Speakers and Panelists

Keynote Speaker

Senator Liz Thompson's research and work interests surround a variety of subjects relating to Politics, the Environment, Economy, Health, Energy, and Law. She is the winner of the United Nations Environment Programme's "Champion of The Earth Award" 2008 for work in environment, sustainable development and climate change. Furthermore, she is the former Minister of Energy and Environment of Barbados. Senator Thompson is currently an opposition senator in the Barbados Parliament and has been a member of Barbados Cabinet for 12 years holding portfolios in Health, Housing and Lands, and Physical Development. She is a Law Attorney by training, and her post graduate research focused on oil and gas law, environment, renewable energy and multinational corporations. She joins the International Conference on Green Entrepreneurship with experience as a MBA trained consultant, specializing in energy law and policy, environment, climate change and sustainable development.

As a Minister, Senator Thompson developed and led many initiatives. The following list is a sample from her portfolio, the policies/programmes include:

• A National Energy Policy based on Sustainable Development principles;

• Policy and Supporting framework for Barbados Offshore Oil exploration Programme;

• A National Energy Conservation Programme;

• Policy for 70/30 percent mix of fossil fuels to renewables by 2020;

• A Green Economy Policy marrying economy and ecology for sustainable development;

• Established Barbados and the Caribbean's first AIDS Hostel;

• Piloted major Barbadian legislation through Parliament including: Offshore Petroleum Act, Offshore Petroleum Taxation Act, Marine Pollution and Control Act and a Coastal Zone Management Act through Parliament.

Senator Liz Thompson has attended all major international environmental conferences over the last 12 years. The ICGE Team is honoured to present Senator Thompson as the Keynote speaker for this 2-day event.

Geoffrey Malleck

As Assistant Director, Student Development for the University of Waterloo's Centre for Business, Entrepreneurship and Technology, Geoff is responsible for the development of programs that contribute to the University's culture of innovation.

Geoff also delivers a comprehensive course in the highly acclaimed Masters of Business, Entrepreneurship and Technology (MBET). The course works with students to develop the critical skills to success as a business leader.

Highly recognized as an excellent and popular lecturer in the department of Economics, Geoff carries his enthusiasm to undergraduate students in the areas of Entrepreneurship and Marketing.

Geoff will see his role at UW expand to assist in several new initiatives in the Faculty of Arts.

His lengthy list of community service activities includes board membership on several local and provincial organizations. He frequently consults with start up businesses and family enterprises.

ICGE Conference Presentation

Frank Watty

Frank Watty is a native of the island of Dominica and holds degrees in Economics (BSc, U.W.I) and Regional Planning & Resource Development (MA, University of Waterloo). He has worked as an economic planner in the Caribbean and as both an economist and planner in the Ontario Public Service.

He served as Senior Planner and later as Director of Planning and Transportation for the regional Municipality of Waterloo until appointed as a provincial arbitrator/adjudicator in the Ontario Ministry of the Attorney General.

He is trained in environmental assessment and qualified in alternative dispute resolution (ADR). He is a member of the Canadian Institute of Planners (MCIP), the Ontario Professional Planners Institute (OPPI) and is a registered professional planner in the Province of Ontario (RPP).

Currently retired from public service, he is the Principal of FRANK WATTY CONSULTANCIES INC., with a practice in economic, land use and tourism planning. He is also an Adjunct Professor in the School of Planning, University of Waterloo.

Pat Ruddel

Miss Pat Ruddell moved from UK to Trinidad in 1970 and became a Geography teacher at Bishop Anstey High School in Port of Spain. She remained at Bishop's until her retirement, as Principal, in 2004.

With most of her teaching constrained by external examinations, she taught successively, Development Studies and Environmental Studies to Form III students. These new approaches to Geography enjoyed popularity with her students and formed the springboard for many of her subsequent activities (and those of a not insignificant number of her students!).

These activities included successful lobbying for a National Scholarship in Environmental Sciences and a proposal for the introduction of effective Environmental Education for all Form III students in Trinidad and Tobago. The latter, regrettably, remains an elusive goal.

Currently enjoying retirement, she is attempting to place the Environment ('Creation Issues') firmly on the agenda of her Church.

She has been awarded, consecutively, a Green Leaf (Environmental Management Authority, T&T), a MBE (UK) and a Chaconia Medal - Silver (Trinidad and Tobago).

ICGE Conference Presentation

Discussion Panelists

Dr. Guido Marcelle

• Chief Analytical Chemist, Produce Chemist Laboratory, co-author "Caribbean Spice Island Plants".

Ms. Sandra Ferguson

• Secretary General of the Agency for Rural Transformation and Community Activist - Citizens in defense of Grenada's land and heritage.

Dr. George Vincent

• Team Leader/Small Business Expert to lead the Grenada Business Gateway project funded by the European Commission.

Mr. Selby Dabreo

• General Manager, Grenada Solid Waste Management Authority.

Dr. Malacli Dottin

• Chief Biotechnologist, Ministry of Agriculture; Chair of the National Biosafety Council (NBC).

Mr. Tyrone Buckmire

• Project Manager of Grenada Ecotourism Enterprises (Environmental Tourism Project); Vice President - Kido Foundation & Ecological Research Station.

Ms. Dianne Roberts

• Environmental and Research Specialist.
  ICGE Conference Presentation