 a.m.

Panel Discussion 2 - Building for and with Everyone: Generating True Value Through Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility in Infrastructure

  • Ms. Erin Brown, Disability Inclusion Consultant, Erin Brown Connects, Disability Advocacy and Inclusion Management

  • Ms. Veronica Di Bella, Environmental and Social Specialist, Green Cities Infrastructure and Energy Programme, United Kingdom

  • Ms. Kamilah Cardona, Project Engineer, Ministry of Infrastructure Development and Housing, Belize

  • Dr. Maria Ziegler, Gender Specialist, Social Sector Division, Caribbean Development Bank

  • Moderator- Ms. Cherianne Clarke, Social Development Adviser, Caribbean Development Team, FCDO

 

12:00 p.m.

LUNCH

 

1:00 p.m.

Effective Community Engagement Approaches Throughout the Project Life Cycle

Mr. Richardo Aiken, Community Development Specialist, Projects, Social Sector Division, Caribbean Development Bank

 

1:20 p.m.

Panel Discussion 3 - Moving People, Moving Progress: A User-centric Approach to Sustainable Public Transport

  • Dr. Eng. Andreu Ulied, Partner- Director, MCRIT (Multicriteria Consulting), Spain

  • Ms. Kamisha Redhead, Head of Operations and Human Resources, Grenada Transport Commission

  • Dr. Rae Furlonge, Traffic and Transport Engineering Consultant, LF Systems Ltd., Trinidad and Tobago

  • Ms. Leisa Perch, Managing Director, SAEDI Consulting (Barbados) Inc. 

  • Moderator- Mr. Leighton Waterman, Project Coordinator, AFD-Caribbean Investment Facility and Italian Fund, CDB

 

2:20 p.m.

BREAK

 

2:40 p.m.

Panel Discussion 4 - Inclusive Foundations: Rethinking Education Infrastructure Through a GESI Lens

  • Ms. Erin Brown, Disability Inclusion Consultant, Erin Brown Connects, Disability Advocacy and Inclusion Management

  • Ms. Angela Davis, UN Women's Planning and Coordination Specialist for Barbados/OECS and Technical Lead on Women's Economic Empowerment and Climate Change, UN Women Caribbean

  • Mr. Karl Pivott, Senior Operations Officer (Civil Engineer), Social Sector Division, Caribbean Development Bank

  • Mr. Gevariah Young, President, Barbados National Student Council 

  • Moderator- Ms. Nicola Johnson, Operations Officer (Education), Social Sector Division, Caribbean Development Bank 

 

4:00 p.m.

Six Degrees of Separation

Mistress of Ceremonies, Ms. Belle Holder

 

4:15 p.m.

Key Takeaways Day 2

Ms. Kemberley Gittens, Operations Officer (Social Analyst), Social Sector Division, Caribbean Development Bank

 

4:30 p.m.

Gather, Grow, Galvanise: Connected Communities, Collective Futures

8:00 a.m.

Registration

 

8:55 a.m.

Innovation Sparks

Master of Ceremonies, Ms. Belle Holder

 

9:00 a.m.

Welcome Remarks

Ms. Karen Ramsay, Executive Assistant, Office of the Director of Projects, Caribbean Development Bank

 
9:05 a.m.

Keynote Address- Nexus of Economics and Sustainability

Mr. Justin Ram, CEO, Justine Ram Advisory and Director of Spirit Mas

 

9:20 a.m.

Project Spotlight 6- Application of the Road Sector Resilience Index in the Transport Sector

Dr. Rae Furlonge, Traffic and Transport Engineering Consultant, LF Systems Ltd., Trinidad and Tobago

 

9:40 a.m.

Project Spotlight 7- Regional Road Safety Projects

Mr. Morgan Letcher, Operations Leader for Latin America and the Caribbean, iRAP

 

10:00 a.m.

Presentation 6- Proactive Operations and Maintenance

Ms. Sharon Griffith, Programme Manager, Infrastructure Partnerships, Caribbean Development Bank

 
10:20 a.m.

Presentation - Road Asset Management Systems

Dr. Konsta Sirvio, Managing Director, SirWay Ltd., Finland

 

10:40 a.m.

BREAK

 

11:00 a.m.

Panel Discussion 5 - Smart Maintenance, Smarter Roads: Strengthening Resilience Infrastructure for the Future

  • Dr. Konsta Sirvio, Managing Director, SirWay Ltd., Finland
  • Mr. Evondale Moody, Chief Engineer, Ministry of Infrastructure Development and Housing, Belize
  • Mr. Morgan Fletcher, Operations Lead for Latin America and the Caribbean, iRAP
  • Ms. Fatima Arroyo-Arroyo, Senior Transport Specialist, World Bank
  • Moderator- Ms. Anne Joselin, Infrastructure Advisor, Caribbean Development Team, British High Commission

 

12:00 p.m.

Presentation 8- Capacity Building for Access to Climate Finance

Mr. Mansfield Blackwood, Assistant Executive Director, Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre

 

12:20 p.m.

LUNCH

 

1:00 p.m.

Panel Discussion 6 - Unlocking Resilient Infrastructure Finance: Solutions for a Sustainable Caribbean Future

  • Mr. L. O'Reilly Lewis, Director of Projects, Projects Department, Caribbean Development Bank
  • Dr. Henry Mooney, Economics Principal Specialist, Regional Country Department Caribbean, Inter-American Development Bank
  • Mr. César Cañedo-Argüelles, Chief Executive Officer, CIFI
  • Mrs. Gillian Charles-Gollop, Executive Director, Head, Corporate Banking and Sustainable Finance, CIBC Caribbean
  • Moderator- Mr. Jason Cotton, Deputy Director (Ag.), Economics Department, Caribbean Development Bank

 

2:20 p.m.

BREAK

 

2:40 p.m.

Key Takeaways Day 3

Dr. Oronde Small, Economist, Economics Department, Caribbean Development Bank

 

2:50 p.m.

Innovation Sparks

Mistress of Ceremonies, Ms. Belle Holder

 

3:00 p.m.

Urban Futures: Bridgetown, Barbados

  • Ms. Antonia Hart, Operations Officer (Civil Engineer), Economic Infrastructure Division, Caribbean Development Bank
  • Mr. Andre Baugh, Head of School (Ag.), Caribbean School of Architecture, University of Technology, Jamaica
  • Ms. Marisha Browne, Head of Architectural Studies Department (Ag.), Barbados Community College

 

4:30 p.m.

Closing Ceremony

  • H.E. Mr. Simon Mustard, British High Commissioner for Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean

  • Mr. Daniel M. Best, President, Caribbean Development Bank

 

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