15 young women leading the way in T&T

​The theme for International Women’s Day 2017 yesterday was “Be Bold for Change”, reflecting the many strong young Trinbagonian women leading in areas of business, media, social work, STEM and sport, to name just a few. Here are several young women who are charging forward to take on the mantle of leadership passed on by previous generations.
1. Teocah Dove
Teocah Dove has become a familiar name, setting an example of success and leadership after receiving the Queen’s Young Leader Award in 2015.
She is a Chevening Scholar with over 10 years of volunteerism, advocacy and activism experience. She is also one of the first female recipients to have received this award.
Dove has a passion for equality rights and the protection of vulnerable persons in society and holds degrees in Journalism and Public Relations, Media and Communications, and Gender and International Relations.
She has a well-known history of designing, providing technical direction on, and implementing impactful social interventions, empowerment, inclusion and leadership programs, aimed at improving the lives of vulnerable women, children and youth.
2. Dr Marsha Pearce
Writer, cultural theorist and lecturer at the Department of Creative and Festival Arts, UWI St. Augustine, Dr Marsha Pearce focuses on Caribbean culture and its various expressions within society.
Her research interests lie in the fields of contemporary art, mass media, museum studies and practice and conceptualisations of space and place.
She was the 2006 Rhodes Trust Rex Nettleford Cultural Studies Fellow and is Senior Editor and Art Writer for ARC Caribbean Art and Culture Magazine, and has written for numerous local and international publications.
She is also a member of a number of professional networks including the International Association of Art Critics (AICA) – Southern Caribbean Section and the Commonwealth Association of Museums.
3. Nadine Bushell
Bushell is the youngest national District Governor of the International Association Lions Club, leading Sub-District 60A, which comprises Guyana, Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago.She is one of two female Lions occupying positions of leadership previously reserved for their male counterparts. Bushell is also Programme Coordinator at CARICOM IMPACS.
4. Asiya Mohammed
CEO, Conflict Women Ltd
Asiya Mohammed’s company, Conflict Women Ltd, has made ground-breaking strides in empowering victims of domestic violence since its inception in 2014.
Her company works with survivors of domestic and sexual violence, helping them to provide for themselves by creating and trading handmade jewellery.
For more information go to www.facebook.com/conflictwomenltd
5. Senator Jennifer Raffoul
Senator Raffoul was was appointed an Independent Senator on September 23, 2015 and has been making her voice heard on socio-economic and cultural issues ever since.
A graduate of Oxford University with an MSc in Economics for Development in 2008, Raffoul also attained a BA (Hons) in Applied Economics with a minor in Political Science from Queen's University, Canada in 2006.
The former student of St. Joseph's Convent Port-of-Spain was also the recipient of a National Scholarship in 2002.
Senator Raffoul has continued to call for the protection of the vulnerable in society.
She has been a board member of The University of Trinidad and Tobago since February 2015 and founded MadeIntheCaribbean.co, an e-commerce website for the sale of local products.
Previously, she served as Consultant for the IADB Fiscal and Municipal Management Division, Project Management Consultant for the Trinidad and Tobago Coalition of Service Industries, Research Fellow at the IADB Country Office, Trinidad and Tobago and a Technical Coordinator of the University of Trinidad and Tobago Green Tourism Project.
. Anisa Mohammed
Cricketer Anisa Mohammed has, along with the rest of the West Indies women’s team, helped bring glory back to the region.
The right-arm off spin bowler and her team won the 2016 World T20 Championship in 2016.
Since her debut at 15, 19-year-old Mohammed has played in 101 women's One Day International (ODI) and 89 women's Twenty20 international (T20I) matches.
She taken the most the wickets in women's T20Is, with 104, well ahead of everyone who has played in the international format.
Mohammed has also taken a total of seven five-wicket hauls in women's international cricket, five in ODIs and two in T20Is, the only player to achieve either of these feats.
7. Gerneiva Parkinson
Parkinson has received a $250,000 grant from US DNA-sequencing company, Color Genomics, to continue her research into breast cancer in Trinidad and Tobago.
The company also volunteered its own genetic counsellors to train local physicians.
Her story was featured online on Fast Company.
Parkinson is also hoping to fund studies into other forms of cancer, including prostate cancer.
8. Michelle-Lee Ahye
Olympic sprinter Michelle-Lee Ahye has brought pride to Trinidad and Tobago after competing at the 2016 Olympic games in Brazil.
