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New Scientist - Mr. Kersen Stephens
5d

Mr. Kersen Stephens, FRM is the Manager – Credit Decisioning and Risk Modeling Domain with the National Commercial Bank (NCB) Financial Group. He previously served as the Quantitative Risk Manager with the NCB Financial Group and has over 10 years of leadership experience in the financial industry across the fields of risk management, data analytics, statistics and finance. Excelling in mathematics and sports from his secondary school days at Munro College, Mr. Stephens went on to tertiary studies in actuarial science at The University of the West Indies fully supported by a UWI Open Scholarship Award. On completing the course of study, he received his B.Sc. (Hons) in Actuarial Science from the Faculty of Science and Technology (Mathematics Department) at The UWI, Mona. His career began at the Bank of Jamaica as a Statistics Officer before he joined the NCB Financial Group. He later earned a M.Sc. (Hons) in Financial Mathematics from the North Carolina State University as a Fulbright Scholar. Mr. Stephens is a certified Financial Risk Manager (FRM) underscoring his expertise in quantitative risk and financial modelling. Beyond his professional achievements he remains an avid sports enthusiast and serves as the Treasurer of the Faculty of Science and Technology, Mona Chapter of the UWI Alumni Association.
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New Scientist - Dr. Lilieth Nelson
6d

Dr. Lilieth Nelson dubbed the “artistic scientist” by Professor, the Hon. Rex Nettleford (when he was the artistic director for the University Singers, with whom she sang for many years) is a chemist and celebrated educator, singer, poet and entrepreneur. She has acted in several theatrical productions and is a published author. Dr. Nelson read her poem, “Ode to Scientists of the 60s at The UWI” during the launch of the FiWi Science Initiative in January, 2025. Born in Kingston, Dr. Nelson attended St. Hugh’s High School and credits her interest in science to the many visits the students took to the Institute of Jamaica. She graduated from The University of the West Indies with a B.Sc. in Chemistry, Botany and Zoology (Life Sciences) in 1967 and went on to further her studies with Diplomas in Education and in Management Studies. She taught chemistry and general science at the secondary levels in the Bahamas and Jamaica, and later, the tertiary level at Mico Teachers’ College. After 10 years as a stellar science educator she moved on to the Ministry of Mining and Energy as a Project Manager where she directed the Bioenergy Assessment Project for Jamaica and produced the Energy Coordinator’s Handbook as a guide for managing and conserving energy across institutions. From there, she moved on to become the Managing Director of Jamaica Laboratory & Industrial Suppliers Ltd. a leading distributor of chemicals and scientific equipment for research and analysis in the industrial, medical and educational sectors. During this time she furthered her education with a Masters of Arts Degree (MA) in Education, focusing on the Teaching of Chemistry at Secondary and Tertiary Levels in Jamaica, and an Executive Masters of Business Administration (EMBA) with a focus on International Marketing. Between 1992 and 2009 she was the Head of International Programmes at The University of the West Indies and started her doctoral research on the Internationalisation of Universities at this time. She graduated with her Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Education in 2013 in which she examined the cost in relation to benefits of cross-border education. Though retired, Dr. Nelson keeps busy spending time with family and friends, working on consultancies, writing and through involvement and leadership roles in several organisations. These include the Institute of Jamaica’s Natural History Division, The Association of Science Teachers of Jamaica, The Jamaican Society of Scientists and Technologists; The Jamaica Cultural Development Commission; Business and Professional Women, St. Andrew; The University Singers of which she was the Musical Director for seven years and singer for 30 years; Caribbean Community of Retired Persons (CCRP) and the St. Hugh’s Past Students’ Association. Dr. Lilieth Nelson was celebrated by the St. Hugh’s Past Students’ Association as the Distinguished Past Student for 1989, for her work in the Arts and with the School. In 2016 she received the Order of Distinction, Commander Class from the Government of Jamaica for outstanding contribution in the fields of Education, Literature and Jamaican Folk Culture. In 2023, she was honoured by the Caribbean Community of Retired Persons, with the Living Legacy Award for entrepreneurship, education and culture.
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New Scientist - Ms Shonel Dwyer
Apr 29, 2026

