Melanie Subratie was recently appointed the new Chairman of JAMPRO, Jamaica’s trade and investment promotion agency, in the Ministry of Industry, Investment & Commerce. She is a graduate of the London School of Economics with a BSc in Government and worked as a consultant in the Financial Services Division of Deloitte and Touche before returning to Jamaica. Melanie is an astute business leader, with an impressive career spanning 20 years of both operational and strategic roles in Insurance, Information Technology, Telcom, Food Distribution and Manufacturing. Subratie is the current Vice Chairman of Musson Jamaica Limited, where she has been responsible for developing over 535k square feet of BPO commercial real estate. She is also chairman and CEO of Stanley Motta Limited, which has the only all-female board of directors in the region. Other projects have included a major focus on the development of technology and coding skills among Jamaican youth. Her work as cofounder and chair of the Jamaican Girls Coding and Freedom Skatepark is credit to her commitment to Jamaica’s orange economy, particularly in film and animation – a significant area of focus for JAMPRO. Melanie is a keen angel investor and sits on the board of Bookfusion, and is a board member of First Angels. Since its inception, First Angels has managed 16 rounds of investments with a total of USD$2 million for start-up companies in Jamaica.

Born into a Jamaican family that goes back many generations, Paula Kerr-Jarrett Wegman, the daughter of Christopher Bovell, Attorney-at-Law and Michelle started her early education in Jamaica and completed high school in the UK. She continued her education there, going on to read Law and Politics at the University of London, where she gained both her BA and LLM degrees. Paula moved back to Jamaica in 1990, and was called to the Jamaican Bar thereafter. Over the following years, as she re-assimilated into the Jamaican culture, she had many experiences which allowed her to recognize and appreciate the tremendous assets that Jamaica had to offer, particularly in the people. Her primary passion has since then, been to help develop and establish Jamaica and its environs into one of the most highly sought-after locations to visit, live and work. In order to realize this goal, she cultivated a role as a “social entrepreneur”, connecting various individuals; charities; business and government organizations in order to create a synergy of ideas, always where possible, aiming to advance the prospects of Jamaicans from all levels of society. This role involved her in numerous projects, involving religious, charitable and educational organizations, and eventually led to her become a candidate in the national elections. It was in this forum that she was able to fully understand the economic, social and educational disparity that often exists in developing countries. This led her to establish “Hanover Hope”, a non-profit foundation focusing on raising awareness and funds to provide scholarships (based on meritocracy as opposed to political affiliation) for many young people across the island.

Hailed as the hardest working woman in Corporate Jamaica, Lorna Myers, Chairman of Restaurants of Jamaica Limited, became the first woman inducted into The Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica’s Hall of Fame at a gala event on the 14 November 2012, at the then Wyndham Kingston Hotel. Myers became the 20th inductee to take her place in the Hall of Fame among the finest and most celebrated businessmen in Jamaica. Lorna Myers is a phenomenal entrepreneur, who is most well-known for a decision she made 43 years ago. Myers went in pursuit of the Jamaica franchise for the world-famous KFC and secured it. To endure for so long and still be on top says it all. Known for her tenacity and philanthropy, she continues to be a stalwart in the business community. Before she was the matriarch of the Myers family empire, she worked in the airline industry and in real estate thus explaining her well-honed work ethic and her ability to effectively execute. It is always heartening when you raise your children right and they can safeguard your life’s work and legacy. Lorna Myers has done that and her businesses may well endure for decades to come. Today, Restaurants of Jamaica Limited operates both the local KFC and Pizza Hut franchises, which accounts for a collective, 46 locations and 2,000 Jamaican jobs.

Lois Sherwood, a Business Executive, is the former Honorary Consul for Lithuania in Jamaica. Mrs. Sherwood is also a highly regarded fine artist (painter) and has exhibited her work in several countries of the world. She owns and operates Island Homes Ltd., a property development company as well as Restaurant Associates Ltd., franchisee for Burger King, Jamaica, Popeyes and Little Caesars’ Pizza. Mrs. Sherwood was recently appointed Pulse’s Director Emerita.

Thalia Lyn OD, J.P., LL.D. (HON.), B.A. (HONS.) is one of Jamaica’s top entrepreneurs, sitting at the helm of Island Grill – a leading multibillion-dollar fast food chain with outlets right across Jamaica and Barbados. She is also a philanthropist, and one of Jamaica’s most passionate advocates for gender equality and persons with disabilities. She is Chairman of the N.C.B. Foundation; a Trustee of the NCB Pension Funds; CEO of Island Catering and Island Grill Holdings; Patron of UWI/CB 5K Fundraiser; Director of the Mustard Seed Communities, Port Royal Patties (UK), Oracabessa Foundation and Devon House Development. She is also the Honorary Consul General of Thailand, the second woman inducted into the PSOJ Hall of Fame, and was conferred with an Honorary Doctor of Laws degree (LL. D) by the University of the West Indies. She has also been conferred with national honours by Jamaica and the Kingdom of Thailand.