Women in Energy Conference a Resounding Success

By Stuart Wilson

The 5th Annual Women in Energy Conference was held at the Indigo Hotel on 22nd May, 2026.

Hosted by CUC, the event focused on an array of issues affecting society, whilst also putting the spotlight on women and their unique strengths and abilities in the context of empowerment and energy from a global perspective.

Speakers included renowned Caribbean Economist and Advisor Marla Dukharan, who served as the keynote speaker for the event and whose perspective on economic resilience, regional reliability, and sustainable growth offered exceptional value.

“Her insights will help illuminate how strong economic frameworks and reliable systems can shape the future of energy and development in the Caribbean,” noted the event’s organisers.

President and CEO of Caribbean Utilities, Mr. RIchard Hew also addressed the audience, which included hundreds of women.

Mr. Hew spoke about CUC’s evolution in the Cayman Islands over the past 60 years and the company’s ethos regarding working together to embrace the future during his remarks.

A panel discussion entitled:  “How can energy drive sustainable development for generations to come” was led by the General Manager of Island Energy, Mr. Jonathan Tibbetts.

Whilst, The Importance of Electricity and Partnership was explored by Margaret Kenequanash, CEO of Wataynikaneyap Power, who looked at how reliable energy access transforms small and remote communities.

Drawing parallels between her own community and the Cayman Islands, she highlighted how electricity is more than convenience—it is a lifeline that powers education, healthcare, safety, and economic opportunity.

Through the story of Wataynikaneyap Power, she demonstrated what is possible when Indigenous communities lead and strong partnerships come together to build sustainable, future focused energy solutions.

The after lunch session proved to be as riveting as the first segment and featured internationally  renowned speaker, Krystal Tomlinson, who delivered a rigorous and thought-provoking examination of leadership, authority, and impact when women stop borrowing from models that were never designed with them in mind, challenging the traditional obsession with control and instead exploring influence as a deeper, more sustainable form of power—rooted in clarity, emotional intelligence, conviction, communication, and presence.

Her segment was aptly titled: “Power as Influence, Not Control”.

Other speakers to round out the conference included Corey Miller - Manager of Engineering & Planning Caribbean at Utilities Company, Ltd, as well as Namitha Abraham Manager of Project Delivery at Caribbean Utilities Company, Ltd.

Their remarks centered around CUC’s transformation through key projects that directly enhance service reliability and customer value and  focused on the deployment of Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) and the Life Cycle Upgrade (LCU) of five of the company’s largest generators, demonstrating how these initiatives strengthen grid stability, improve efficiency, and support sustainability goals.

She Means Business: Women Leading with Power was led by Melesia Adderley - Founder, President & CEO of Women’s Haven®, after which Gina Ebanks-Petrie  led a panel discussion entitled, “Voices Across the Years: Generational Perspectives on Women in Sustainability” Closing remark were delivered by Nichelle Scott - Director, Customer Services & External Communications for Caribbean Utilities Company, Ltd.