The UWI Five Islands to delve into Digital Transformation of the Financial Sector
The UWI Five Islands Campus, Antigua and Barbuda Thursday, March 24, 2022. — The University of the West Indies Five Islands Campus will this month continue its Public Advocacy Series looking at digital transformation. This month’s topic is “Digital Transformation of the Financial Sector” and will feature two of the Caribbean’s leading professionals working in this area.
The speakers at the Campus’ Public Advocacy Series for March will be Ms. Karina Johnson, Project Manager for the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB) and Ms. Rhea Yaw Ching, CEO of Covela Consulting.
Ms. Karina Johnson is the Project Manager for the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (‘ECCB’) digital currency DCash pilot. She is an attorney-at-law and among her areas of interest are Central Bank-backed Digital Currencies, technology-enabled financial services and regional economic integration.
Ms. Rhea Yaw Ching is the Chief Executive Officer of Covela Consulting, a strategy and innovation consulting firm serving private and public sector organizations with an emphasis on strategy development, digital transformation and policy and regulatory harmonization. She is also the Founder and Executive Director of Covela Foundation.
With the integration of technology, digital transformation in the financial sector is an important part of the strategy for financial institutions around the world. A recent survey conducted by global professional services organization, EY has shown that while a majority of finance leaders have started the implementation of technology, a minority have gotten to an advanced stage. For the Caribbean to compete globally, it will need to have the necessary tools in place as part of a wider strategy. The March edition of the Public Advocacy Series will look at where the Caribbean is and how, as a country and region, digital transformation of the financial sector will benefit us.
The virtual event takes place on Monday, March 28, 2022, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. (Eastern Caribbean time). Participants will be able to pose questions directly to each of the panelists during the discussion segment. Persons can register for free online at fiveislands.uwi.edu/publicadvocacyseries.
The UWI Five Islands looks forward to discussing this important topic as we continue to spearhead these important discussions on topics that are affecting our country and region.
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About The Speakers
Karina A. Johnson is the Project Manager for the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (‘ECCB’) digital currency DCash pilot. She is a citizen of Grenada and an attorney-at-law. She holds postgraduate specialisation in International Economic Law and Finance and Law, and is a graduate of the University of the West Indies, University of Edinburgh and Queen Mary University of London. Among her areas of interest are Central Bank-backed Digital Currencies, technology-enabled financial services and regional economic integration; all three being integral to regional development and elevation of the standards of living of our citizens.
Rhea Yaw Ching is the CEO of Covela Consulting, a strategy and innovation consulting firm serving private and public sector organizations with an emphasis on strategy development, digital transformation and policy and regulatory harmonization. She is also the Founder and Executive Director of Covela Foundation, a US-based non-profit focused on building a resilient, innovation-based infrastructure in the Caribbean as well as the use of technology to promote economic diversification and civic participation.
Ms. Yaw Ching advises several organizations across the region on matters related to ICT and transformation. She is currently a strategic advisor to the OECS Commission, Caribbean Advisor for Facebook and sits on the Eastern Caribbean Payments Council of the ECCB where she supports the shaping of the future of payments and settlements infrastructure in the Region
She holds a Bachelor of Science in Management Studies from The University of the West Indies, an MBA from Warwick Business School and Executive Certification in Social Entrepreneurship from Stanford University.
About The UWI
The UWI has been and continues to be a pivotal force in every aspect of Caribbean development; residing at the centre of all efforts to improve the well-being of people across the region.
From a university college of London in Jamaica with 33 medical students in 1948, The UWI is today an internationally respected, global university with near 50,000 students and five campuses: Mona in Jamaica, St. Augustine in Trinidad and Tobago, Cave Hill in Barbados, Five Islands in Antigua and Barbuda and its Open Campus, and 10 global centres in partnership with universities in North America, Latin America, Asia, Africa and Europe.
The UWI offers over 800 certificate, diploma, undergraduate and postgraduate degree options in Culture, Creative and Performing Arts, Food and Agriculture, Engineering, Humanities and Education, Law, Medical Sciences, Science and Technology, Social Sciences, and Sport. As the Caribbean’s leading university, it possesses the largest pool of Caribbean intellect and expertise committed to confronting the critical issues of our region and wider world.
The UWI has been consistently ranked among the top universities globally by the most reputable ranking agency, Times Higher Education (THE). In the latest World University Rankings 2022, released in September 2021, The UWI moved up an impressive 94 places from last year. In the current global field of some 30,000 universities and elite research institutes, The UWI stands among the top 1.5%.
The UWI is the only Caribbean-based university to make the prestigious lists since its debut in the rankings in 2018. In addition to its leading position in the Caribbean, it is also in the top 20 for Latin America and the Caribbean and the top 100 global Golden Age universities (between 50 and 80 years old). The UWI is also featured among the leading universities on THE’s Impact Rankings for its response to the world’s biggest concerns, outlined in the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including Good Health and Wellbeing; Gender Equality and Climate Action.
For more, visit www.uwi.edu.
(Please note that the proper name of the university is The University of the West Indies, inclusive of the “The”, hence The UWI.)
