Speakers

He is passionate about teaching and learning and offers courses in software engineering and e-commerce, while supervising undergraduate and postgraduate research students. His research interests include AI, game-based learning, digital storytelling, CS Education and e-commerce.

Dr. Chambers’ research focuses on health communication, culture, and migrant issues. She has coauthored peer-reviewed publications that appear in the International Communication Research Journal, the Journal of Human Behavior in the Social Environment, and the Journal of Management and Marketing in Healthcare.
Dr. Chambers holds an MBA from Barry University, and an MS, an MPH, and a Ph.D. in Communication (with Health emphasis), all from Georgia State University.

Dr. Walcott’s research focuses on political communication, migration, identity, and media pedagogy. She has collaborated with scholars across regions on peer-reviewed coauthored and single-authored publications in Media, War & Conflict, the Journal of Ethnic and Cultural Studies, and the Journal of Global Diaspora and Media, among other key journals. Her leadership roles in the academy includes Head of the Commission on the Status of Minorities within the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication (AEJMC). She is also a member of the International Communication Association, the Caribbean Studies Association (CSA) and Southern States Communication Association (SSCA).

Dr. Walcott has also provided consultancy services to regional and international organisations including CARICOM, UNICEF, UNDP, FAO, USAID, and national government ministries. Her areas of specialization include policy and programme communication, behaviour change and public education campaigns, media and stakeholder engagement, capacity-building and training, crisis and risk communication, and documentary and broadcast media production. She holds a B.Sc. in Communication and Graduate Diploma in International Studies from the University of Guyana, an M.A. in Communication and Development from Ohio University, and a Ph.D. in Communication from Georgia State University.

She teaches journalism writing and Integrated Marketing Communication courses and supervises undergraduate research students, and Educational Technology in the Faculty of Education and Humanities, Department of Foundations and Education Management.

Mrs. Hamilton-Weekes is skilled in developing communication strategies and learning solutions to facilitate effective teaching and learning across face-to-face, blended, and online environments. Her research interests span two primary areas: Communication strategy within public and political spheres and Instructional design for inclusive online and blended learning.

As an emerging researcher, her scholarly contributions include the publication: Walcott, C., & Hamilton-Weekes, R. (2019), Consent, Contention and Musical Commentary on Guyana’s 1992 National Elections and the 2018 No-Confidence Motion, published in the International Communication Research Journal. She has also presented her work on inclusive online learning at the University of Guyana’s CoETaL Biennial Teaching Conference in 2023.
She holds a Bachelor of Science in Communication Studies and a Postgraduate Diploma in Education from the University of Guyana, as well as a Master of Science in Instructional Design and Technology from The University of the West Indies Open Campus (now the Global Campus). She is currently pursuing doctoral studies in Teaching and Learning with Emerging Technologies at The University of the West Indies Global Campus.

She has a multidisciplinary academic background in the fields of Communication Studies, International Relations, and Sociology.

She views Caribbean research as part of her decolonial practice and her current research focus is twofold: (i) exploring how women experience and navigate Caribbean societies through their bodies, with a special interest on the intersectionalities of fatness, gender, and other relevant socio-cultural and historical factors; and (ii) the use of qualitative methodologies in areas of research that have traditionally used quantitative approaches, such as health systems, mental wellbeing among various populations and strategic resilience. Other areas of research and publication include health and women’s wellbeing, mentoring in higher education, statistics education and anxiety among university students, and decoloniality within and through higher education, all aimed at making visible Caribbean realities and experiences.

