​​​​​​​​​​​​​Ministry of Science and Technology​

Trinidad & Tobago, 2013, April 25​
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Trinidad and Tobago hosts its inaugural Women and Girls in ICT Forum in celebration of Girls in ICT Day, 2013

The Ministry of Science and Technology, Republic of Trinidad and Tobago hosted its first successful national forum highlighting opportunities and critical issues for Women and Girls in ICT. The forum which was held on Girls in ICT Day (April 25, 2013) at the National Academy for the Performing Arts, Port of Spain, was officially opened by the Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. the Honourable Rupert T Griffith.                                              

Some 200 female Sixth Form students and their teachers from schools throughout Trinidad and Tobago, came together with eminent ICT professionals to discuss emerging career opportunities in the field, how women contribute to the digital economy and on becoming responsible digital citizens. Key highlights of the forum's programme included:

• The Female ICT Trailblazers Panel Discussion in which local female ICT pioneers from a range of areas such as ICT Law, e-Government, Creative Industries, Business and Engineering shared insights on how this rapidly evolving field could support personal and professional development for young women in Trinidad and Tobago. Featured speakers for this panel discussion comprised:
• Ms Lisa Agard    – ICT Law and Regulatory Consultant
• Dr Kim Mallalieu –Senior Lecturer, Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of the West Indies
• Dr Cathy-Ann Radix – Lecturer, Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of the West Indies
• Ms Frances Correia – Country Manager, Microsoft Trinidad Limited
• Ms Cintra Sooknanan– Chair, Internet Society Trinidad and Tobago Chapter
• Ms Denyse White – Head Consulting, National ICT Company Ltd
• Ms Camille Selvon-Abrahams – Founder and Creative Director of Animae Caribe Animation and New Media Festival

• The Being Cyber Smart Panel Discussion where cyber security and public relations experts educated and engaged students on the responsible use of the Internet and social media to build a positive personal brand. The facilitators of this panel were:
• Corporal Dale Joseph - Digital Forensics Expert, Cyber Crime Unit, Trinidad and Tobago Police Service
• Corporal Ian Maharaj - Digital Forensics Expert, Cyber Crime Unit, Trinidad and Tobago Police Service
• Ms La Toya Quamina - Marketing Analyst at the Telecommunication Services of Trinidad and Tobago Ltd  and Communications Lecturer at the College of Science, Technology and Applied Arts of Trinidad and Tobago (COSTAATT)

• The ICT Careers Exhibition where students benefitted from interactive presentations and exhibitions  hosted by leading ICT companies and educational institutions in Trinidad and Tobago such as:
• The National ICT Company Limited (iGovTT)
• The Telecommunications Authority of Trinidad and Tobago (TATT)
• IBM, Trinidad
• Columbus Communications
• The College of Science, Technology and Applied Arts of Trinidad and Tobago (COSTAATT)
• The University of Trinidad and Tobago (UTT)

The Ministry of Science and Technology, which has lead responsibility for ICT development in Trinidad and Tobago, will continue to hold similar fora as part of its mandate to ensure that women, girls and all citizens, can participate fully in the nation's burgeoning digital society.

For further information on the Ministry of Science and Technology's Women and Girls in ICT Forum 2013please contact Nadine Penny (pennyn@gov.tt) or Rafeea Singh (singh.rafeea@gov.tt).