NIPDEC - Key Persons
Dr. Maryam Abdool- Richards C.M. was appointed as the Chairman of the National Insurance and Property Development Company (NIPDEC), effective 27th August 2024.
In her substantive position as Principal Medical Officer for the Ministry of Health in Trinidad and Tobago, she was awarded the country's second highest honour, the Chaconia Medal Gold, for demonstrated leadership in Public Health.
With expertise in the areas of governance, strategy, healthcare systems, project management, external relations, and transformational leadership, Dr. Richards has been sought out by both Private and Public sector organizations to serve as Director and expert advisor on matters of organizational and fiscal transformation to several international and regional entities in the Financial Services, Manufacturing, Healthcare and Project Management Sectors. In a voluntary capacity, she is the Deputy Director of the Angostura Foundation, and Director to the Boards of two of the Caribbean's leading Non- Governmental Organizations, the Heroes Foundation (youth development) and the Shelter for Battered Women (T&T).
Over the past decade, Dr. Richards has forged strategic, cross-sectoral alliances to co-design, implement, and lead complex, high-value projects for Government and the Private sector, as well as non-profit and international organizations.
Popularized as host of Caribbean Medical TV, Dr. Richards has become a household name across the region, and a respected voice on a wide range of health-related issues.
Dr. Richards has been recognized internationally as Vice Chair of the 75th World Health Assembly, a Fellow of the U.S. Department of States International Visitor Leadership Program and by U.S. Secretary of State, Anthony Blinken for leadership of frontline healthcare workers.
A specialist Family Medicine and Public Health Physician by training, Dr. Abdool-Richards' qualifications include an M.B., B.S degree (UWI), MSc. Family Medicine (UWI), MSc. Public Health in Developing Countries (LSHTM), EMBA (ALJGSB, UWI), and a Certificate in Corporate Governance from the Caribbean Corporate Governance Institute (CCGI). She is also trained and has significant experience in International Relations, Diplomacy and State Protocol.
Malisa R. Gilkes is a Strategic Human Resource Professional with over sixteen (16) years' experience. Malisa is heavily involved in our Company's transformation and emphasizes creative employee development solutions aligned to business focused strategies that support our corporate mandate.
Mrs. Gilkes holds a Master of Science Degree in Business Administration as well as a Bachelor of Science Degree in Management and a minor in Psychology. She also is in possession of a Professional Certificate in Industrial Relations.
With over 20 years of experience in the financial services sector, Mr. Deyson Scott is a seasoned leader with expertise in fund management, business leadership, and corporate strategy. He has successfully led transformational initiatives, including implementing technology platforms and fostering strategic stakeholder engagement.
Deyson's leadership focuses on delivering innovative, technology-driven strategies, enhancing customer experiences, and driving sustainable growth. He also serves on various boards, bringing expertise in governance, strategy, and financial oversight, with a strong commitment to public service.
A fitness enthusiast and advocate for philanthropy, Deyson combines technical expertise with a passion for community development, offering valuable insight and leadership in all his roles.
Job Titles:
- Head, Finance & Accounting
Jabari is a CIMA qualified finance executive with nineteen (19) years' global experience in internal and external Financial Reporting and Business Management across diverse business sectors in the United Kingdom and Trinidad & Tobago. He joined NIPDEC in July 2016 and assumed the role of Head Finance & Accounting.
Prior to NIPDEC Jabari was a Finance Director with the Massey group and Financial Controller of National Flour Mills and Clinical Trials Pharmaceutical Company; Quintiles (U.K.).
Jabari is the holder of an MBA and Bachelor's Degree in Accounting.
Job Titles:
- Civil Engineer
- Head, Property Development
Johnson Smith holds a B.Sc. (Hons) Degree in Civil Engineering and has over 20 years' experience in both the offshore (oil and gas sector) and onshore (public and private sectors) construction industries.
Mr. Smith is a Civil Engineer and Project Management Professional with experience in the design and construction of industrial facilities, historical restorations, oil and gas facilities, office accommodations, rehabilitations/renovations, commercial and residential buildings.
He is an Associate Member of the Association of Professional Engineers of Trinidad and Tobago, and a Member of the Project Management Institute. He has completed professional development certification with the Mediation Board of Trinidad and Tobago and executive education in Contract, Finance, Design & Leadership.
Education: Bsc. Applied Science in Civil Engineering Systems with Construction Engineering and Management. (Hons)
Job Titles:
- Board Member of the National Insurance Property Development Company Ltd
- Fellow of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors
Mark is a Board Member of the National Insurance Property Development Company Ltd (NIPDEC), is Chairman of the Tenders Committee and sits on the Audit Committee.
Mark has over forty-two (42) years' experience in the construction and development industry, having been involved in contracts management, claims and dispute resolution on a variety of projects worldwide.
Mark is a Fellow of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, a Member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (and past Honorary Secretary of the CIArb Trinidad and Tobago Chapter), he is a past Board Member of the Institute of Surveyors in Trinidad & Tobago, an Affiliate Member of the Association of Professional Engineers of Trinidad & Tobago, an Honorary Member of the Caribbean Institute of Forensic Accounting and is a Certified Mediator.