Ms. Shonel Dwyer is a geologist and water sector policy specialist with over twenty (20) years of experience. She currently serves as Director of Water Monitoring in the Ministry of Water, Environment and Climate Change. In this position, she provides strategic oversight of national water sector initiatives and supports the development of monitoring and evaluation frameworks that inform policy and enable infrastructure investment in the expansion of water supply coverage across the island and the achievement of national water resource management priorities. Ms. Dwyer developed a strong interest in geography while attending Montego Bay High School, which inspired her to pursue a Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) degree in Geology and a Master of Science (M.Sc.) degree in Water Resources Management at The University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona. Her career reflects a blend of scientific and policy leadership within Jamaica’s water sector. She began at the Water Resources Authority (WRA), where she spent nine (9) years conducting hydrological investigations, supervising well drilling and development, and managing a licensed water allocation system (via Permits and Licenses) to support sustainable development. She later served as a Senior Geologist at the Petroleum Corporation of Jamaica, contributing to oil and gas exploration and the development of associated environmental regulations. Through these roles, Ms. Dwyer has contributed to national water policy and strategic initiatives aimed at modernising the sector, improving water supply, strengthening resilience, and promoting sustainable resource management. Ms. Dwyer is the first Public Relations & Communications Officer for the Faculty of Science and Technology, Mona Chapter of the UWI Alumni Association.
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New Scientist - Mr. Willard Brown Brown
Apr 29, 2026

Willard Brown is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Sagicor Life Jamaica (SLJ). He has responsibility for the overall strategy and operations of SLJ, and oversight of all divisions of the company’s life insurance business in Jamaica, the Cayman Islands and SLJ joint ventures in Latin America. He previously served as Chief Technology and Insurance Operations Officer. He joined the Sagicor Life Jamaica Limited family in 1991 and has served the company in various capacities including the Information Technology and Special Projects Departments. He eventually joined the Employee Benefits Division, where he ultimately held the position of Executive Vice President until October 2022. Mr. Brown holds a Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) degree in Mathematics and Computer Systems. He is a Fellow of the Society of Actuaries and the Vice President of the Faculty of Science and Technology, Mona Chapter of the UWI Alumni Association.
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New Scientist - Mr. Ainsley Henry
Apr 29, 2026

Mr. Ainsley Henry, OD, JP. is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Conservator of Forests at the Forestry Department, Jamaica and so is responsible for the strategic direction of Jamaica's efforts to conserve, protect and sustainably use the island’s forests and their resources. Mr. Henry completed a Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) degree in Life Sciences at The UWI in 1997 which included courses in marine and coastal ecology, agro-forestry and sustainable watershed management. Thus equipped, he started his professional career working at the Natural Resources Conservation Authority (NRCA) as an Environmental Officer. He continued working with the newly established National Environment and Planning Agency moving from a Manager to a Director as his work expanded to include greater levels of planning and supervision. During this time, he completed a Master of Philosophy (M.Phil.) degree in Environmental Management which saw him extending his research on coastal species with an assessment of the Mangrove Forest in the Great Morass of St. Thomas. From 2015 to 2020 he was the Project Manager for a 5-year Climate Investment Fund/Inter-American Development Bank funded project on Climate Resilience, based at The UWI and implemented across five Caribbean countries. Mr. Henry joined the Forestry Department in his current position in 2020. He was awarded Jamaica’s Order of Distinction, Officer Class (OD) for his public service in the fields of environmental management, forest conservation and sustainable development. Mr. Henry is the first President of the Faculty of Science and Technology, Mona Chapter of the UWI Alumni Association.
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Account Type	Description	Benefits
	Individuals dedicated to the pursuit of knowledge, discovery, and innovation, often with specialized training and expertise in specific scientific disciplines. They include researchers, educators, conservationists, and professionals who actively contribute to the advancement of science.	Publicize your work to a regional audience including government and industry members.
	Individuals that are passionate about science but who may not hold formal scientific qualifications but possess an insatiable curiosity about the world around them. They are explorers, learners, and avid supporters of scientific endeavours.	Make contact with and learn about our local Scientists.
	This account is for businesses to showcase their scientific services to a science community.	Free listing on the Fiwi Yellowpages.
	This account is for educational institutions to display their work and workers in the scientific field.	Make unlimited posts to the Fiwi Events Calendar where your local events are exposed to a much wider regional audience.

Account Type

Description

Benefits

Individuals dedicated to the pursuit of knowledge, discovery, and innovation, often with specialized training and expertise in specific scientific disciplines. They include researchers, educators, conservationists, and professionals who actively contribute to the advancement of science.

Publicize your work to a regional audience including government and industry members.

Individuals that are passionate about science but who may not hold formal scientific qualifications but possess an insatiable curiosity about the world around them. They are explorers, learners, and avid supporters of scientific endeavours.

Make contact with and learn about our local Scientists.

This account is for businesses to showcase their scientific services to a science community.

Free listing on the Fiwi Yellowpages.

This account is for educational institutions to display their work and workers in the scientific field.

Make unlimited posts to the Fiwi Events Calendar where your local events are exposed to a much wider regional audience.

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