In her role as a lecturer, Marissa teaches courses in social media communication, digital marketing, and content strategy, with an emphasis on applying theory to real-world digital environments. She is particularly interested in preparing students to navigate the evolving dynamics of social media, including algorithmic influence, platform shifts, and the growing role of influencers in shaping public perception. She has also facilitated training in areas such as prompt engineering and AI-assisted communication, equipping students and professionals with the skills needed to navigate an increasingly digital and algorithm-driven media landscape.
As a digital marketing professional, she has experience developing and executing social media campaigns, managing brand presence across platforms, and working with influencer partnerships. This industry experience informs both her teaching and research.
Her research interests include social media influencers, digital culture, and media ethics, with a focus on authenticity, transparency, and regulation within Caribbean digital spaces.

The Editor in Chief of the Barbados-based Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC) is a founding member of the Association of Caribbean Media Workers (ACM), who has received numerous awards including “Best Feature Writer” and Most Outstanding Journalist” by the Caribbean Broadcasting Union/ Caribbean Publishing and Broadcasting Association. His writings and commentaries appear in a number of regional and international publications, including “Digital Surveillance and Surveillance Capitalism in the Caribbean, published by the Canada-based World Association for Christian Communication (WACC) in 2019.
He is co-author of the book “Life in the Caribbean Community” and together with Dr. Lera Rhodes of the University of Georgia, published the paper “Threats to Press Freedom in Established Democracies”.
He has also participated in regional discussions on the media including “Demistifying, Misinformation, Disinformation and Fakes News” at the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB)/Caribbean Catastrophe Risk Financing Facility(CCRIF) 2nd Regional Risk Conference, Barbados, September 3-4, 2025, and the Caribbean Media Institute’s “Caribbean Media Summit,” Jamaica May 8-10, 2024.
The former part-time lecturer at the Open Campus of the UWI, he has worked as a communications consultant for a number of government and private sector enterprises including the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) and the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America (ECLAC).

His industries of preference include Caribbean lifestyle brands that define the modern Caribbean culture and aesthetic. He previously held leadership positions, including Chief Digital Officer at McCann POS, Strategic Director of LIP Label Barcelona, and Regional Commercial Content Manager at Trend Media by Digicel.

Mithra has supplemented his academic journey with certifications from globally recognized institutions, pursuing CompTIA ITF+, Security+, and Network+, while completing courses from Harvard, Stanford, and the University of Helsinki. His commitment to lifelong learning extends to AI risk management training with IIA–ISACA and full-stack cybersecurity software programs through Kaseya University.
A published researcher and conference speaker, Mithra presented his framework on AI-driven agriculture in the Caribbean at an international Canada-Caribbean security conference. His project portfolio spans cybersecurity tools, climate data tracking, and open-source development , reflecting both technical depth and creative problem-solving.
Beyond the screen, Mithra volunteers with the Youth Legacy Club and has channeled his digital marketing skills into supporting local agribusiness. With a strong foundation across cybersecurity, AI, and software development, Mithra Ramoutar is an emerging force in the Caribbean tech landscape

Her work spans national public health campaigns, corporate communication strategy, and brand development, with a strong focus on leveraging digital platforms to drive behaviour change and engagement. LaShaun has worked closely with government agencies, regional organisations, and corporate clients to design and execute campaigns that balance performance with credibility in increasingly complex media environments.

A former President of the Public Relations Association of Trinidad and Tobago (PRATT), she has been a leading voice in advancing the role of digital strategy within communications practice. Her work continues to explore the intersection of artificial intelligence, media, and audience trust, particularly within small and emerging markets.
LaShaun is also a Google-certified professional in Digital Marketing and Analytics, and a co-lead of the Google Developer Group Port of Spain. Through her work, she advocates for a more human-centered, data-informed approach to communication in the Caribbean.

