SMARTER, FASTER, GONE? THE HUMAN SIDE OF THE AI REVOLUTION
Tuesday, October 20, 2026, 7:00 PM
Live on Zoom, Facebook and YouTube, and on BEAT 104.1
Artificial intelligence is already changing how work is done in Barbados. Jobs are being redesigned, new skills are in demand, and questions about data, fairness and ownership are no longer theoretical.
This year’s Public Discussion Forum brings together voices from banking, the creative industries, human capital and data privacy for a frank conversation about what AI means for Barbadian workers, businesses and the next generation, and how we prepare for it.
Sponsored by Caribbean Jobs.
The Panel
Akinola McLean
Director, Data & Innovation, CIBC Caribbean
Akinola McLean is Director of Data & Innovation within CIBC Caribbean’s Technology, Infrastructure & Innovation division, where he shapes and executes the enterprise data, analytics and artificial intelligence agenda. He leads multidisciplinary teams across data engineering, analytics, AI and intelligent automation, with a focus on ethical AI, strong data governance and privacy by design. A strong advocate of leadership-driven transformation, Akinola believes sustainable innovation comes from developing internal talent and embedding data literacy across the organisation. He leads with the philosophy of being “a tour guide, not a travel agent”, guiding teams through challenges he has navigated himself.
Damien Pinder
Chief Executive Officer, Nu Visual Media
Damien Pinder is a Barbadian entrepreneur who has built and scaled businesses across the Caribbean’s media, audiovisual and creative industries. He is Co-Founder and a Director of PinderHope Enterprises, the parent company of AccuSounds, Summit Media & Event Rentals and Nu Visual Media, which operates in Barbados and Jamaica. His journey has evolved from filmmaking and award-winning journalism to leading an integrated group of creative and technical companies that has worked with organisations including the United Nations, the Clinton Foundation and the Caribbean Development Bank.
Khadija Moore
Regional Director of Human Capital, Unicomer Group
Khadija Moore is an enterprise performance executive exploring how people, leaders and organisations convert potential into sustained performance. She has led large-scale transformation and strategy within complex, multi-billion-dollar organisations across more than 30 countries, including Unicomer Group, Gildan Activewear and Microsoft. Khadija holds an Executive MBA from the University of Cambridge Judge Business School and recently completed MIT Professional Education’s Applied Agentic AI for Organizational Transformation programme.
Steven A. Williams
Principal Consultant, DPMAS
Steven A. Williams is Principal Consultant at DPMAS, where he advises organisations across the Caribbean on data privacy, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence governance and digital transformation. He is also a technology columnist with Barbados Today. A regular speaker on technology, data governance and AI, Steven advocates for a distinctly Caribbean approach to AI, one that prioritises trusted data, strong governance, local problem-solving and practical business outcomes over simply adopting technologies developed elsewhere.
Mialisa Garnes
Moderator
Chair, Global Business Week 2026 Marketing and Communications Committee
Mialisa Garnes is a marketing and communications strategist and Chair of the Global Business Week 2026 Marketing and Communications Committee. She holds an MA in Digital Media and works with organisations across the region on strategy, digital communication and audience engagement. She also hosts a podcast on growth and wellness, where she interviews leaders and practitioners across the region.
How to Watch
- Zoom: register using the link above to watch live and send your questions to the panel.
- Facebook and YouTube: streamed live on BIBA’s channels.
- Radio: broadcast live on BEAT 104.1.
The Forum is free to watch.