His specialties include Quantity Surveying, Contract Claims & Dispute Resolution for Contractors and Clients under FIDIC and other Forms of Construction Contract, in Trinidad and Tobago and overseas. Mark has successfully conducted valuations for building works and loss adjustment claims, he has acted as case manager on Dispute Board and Arbitration Referrals, as a Sole Arbitrator and as part of an ICC Arbitration Tribunal, as an Expert Witness and as a Mediator, on many diverse dispute resolution matters. Mark has also conducted training courses on the FIDIC forms of Contract and has undertaken technical authorship on various construction related subjects.
With Over 20 years in the Construction Sector and the Project Management Environment, Vyas Ramphalie has been with the NIPDEC team since 2012. A qualified project manager, he has attained a Bachelor of Science in Engineering (B.S.c), a Masters of Science (M.Sc.) Degree in Construction Management and a Masters in Business Administration (MBA).
Mr. Ramphalie's experience includes project planning and development, project scheduling, project accounting, tendering and procurement, cost, time and quality control, contract administration and project monitoring and supervision.
Prior to working at NIPDEC he headed the Projects department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Mr. Ramphalie also worked as Executive Manager - Projects at the Sports Company of Trinidad and Tobago, Project Manager at Raghunathsingh and Company Limited, West Atlantic Construction Limited, Seereeram Brothers Limited and Lee Young and Partners. Moreover, he has experience working on large construction projects with the New York based firm Volmer Associates.
Wendell Mitchell is a seasoned IT Consultant renowned for his expertise in driving Digital Transformation, fostering IT-enabled business innovation, and implementing effective IT Governance strategies, inclusive of Cybersecurity controls.
With a distinguished career spanning over 34 years, including over 20 years in Senior Management roles across diverse industries such as Telecommunications, Banking and Finance (Led group IT strategy and planning at RBC, and led IT at Unit Trust Corporation, Guardian Group, and First Citizens Group), Manufacturing, and Government, (where he was the National Chief Digital Officer). Wendell has consistently delivered impactful solutions and transformative results through this career by aligning business goals with IT capabilities.
Wendell is the holder of a M.Sc. (Distinction) in Engineering Management with a B.Sc. in Engineering with specialisation in computer and communication systems. He also possesses a certificate in General Management from the American Management Association (Via ROYTEC).
Job Titles:
- Member of the Law Association of Trinidad
Ms. Gitanjali Gopeesingh has over 20 years of experience in the legal field having attained her LLB in 1999 from Middlesex University, London, England. Gitanjali was admitted as a solicitor of the Supreme Court of England and Wales in 2003 and practiced law for 8 years at the City of Westminster, London England prior to being called to the Bar in the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago in 2012.
Gitanjali manages and has conduct of her civil litigation matters and acts as an Advocate for both private and public sector entities. Her main areas of practice are employment law, personal injury, commercial debt collection, breach of contract claims, negligence claims, landlord and tenant disputes, contract negotiation and drafting.
Gitanjali has appeared in the High Court Civil Division and Family Division, Court of Appeal, the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council, Industrial Court, Tax Appeal Board, and Arbitrations. She has also acted as an Instructing Attorney-at-Law appearing alongside Senior and Junior Counsel.
Gitanjali has successfully completed her Master's in Business Administration Essentials online certification course from the London School of Economics and Political Science, the Corporate Governance Certification from the Caribbean Corporate Governance Institute and an Anti-Money Laundering and Countering of Terrorist Financing Certificate from the School of Business and Computer Sciences.
Gitanjali is a member of the Law Association of Trinidad and Tobago and holds an orange belt in the Art of Karate - Don Jitsu Ryu System.
Marilyn Gordon has had a distinguished and diverse career across multiple sectors. She holds a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) degree from the University of Newcastle upon Tyne and began her professional journey as a primary and secondary school teacher. In 1976, she entered public service as a senator and Parliamentary Secretary in the Trinidad and Tobago Parliament, later becoming a Minister in the Ministries of Finance, Industry and Commerce and National Transportation. Elected as Member of Parliament for Arouca in 1981, she was reappointed as a Minister, founding the Ministry of Sports, Culture and Youth Affairs, before transitioning to the Ministry of Education.
Beyond politics, Mrs. Gordon pursued a successful career in the insurance industry as an agent and Agency Manager and later managed the launch of the National Lotteries Board's Online Gaming System. She also led major real estate projects as Project Manager for two gated community developments in Western Trinidad.
A former national athlete in hockey and athletics, she coached the National Youth Hockey Team and currently serves as a Government Director on the National Insurance Board of Trinidad and Tobago and the National Insurance Property Development Company Limited.
Job Titles:
- Company Secretary / Head Legal Services
- Law and Qualified Company Secretary
Reyna Kowlessar is an attorney at law and qualified company secretary. She is versed in the Laws of Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana, England and Belgium and has also managed a wide range of corporate commercial transactions which spans due diligence to closing in Mergers and Acquisitions.
Ms Kowlessar joined NIPDEC's Team in 2021. Prior to NIPDEC, Ms Kowlessar has advised and been Counsel on regulatory and compliance issues in the financial sector and was team lead in the development of a framework for the establishment of foreign exchange controls.
Reyna is the holder of an LLB (Hons), LPC, ICSA (London) and MBA (Distinction).