Her scholarship examines how cultural beliefs, social structures, and stigma influence the interpretation of health messages and public health interventions. She has studied a range of global health issues, including mental health communication, responses to Ebola and COVID-19, and communication processes related to successful aging. Using theory-driven and qualitative approaches, her work contributes to the development of culturally responsive communication models aimed at improving public health outreach, and engagement.
Dr. Komuhendo has presented her research at major academic conferences, including the National Communication Association (NCA), the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication (AEJMC), the Arab-U.S. Association for Communication Educators (AUSACE), the DC Health Communication Conference, and the Kentucky Conference on Health Communication (KCHC).
She holds an M.Sc. in Health Promotion Management from American University, an MBA from the Eastern and Southern African Management Institute (ESAMI), and a B.A. (Hons.) in Communication from Makerere University

Mrs. Humphrey-Best served as the Programming and Production Manager at the Grenada Broadcasting Network (GBN), the Grenada correspondent for the Caribbean Service of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) and as the Producer/Presenter of “Caribbean Newsline,” the flagship television programme of the Barbados-based Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC).

She is also a former executive member of the Association of Caribbean Media Workers (ACM).
Mrs Humphrey-Best has also served as a communication specialist for a number of entities including the National Water and Sewerage Authority of Grenada (NAWASA) and the Grenada Food and Nutrition Council (GFNC).
In November 2019, she joined the Office of the Integrity Commission as the Communication/Organizational Compliance Officer in Grenada, a position affording her the opportunity to combine her communication and management experiences, administration skills and Anti-fraud and Compliance knowledge, to deliver public education material and corporate compliance assistance to public entities.
Her job also allows for assessing the vulnerabilities of government ministries, departments and statutory bodies to ascertain the level of risks to corruption in order to provide guidance in ethics and compliance.

I am currently a researcher with TTLAB (a data science organization) and a mentor with Women in Data Science Trinidad and Tobago (WiDSTT) where I support the growth and development of aspiring data professionals. Outside of academics, I practice Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and serve as the Events Coordinator for the UWI Entrepreneurial Society where I organize and manage initiatives that foster innovation and collaboration among students.

As the founding President of the UWI Entrepreneurial Society, I have led initiatives such as pop ups and workshops focused on brainstorming, digital marketing and financial literacy. Additionally, I have represented UWI at the National Youth Parliament 2025 where I received the UN Most Distinguished Youth Parliamentarian Award. I am currently participating in the National Women’s Parliament and a member of WiDSTT. I have also been elected as the 26/27 Faculty of Social Sciences Representative for the UWI Guild.

As the founder of the CyberSafeTT Foundation, Daren has spent over 15 years championing online safety. His grassroots advocacy has reached over 35,000 students and 5,000 educators across the region, earning him the inaugural “Cyber Hero of the Caribbean” award from Get Safe Online (UK) in 2020.
Daren holds a B.Sc. in Computer Science and Management, an M.A. in Creative Design and Entrepreneurship (Distinction), and is currently pursuing an MBA in Digital Transformation. His unique “dual-practitioner” perspective bridges the gap between complex technical infrastructure and the human behaviors that define our modern digital culture.

His work explores how stories shape health, ethics, and public trust in medicine. His first academic book (Routledge, 2025) is titled Caribbean Futurism and Beyond: Conversations with Writers of Folklore, Fantasy, Science, and Speculative Fiction.

Dr. De Matas is also a columnist for the Daily Express in Trinidad and Tobago and the Galveston County Daily News.

She is a faculty member in the Department of Literary, Cultural and Communication Studies and is currently a PhD student, where her scholarship engages critically with the intersections of digital media, power, and representation. Her current research explores digital crisis governance and the role of social media in shaping public communication during emergencies, as well as the discursive power of digital campaigning in Caribbean elections (2025–2026). Through comparative analyses of platforms such as Facebook and Instagram, she examines how political actors negotiate visibility, credibility, and voter engagement in evolving digital environments.
Positioned within the broader context of media transformation in the age of AI, her work interrogates how emerging technologies reconfigure communication practices, authority, and citizen participation, particularly in small-state societies. She is especially interested in the implications of algorithmic systems for representation and democratic processes. Through both academic inquiry and professional practice, she contributes to ongoing conversations on media, governance, and the role of digital communication in shaping contemporary Caribbean societies