Dr. Hyginus ‘Gene’ Leon is the sixth President of Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), the regional development finance institution based in Barbados. He was elected at a Special Meeting of the CDB Board of Governors held on January 19, 2021 for a five-year term, and assumed office on May 4, 2021.

Dr. Leon has over 30 years of experience in economic development and has directed macroeconomic and financial policy support to government authorities in Africa, the Middle East and Central Asia, and the Caribbean.  He worked with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for more than 24 years, serving as Mission Chief for Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Nigeria, The Bahamas, and the Gulf States of Oman, Qatar, and United Arab Emirates, as well as IMF’s Senior Resident Representative in Jamaica and Nigeria.

Prior to his engagement with the IMF, Dr. Leon was an Associate Professor at State University of New York at Old Westbury in the United States. He has also served as Director of Research at the Central Bank of Barbados and Country Economist at CDB.

Dr. Leon holds a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Economics from the University of Southampton in the United Kingdom (UK) and a Bachelor of Science Degree (B.Sc.) in Economics from the University of London also in the U.K.

Joseph Williams is the Coordinator, Sustainable Energy at the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB). He joined the Bank in 2014. Among other things, he has led the development and implementation of the Bank’s Energy Sector Policy and Strategy. In his current role, he leads a team of energy specialists with responsibility for sustainable energy investment funding, project cycle management at the Bank, and implementation of the ASERT-2030 strategy for guiding the energy transition efforts of Borrowing Member Countries of CDB up to 2030.

He has 30 years of experience in the energy sector in the Caribbean, covering policy, project implementation and financing. In the past, he practiced as an electric utility engineer, regional energy management consultant, and also managed the CARICOM Energy Programme.

Mr. Williams is a professional mechanical engineer, and also holds a Master of Science degree in Engineering Management with emphasis on energy policy and planning, a Master of Business Administration in finance and sustainability.

Dr. Colin A. Young, a Belizean national, is the Executive Director of the Caribbean Community Climate Change Center (CCCCC) headquartered in Belize SINCE January 2020. Prior to his appointment at the CCCCC, Dr. Young served as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Social Security Board, a parastatal entity that administers Belize’s Social Security Fund from 2017 to 2019 were he championed contribution reform, technology transformation and numerous legislative changes. Dr. Young also served as the CEO in the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Fisheries, the Environment, Sustainable Development where he had overall responsibilities for all of the portfolios, including climate change, other than agriculture as well as the CEO in the Ministry of Energy, Science and Technology and Public Utilities from 2012-2015. Dr. Young has served on numerous boards including the Green Climate Fund, a financial mechanism under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. He holds both a Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy degree in ecology and evolutionary biology from the University of Connecticut in the United States.

Mafalda Duarte is the Executive Director of the Green Climate Fund, the world’s largest multilateral climate fund, since August 1, 2023. For decades, Mafalda has challenged business as usual to drive innovative and pioneering development and climate-responsive investments globally. Before her current role, Mafalda was CEO of the Climate Investment Funds, where she steered a multibillion-dollar portfolio of investments pushing the frontiers of clean energy, sustainable land management, and resilience across more than 70 middle and low-income countries. Originally from Portugal, Mafalda is a proud mother to three daughters and a champion of social inclusion and equity. She decided to focus her international development career on climate action after witnessing climate impacts in countries in Africa and learning about climate science.

Andrew has worked since 2004 for the Canadian federal public service, serving in a variety of roles in multiple departments and agencies. He is currently the Executive Director of Climate Finance at Global Affairs Canada. In this capacity, he oversees Canada’s portfolio of international climate finance programming, including the five-year, $5.3 billion commitment announced by Prime Minister Trudeau in 2021. He has a Doctorate in Geography from the University of Oxford.

Kerryne Zennelle James is a level-headed, calm, and enthusiastic individual who can carry out any role professionally and effectively. Through her many years in service to her community and country, she has meaningfully contributed to team success through hard work, attention to detail, and excellent organizational skills. She was born in Gouyave, in the parish of St. John.

