Theme: FutureVision

What changes are in store for Cayman and the world?

University College of the Cayman Islands
168 Olympic Way
George Town, Cayman Islands, KY1-1107
Cayman Islands

Bill Schonberg

Civil engineer and academic leader

Dr. William P. Schonberg is a Professor in the Civil Engineering Department at the Missouri University of Science and Technology. Dr. Schonberg is a registered professional engineer in the States of Missouri and Alabama, and has over 25 years teaching and research experience. He received his BSCE from Princeton University in 1981, and his MS and PhD degrees from Northwestern University in 1983 and 1986, respectively. A significant part of Dr. Schonberg's research is dedicated to improving the safety of spacecraft and of personnel involved in space flight and space operations. As an academic leader, Dr. Schonberg has been department chair at two different universities and served one year as Interim Dean. In 2007 Dr. Schonberg was honored to receive the Manuel T. Pacheco Award from the University President’s Academic Leadership Institute (PALI) in recognition of his outstanding leadership accomplishments. In 2014 he was a Visiting Professor at UCCI.

James Whittaker

Pioneer of sustainability

"A Caymanian by birth" with degrees in Banking, Accounting and International Finance, James spent nearly 20 years working in the financial sectors of Cayman, New York and Bermuda.A pioneer of sustainability in the Caribbean, James brings a unique blend of analytical thinking, relentless passion and inspired ideas with the goal to sustainably change the built environment of the Cayman Islands for the betterment of future generations. Following his passion for the environment, renewable energy and green building James created the GreenTech Group of companies, the only green building solutions conglomerate in the Caribbean providing a full range of sustainability solutions; from design and building of green homes to renewable energy and LEED certification. James is the Chairman of the Cayman Renewable Energy Association (CREA), the President of the Caribbean Sustainability Institute, and the founder of the Project Green School and Island Offset Carbon Emissions Programs.

Micah Redding

Transhumanist

I’m Micah Redding. I’m a software developer, a podcast host, and a founder of the Christian Transhumanist Association. I grew up as a preacher’s kid, spent eight years as a rock musician, and have traveled all over the world — including places like Afghanistan, Nigeria, and Egypt. In 2012, I accidentally found myself in Tahrir Square during the first election after the revolution — and watched as thousands of people around me experienced their first moment of democracy, suddenly overcome by the most incredible emotions I have ever witnessed. My mission in life is to spread story, imagination, and vision, to reconnect us with a powerful sense of our future.

MoniKa Lawrence

Artistic Director of the performing arts at UCCI

Dr. MoniKa Lawrence holds a PhD in Cultural Studies from the University of the West Indies. She has also studied in the USA, South Africa and Israel.She is a Professor and the Artistic Director of the performing arts at UCCI. She was a principal dancer/choreographer with the National Dance Theatre Company of Jamaica; under the guidance of the late Prof Rex Nettleford. She is founder and Artistic Director of The Stella Maris Dance Ensemble of Jamaica; touring extensively. She has also worked comprehensively with the Government of Jamaica in developing creative concepts, choreography and costume designs for most major Government functions. Since joining the UCCI in 2010, she has established an active dance and drama program with an annual production showcasing students in the performing arts. Since inception, the group has made several performances nationwide and overseas. In 2013, she was awarded the International Association of University Presidents Achievement Award.

Nick Robson

Climate War Room founder

Nick Robson has a rich background in the non-governmental (NGO) sector. He received his MA in Peace Studies from the University of Bradford. Nick has consulted for the British Red Cross in Disaster Management and is the founder of the Climate War Room and the Cayman Institute, a think tank doing policy research in areas such as global warming and climate change, energy security and economic sustainability for small island states. Nick also has a background in security and law enforcement. His geographical areas of interest are Central and South Asia and the Middle East as well as Small Island Developing States. He is also the Chief Coordinator of the South Asian Strategic Stability Institute (SASSI) whose aims are to make a leading contribution to regional and international academic and policy-orientated research discourses about South Asian security. His publications include Cayman Islands Energy Policy: Background Advisory Report and Sea Level Rise and Its Implications for Cayman.

Pascal Pernix

Award-winning creative professional

I was born and raised in the south of France, surrounded by books, cameras and music, and from early on took the natural path to make photography and graphics his passion and career. After working several years as a freelance photographer in France, including some international gigs, life brought him to the Cayman Islands where he has been the Creative Manager for the largest and fastest growing real estate developer on island for over 5 years, from 2008-2013. I am Pcreative’s award-winning Art Director and I offers my expertise and over 10 years of solid experience in the creative field to companies and organizations of all sizes, as well as individuals, in the Cayman Islands, the Caribbean, and overseas. My creative skill range is wide enough to cover the various needs: advertising campaigns, video production, photo shoots for magazines, corporate and business branding…

Stacie Sybersma

Defender of the ocean and coastal zones

I grew up locally on Grand Cayman, and fell in love with the ocean and the coastal zone. This love led me to obtained my Bachelors in Biology in 2012, and a Master's in Marine Management in 2014. My passion for the ocean and coastal zone has lead me to tackle tough projects, such as my thesis, which looked at contamination from the George Town Land Fill going into the North Sound. I believe that many people lack a general understanding of the ocean, which I am passionate about addressing. I strongly believe that education and awareness are powerful conservation tools.

Tamer Soliman

Authentic nutritionist

My favorite dishes have always been those prepared traditionally, using authentic ingredients and made with love. It was only until I became a nutritionist that I realized the power that traditional culinary practices had over keeping us healthy, and how many of these practices were, unfortunately, falling by the wayside. Producing health documentaries, giving public speeches and organizing farm-to-table dinners wasn’t how I planned to educate the public, but I couldn’t resist using these mediums once I had a message to share - to tune out the chaos of the nutritional sciences and simply embrace the Bright Spots in our villages, communities, cities, provinces, states, and countries - and letting them become the gateway to improved health and well-being.

Tricia Sybersma

Orbits conceptualizer and navigator

Growing up in a small town in Canada I was happy and content with the familiarity and limits small town living had to offer. When an unexpected career opportunity presented itself through my husband’s company, it tossed us completely outside our comfort zone. Ready for an adventure we said yes and moved with our two daughters, under three years old, to Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands, December 1993. Here, we started a new chapter in our lives all on our own, without family, friends or familiarity as everything was new. We embraced all of it and soon this island became our home. Years later, again without warning, we were presented with another opportunity, this one was of a traumatic nature as it involved one of our daughters and together as a family we embraced a journey of healing. From these two experiences I learned how to look at life through a filter of navigating through this complicated world.