Ahye won the Trinidad & Tobago National T&F Championships 100m title in both 2013 and 2014.
In the winter of 2014, Ahye traveled to Sopot, Poland representing Trinidad & Tobago at the IAAF World Indoor T&F Championships in the women's 60m dash.
In the finals, Ahye set a new National Record for 60 meters by running 7.10 seconds and placing 6th overall.
Ahye placed 1st in the 100m event at the Lausanne Diamond League meet on July 3, 2014 running 10.98 and Ahye placed 2nd at the Continental Cup in Marrakech Morocco for the Americas Team in 2014.
9. Khalifa St. Fort
Another Olympic sprinter, St Fort has also done well in her field.
St Fort produced three personal bests at the 2015 World Youth Championships in Athletics, winning silver in the final.
She won 100 m gold at the 2015 Pan American Junior Athletics Championships and broke the national record at the 2015 World Championships in Athletics in the 4x100 metres relay with a time of 42.24 seconds, which garnered a bronze for the team.
10. Abeo Jackson
Abeo Jackson is a producer, actor and dancer, and a founding member of Les Enfants Dance Company in San Fernando.
Jackson previously studied mass communications and theatre arts at Dillard University in New Orleans.
The theatre expert worked with Raymond Choo Kong before creating her own production company, Abeo Jackson Productions, in 2012.
Jackson also performed alongside rapso stars 3canal in 2016 for their annual show.
11. Dzifa Job
Public relations consultant, Dzifa Job, has consistently helped shape, and provided exposure to, sport in Trinidad and Tobago.
Job is a writer with a wealth of local and international experience and lectures Masters students on Sport Communication and Public Relations at the University of Trinidad and Tobago.
She provides issues management counsel to the former Port of Spain mayor Raymond Tim-Kee, and works with local sporting organisations such as the Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee and the TT Pro League.
Job also worked with Mango Media Caribbean to promote the Red-light Concert Series featuring Grammy award winning artistes R-Kelly and Ne-Yo.
Job is a graduate of Syracuse University’s Newhouse School of Public Communications. With a BA in Public Relations and Post Graduate Diplomas in Sports Management and Protocol Studies from FIFA/CIES and the International School of Protocol and Diplomacy.
12. Gillian Wall
Gillian Wall is co-Founder of local NGO, Powerful Ladies of Trinidad and Tobago (PLOTT), a group that has been making a name for itself in bringing women’s issues to the fore.
In 2015 PLOTT received a National Award (Gold) for its “Outstanding Contribution to the development of Women’s Rights and Issues.”
Wall’s strong presence in advocating for the improvement of women’s rights and the end of domestic violence through PLOTT has continued to made a difference within Trinidad and Tobago. For more information go to www.plottonline.org
13. Nyssa Pierre
You may not see her name up in lights, but be assured that the people you do see might be because of her skilful expertise.
Pierre is the Managing Director and owner of PearTree Consulting, a full-service Public Relations and Event Management consultancy with a speciality in Protocol and Diplomatic requirements.
The company has handled several events including the recent launch of the Victoria Keyes Development and helped coordinate SoCalypso – Calypso Rose in Concert in February.
She has a Bachelor of Arts in Communications and Spanish from York University in Toronto and an Executive diploma in Protocol and Soft Diplomacy from the ISPD in Brussels.
Pierre also works with Trinidad and Tobago's most decorated athletes to “take brand T&T across the world”.
14. Tenille Clarke
A force to be reckoned with within the field of public relations, Tenille Clarke has worked with many influential brands such International Soca Monarch King Aaron “Voice” St. Louis, Roy Cape All Stars, Brian Mac Farlane and Olympian Cleopatra Borel, among others.
Clarke is the Managing Director of Chambers Media Solutions, a full-service public relations and events management company.
15. Thema Williams
Williams has fought long and hard to represent Trinidad and Tobago.
The elite gymnast was the subject of controversy in 2016 after fellow gymnast Marisa Dick replaced her in representing the country at the 2016 Olympic games in Brazil, which was reportedly due to an injury Williams had obtained.
Williams became the first gymnast to represent Trinidad and Tobago at world championship when she competed at the 2011 World Championships in Tokyo, Japan.
She placed 59th at the 2015 Glasgow World Championships.
Source: Loop News

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