Celebrate Cayman
Deputy Executive Chairman
Celebrate Cayman is a national celebration of our culture, history, and community.
In 2018, we commemorated the 60th anniversary of our Coat of Arms.
In 2019, we celebrated the 60th anniversary of our first written constitution.
In 2021, we are celebrating our seafaring heritage. Seafaring is an integral part of the Cayman Islands history, identity, society, economy, and development. To mark this occasion, there is a year-long calendar of initiatives focused on discovering the Cayman Islands’ seafaring history; engendering national pride in our seafaring heritage; honouring our seafarers and contributors to seafaring; engaging, educating, and inspiring youth; celebrating our diversity and encouraging connection; and nurturing a spirit of a cultural community.
Throughout 2021, we will recognise the outstanding contributions made by our seafarers, highlight the inspiring stories of our seafaring heritage, and celebrate the industry that is firmly embedded in the history and culture of the Cayman Islands. It is our hope that every person in the Cayman Islands will interact with the Celebrate Cayman initiatives in ways that are meaningful to them, and as a result feel a deeper and long lasting connection and appreciation for the Cayman Islands, our heritage, and our culture.
The Girl On Purpose Project
Co-Founder and Contributing Writer
Gender inequality remains the most pervasive form of inequality around the world. On International Day of the Girl Child, 11 October 2016, Girl On Purpose made its debut. This self-published eBook includes beautiful and benevolent contributions from 52 amazing women and life extraordinaires, talking passionately about one of the 52 virtues that are accepted around the world, across multiple cultures and religions.
Sixty percent of proceeds benefit The Rotary Foundation which has been working to support basic education and literacy, reduce gender disparity in education, and increase adult literacy for 100 years, and She’s the First to provide scholarships to girls in low-income countries with the goal of creating first-generation graduates and our next generation of global leaders.
PHOTO CREDIT: GRAND CAYMAN MARRIOTT
TEDxSevenMileBeach
Licensee, Organiser, and Curator
TEDxSevenMileBeach is the first independently organised TEDx event in the Cayman Islands. In 2014 and 2015, both local and international speakers shared their inspirational stories in the form of short, powerful talks (18 minutes or less). In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDxSevenMileBeach brings people together to share a TED-inspired experience.
As the licensee, organiser, and curator of the event, I led a team of community-minded and progressive volunteers to deliver an event that is a catalyst for sharing community- and world-changing ideas.
Gender Diversity in the Workplace - Cayman Islands
Project Strategist
The Gender in the Workplace - Cayman Islands collaboration initiative is a group of passionate people, senior executives and academics, who are volunteering their time to investigate workplace diversity, or lack of, in executive population of the Cayman Islands.
Globally there is extensive data showing that gender diversity in the organisational leadership team results in better business results. Clear benefits include improved business decisions and more engaged employees. But what does diversity in the workplace look like here in the Cayman Islands? With no formal surveys or studies ever completed, no one can be sure. Are we ahead of global averages? Are we falling behind benchmarks? We are here to find out!
PHOTO CREDIT: CORTEZ VERNON PHOTOGRAPHY
Revel Unit
Revel Unit is a tribe of like-minded, free-spirited, soca-loving people who just want to live life like we're playing Mas! Each Revel Unit experience is created by soca lovers, for soca lovers. We aim to create the experience we want to have ourselves. We believe in love, unity, and "Pump over Pose" - the true essence of Carnival.
Since 2016, Revel Unit has created memorable experiences that surprise and delight our patrons. From backyard fetes to chippin' down the road and more, Revel Unit focuses on quality and delivers experiences that go above, beyond, and are not to be missed.
PHOTO CREDIT: MARI ABE PHOTOGRAPHY
Happiness Sprinkling Project Cayman Islands
Ambassador and Project Manager
People gather to picket injustice, mourn tragedy, rally for all sorts of causes, and to party … why not to sneak surprise everyday citizens with a little cheer?
Kind words can help heal this world and the Happiness Sprinkling Project Cayman Islands is a random and really fun pop-up event designed to spread hope, love and joy! Every year, a group of people - Happiness Sprinklers - gather to spread joy to morning commuters using signs shipped from city to city. The Cayman Islands edition in 2014 was the first overseas Happiness Sprinkling Project event ever!
This is a now global project founded by Laura Lavigne.
PHOTO CREDIT: GEORGIA TEN BuUREN
Cayman Food Tours
Founder and Lead Tour Guide
Cayman Food Tours, the Cayman Islands' first walking food tour, was founded in 2013 with the belief that our cuisine should be front, centre, and at the heart of the local and visitor experience. On every tour, Cayman Food Tours fulfilled its mission to connect visitors to and residents of the Cayman Islands with the island paradise in a memorable and meaningful way. Guests had the one-of-a-kind opportunity to eat the foods, explore the culture, engage with the people, and experience the Cayman Islands.
From 2013 to 2016, Cayman Food Tours offered 3-hour guided food tasting and cultural walking tours that took thousands of participants on an entertaining journey through George Town capital. The tours were a combination of delicious food and drink tastings and cultural, historical, and architectural highlights of the historic downtown area.
Cayman Food Tours was featured in travel, food, and lifestyle publications in Canada, the USA, the UK, the Caribbean, and the Cayman Islands. The five-star rated tour experience won awards and accolades from leading industry bodies including TripAdvisor and Viator for consecutive years, and captured the hearts of the many guests who had the opportunity to eat, explore, and experience the true Cayman Islands with this local company.