She holds a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology from St. George's University, and an Associate Degree from the School of Arts, Science, and Professional Studies, at the T.A. Marryshow Community College, in Law, Geography, and Sociology.

In 2018 she was appointed to the House of Senate - becoming the youngest Senator in the history of Grenada and the Commonwealth of Nations. There, she was more instrumental in her quest for change by supporting and reviewing laws for the betterment of her peers and country.

Today, she is the youngest elected member of Parliament in the History of Grenada; and the only female elected member for the winning party.

She is now the Minister for Climate Resilience, The Environment, and Renewable Energy, Grenada.

Mr. Isaac Solomon is the Vice-President (Operations) at the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB). In that position, he provides leadership and direction to the Economics and Projects Departments.

Mr. Solomon is responsible for corporate planning and CDB’s lending and related economic activity. He spearheads the Bank’s engagement with its borrowing members and development partners.

Focal Areas:

· Performance management/development outcomes

· Climate Action

· Private Sector development

· Digital Transformation

· Regional financial affairs

Prior to joining CDB, Solomon held senior positions at RBC Royal Bank, the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank and the Government of St. Vincent & the Grenadines.

Mr. Solomon has a varied background in education and training. He holds a BSc. (Hons.) degree from the University of the West Indies in Management, and a MSc. degree in Financial Management from the University of London’s Centre for International Education in Economics. He also holds the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) designations.

Mr. Solomon held many directorships on the boards of a wide array of institutions across the region in the areas of finance, telecommunication, aviation among others.

In the role of Finance Innovation Director with the Caribbean Climate Smart Accelerator Inc., Cheryl holds responsibility for the fundraising, climate finance solutions, financial management, administration and technology portfolios.

Cheryl is an experienced strategy and finance leader who has managed operations across several industries and sectors over the last twenty years. She has extensive experience with financing for operations and capital projects and investments and has provided successful leadership of related business functions specifically procurement, technology, human resources and administration with a focus on leveraging technology solutions to build operational efficiency and improve process management.

She has completed graduate and postgraduate education in business, financial management and financial and commercial law.

Stephen joined the EIB in 2008, having previously worked in private consultancy in the UK and elsewhere in the World.

As Head of Aviation, Maritime and Innovative Transport, Stephen’s role was to make sure that the projects the Bank financed in these sectors were technically, economically and environmentally viable.

In 2020 he took charge of the Environmental, Climate and Social Office, and has overseen the transformation of the EIB into the European Climate and Environment Bank, primarily through the development and implementation of the EIB Group Climate Bank Roadmap (CBR), but also through a number of other ECS policy positions.

Quincia Gumbs Marie is a dedicated and passionate advocate for climate action and sustainable finance access, with a particular focus on Small Island Developing States (SIDS), including the British Overseas Territories. As the Minister of Sustainability, Innovation, and the Environment, she holds a pivotal role in shaping policies related to agriculture, fisheries, information technology, environmental conservation, renewable energy development, and statistical analysis.

Her remarkable career is marked by a relentless commitment to advancing sustainability policies within the Government of Anguilla. She believes in the power of a just transition, ensuring that economic development aligns harmoniously with environmental preservation, leading to genuine sustainable progress.

Beyond her role in policy-making, Gumbs-Marie is widely recognized for her prowess as a passionate public speaker. Her compelling advocacy for climate action and her dedication to women's rights make her a prominent voice in the global sustainability arena. She consistently strives to inspire positive change, emphasizing the importance of collective efforts to safeguard our planet and empower marginalized communities. Quincia aims to inspire the next generation of leaders, particularly women, to which she often says, “my work is an ode to the strong women who came before me and was denied and will be a foundation for women who will come after me and thrive”.

Quincia Gumbs Marie embodies the essence of a leader who tirelessly works towards a greener, more equitable future, leaving an indelible mark on the pursuit of sustainability and environmental justice.