Mrs. Sheree Ebanks, Chair of the Board of Caribbean Utilities Company, Ltd. (CUC), was today presented with a "Woman in Energy" Award 2026 by the High Commission of Canada. The award recognises her significant contribution to the Cayman Islands' energy industry. Mrs. Ebanks is the sole Cayman Islands honouree and was recognised alongside three leaders from Jamaica's energy sector. The awards were presented on Thursday, October 15, 2026, during Part III of the CANCarib Climate Smart Opportunities Summit (CCSOS) 2026, themed "Unlocking Diversity in the Clean Technology Economy.
" The ceremony took place at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel in Kingston.
The October 15 honourees are: • Mrs. Sheree Ebanks, Caribbean Utilities Company, Ltd. (CUC), Cayman Islands • Ms. Winsome Callum, Jamaica Public Service Company (JPS), Jamaica • Mrs. Yvonne Grinam-Nicholson, Office of Utilities Regulation (OUR), Jamaica • Ms. Melissa Newman, Jamaica Energy Partners (JEP), Jamaica Two honourees from The Bahamas will be recognised at a separate ceremony in The Bahamas later in October. About Sheree L. Ebanks Mrs. Ebanks is Chair of the Board of Caribbean Utilities Company, Ltd. (CUC), Grand Cayman's sole electricity provider and a member of the Fortis group of companies, headquartered in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador. A director since 2014, she was appointed Chair in May 2022, the first woman to hold the position since the company began operations in May 1966.
She provides strategic oversight of generation planning, renewable energy integration and grid resilience for a system serving approximately 35,000 customers. During her tenure, CUC has established a Green Financing Framework to support energy transition, climate resilience and long-term affordability. Her leadership draws on nearly five decades in the Cayman Islands' financial services sector, including a 33-year banking career and service as founding CEO of the Cayman Islands Institute of Professional Accountants. She is a recipient of the Certificate and Badge of Honour and an Accredited Director of the Chartered Governance Institute of Canada.
"The Cayman Islands' energy future is being shaped by people with vision, technical depth and the determination to deliver, and Sheree Ebanks is one of them," said H.E. Mark Berman, High Commissioner of Canada to Jamaica and The Bahamas and Consul General for the Cayman Islands. "These awards recognise women who are leading the region's clean energy transition, not waiting for it.
Canada is proud to celebrate their achievements and to work alongside them as partners in building a more resilient, sustainable Caribbean." The awards and the CCSOS are organised by the Trade Commissioner Service of the High Commission of Canada under its energy and clean technology portfolio. Now in its fifth staging, the summit ran from September 15 and concluded today. The three-part business initiative examines clean energy technology initiatives across Jamaica, The Bahamas and the Cayman Islands.
It also connects Canadian companies with regional counterparts to support the planning and delivery of clean technology projects. The awards highlight the Trade Commissioner Service's commitment to advancing women in trade and in high-growth sectors. Energy and clean technology are among the fastest growing industries in the Caribbean and globally, and women increasingly lead in them as executives, engineers, regulators and entrepreneurs. The Service recognises their leadership and connects women-led businesses with partners, markets and opportunities. Its aim is for women to help shape these sectors as they grow and to share in the benefits. Media Contact: Jessica Pawlik, Manager External Communications Caribbean Utilities Company, Ltd. jpawlik@cuc.ky