Leadership Cayman Class of 2026 Examines Technology’s Rising Influence Across the Cayman Islands

The Leadership Cayman Class of 2026 gathered on Thursday, 19 February for its second seminar, focusing on the fast‑evolving role of technology across the Cayman Islands. The programme combined behind‑the‑scenes tours with an evening forum hosted by Cayman Enterprise City (CEC), giving participants an integrated look at the systems, innovations, and policy questions shaping Cayman’s digital future.

The afternoon opened with site visits to two critical national services: the Air Traffic Control Tower at Owen Roberts International Airport and the Cayman Islands National Weather Service. Split into small groups due to space limitations, participants saw firsthand how digital infrastructure and real‑time data support air safety and national forecasting.

The cohort then reconvened at CEC’s Signal House for dinner before moving into the seminar. After an introduction to CEC’s role in supporting technology‑focused businesses by CEO Charlie Kirkconnell, moderators Hannah Howe and Cottrell Ellis, guided by mentor Craig Bodden, set the stage for a focused discussion on opportunities and risks as Cayman accelerates its digital transformation.

Speakers

• Dr. Eustache Placide, Professor of Computer Science & Engineering, UCCI — an academic leader recently recognised as a Principal Fellow under the UK Professional Standards Framework, bringing a workforce‑development lens to AI and digital skills.
• Daniel Powery, Owner of Fortivium; Former IT Manager at the Cayman Islands Civil Service Credit Union — offered a practitioner’s perspective from enterprise IT and cybersecurity in the local market. (Speaker list per Programmes Coordinator update.)
• Ian Tibbetts, Director of eGovernment, Cayman Islands Government — outlined progress in online public services, digital identity, and cybersecurity across ministries.

The seminar’s focus tracked the official Technology Packet: the expanding role of artificial intelligence in compliance, fraud detection, and service delivery; emerging cybersecurity threats amid the rise of quantum computing; and the opportunities and concerns surrounding the My eID national digital identity system. Background materials also highlighted technology’s role in education, and the importance of resilient infrastructure in a small island economy where roughly 62% of activity is linked to the financial sector.

“I believe this seminar was an absolute hit, not surprised by the interactions and effort that went into the planning of the seminar. The moderators held it together well even after a speaker could not make it, they rallied together and were able to fill that spot to ensure a seamless seminar, under the guidance of their mentor Craig Bodden.” — Jada Ramoon, Programmes Coordinator

The evening closed with a full‑panel discussion, followed by an informal debrief at Mango Tree.