Philip Hamel- Smith
Chairman
Attorney at law by profession; member of the law association of Trinidad and Tobago for over 50years. ; managing partner of M Hamel-Smith &Co; founding and Honary member of the American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham); Director of the international law association Lex Mundi; vice president of the Senate of Trinidad & Tobago for 5 years; company director of many corporates including Guardian Holdings Ltd; Director of the Massy Foundation; member of the financial council of RCA; founding member of EDFAM
Rowland Mackenzie
Vice Chairman
I am a Civil Engineer and my background is Construction. I have been working in the Construction industry for the past 29 years. I own and manage a Construction Management company.
My children have attended our schools from the first day our schools opened their doors and my wife and I are very happy with our children’s education and the young adults that the Schools helped to produce.
I have also worked hard, including personal research, to education ourselves, as we journey to wholistically educate our children.
I believe that education is critical for the success of future generations and I am committed to bring my Engineering, Business and strong Family commitments and experiences to our schools.
Andrew Bernard
Founder & Director
Andrew is currently Chairman / CEO of Trintrac Ltd (specializing in equipment and machinery sales and support for over 40 years) Rental Power Ltd, Pest Guard Ltd (Orkin) and a director of Trinidad Hose Co Ltd. He is also involved in the music business both in production of recorded music and management and publishing of various artistes. He enjoys walking on his cocoa estate and sportsfishing whenever time permits.
Andrew and his wife Lise are parents of eight children two of whom are graduates of Rosewood College. After serving on the Parent Support Group (PTA) of Fatima College as Vice President for two years and President for four years Andrew became involved in the setting up of our triad of schools under the EDFAM umbrella. Andrew is proud of the fact that his eldest grandchild will soon be attending Arbor Primary after having been accepted for admission from September 2024 and looks forward to many more doing the same.
Kirk DE Souza
Founder & Director
I am the founder and Managing Director of Tridium Caribbean Limited, which specializes uniquely in Cash Processing Equipment and Systems for Financial Institutions, Central Banks, Retailers, and the Fast-Food Industry across the Caribbean, established in 1994.
I am also a founding member and a director on the board of the schools under the EDFAM umbrella, Arbor, Rosewood & Trimont, established in 2008. I have served, in the past, on the boards of Dunross & Maple Leaf. I remain committed to the future by being involved
in forming the children in their physical, mental & spiritual lives in a challenging world.
Brendon Butts
Director
Brendon is an Education Architect and Consultant who works with various education stakeholders to develop strategies and initiatives that drive transformational change in their current educational landscape.
Brendon is the visionary founder of ESS, and has been a driving force in transforming pedagogy through technology integration. With a deep understanding of the Caribbean’s educational landscape, Brendon has worked closely with numerous schools and districts, implementing Digital Educational Solutions to enhance and enrich teaching and learning experiences.
He is a reflective practitioner who believes that his work thus far in the field of education was shaped by his own experiences both as a learner and a teacher – where lifelong learning is viewed as being critical not only to his own continuous development but to the overall sustainability of our learning community.
He is passionate about sharing his expertise and experiences towards developing an authentic learning community throughout the Caribbean and is of the rooted opinion that our teachers and students, once given the resources and the freedom to learn can become the next generation of innovators who can lead us into becoming a more diverse, competitive and sustainable region. He has approximately 30 years experience in the education sector both as a teacher and Administrator.
Brendon holds a Master’s Degree in Educational Studies from The University of Sheffield (Research Dissertation based on Teacher adoption of ICT in Trinidad & Tobago-2005)
Clare-Ann Fransen
Director
Clare-Ann qualified as an Architect in London and went on to complete a further Masters in Architecture, Cultural Identity and Globalisation at the University of Westminster. She has also done Philosophy and Theology courses part-time and was an active speaker for ‘Catholic Voices’ in the UK for a number of years. After getting married and starting her family she moved to New Zealand where she and her husband trained with and ran courses for the International Federation for Family Development (IFFD). Apart from serving on the EDFAM board she now directs the Character Education departments of our schools which her 4 children currently attend.
E. Gerry Ayin
Director
Gerry Ayin is a distinguished executive and respected business leader with an impressive career spanning over 35 years in the manufacturing and retail industry. Known for his dynamic and hands-on approach, Gerry has consistently set the entities he is associated with apart in their respective industries, through his innovative strategies and tireless work ethic.
Throughout his career, Gerry has actively contributed to various boards and committees, always striving to make a meaningful impact for the betterment of the organizations he serves. Notably, he played a pivotal role in elevating the reputation of an international private school in Trinidad, steering it towards a path of excellence and distinction.
Gerry’s outstanding reputation in the business sector and his dedication to community service have garnered recognition from the government. In 2019, he was appointed as the High Commissioner to Canada on behalf of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, a testament to his esteemed standing in both the business and diplomatic spheres.
Currently, Gerry holds the position of Executive Director at National Fisheries Company (1995) Limited and is a valued member of the EDFAM board, overseeing the marketing initiatives of the schools under its purview.
Having pursued his final education in Canada, Gerry attended boarding school, then went on to graduate with a degree from a prestigious university recognized for business excellence , further solidifying his expertise and leadership in the business sector.
Laeticia Devaux
Director
Laeticia has a passion for societal growth and development, firmly believing that education is key to advancing communities. Currently serving as the Education Lead at pennacool.com, she actively engages with schools nationwide and collaborates with various stakeholders in education to enhance learning opportunities and drive strategic initiatives.
She holds degrees in Business Management with a minor in Marketing from the John Molson School of Business in Montreal, as well as a Philosophy and Theology degree from the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross in Rome. This diverse educational background equips her with a comprehensive understanding of strategic business practices and philosophical frameworks.
Actively involved in industry activities, Laeticia participates in relevant organizations and drives initiatives to enhance learning opportunities for all.
