Grand Bahama

Making Grand Bahama the Gateway to
Innovation & Technology.

About The Event

To focus on the development of Freeport as an offshore technology hub, similar to Silicon Valley, The Bahamas Government introduces The Grand Bahama Technology Summit, a call to all industry stakeholders locally and internationally.

The Grand Bahama Technology Summit, which will be held on November 9th and 10th, 2017 at The Grand Lucayan Convention Center, Freeport, Grand Bahama will also connect entrepreneurs to local and international industry leaders, thus creating opportunities and access to resources and intellectual capital.

The theme for our 2-Day event is ‘Making Grand Bahama the Gateway to Innovation and Technology’. This event will attract and inspire local and international IT professionals, developers, innovators and stakeholders.

Grand Bahama Technology Summit

Summit Highlights

Dr. The Hon. Hubert Minnis, Prime Minister

Commonwealth of The Bahamas

Official Opening by
Dr. The Hon. Hubert Minnis
Prime Minister of The Commonwealth of the Bahamas

Appearances by International Industry Representatives from Silicon Valley

Unveiling of the
Grand Bahama Island Brand Campaign

The Blue Marlin Business Innovation Challenge. An opportunity for innovators to win start-up capital.

Our Speakers

For two days, you will receive a breadth of resources, tools, tips and practical advice from well-known and respected professionals in the information and technology industry, both locally and internationally.

Mr. Michael Johnston
Global System Engineer
Hewlett Packard / Aruba Networks Board
Ms. Aisha Bowe
STEM Board
Washington, DC
Dr. Jeff Schlosser
Start X Accelerator 
Silicon Valley
Dr. Jarvis Sulcer
STEM Board
Washington, DC
Dr. Gadryn Higgs
Silicon Valley
Mr. Laron Burrows
CEO – Urio
Silicon Valley 
Dr. Donovan Moxey 
Integrated Business Solutions
Nassau, Bahamas
Mr. Shadan Deleveaux 
Google Global Recruiter
San Francisco
Mr. Edison Sumner
President, The Bahamas Chamber of Commerce
Nassau, Bahamas

Event Schedule

7:30 am – 8:30 am

Registration

8:00 am

  • Seating of Dignitaries and Invited Guests by Protocol Officers
  • Entrance of the Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas and Ministerial Delegation
8:30 am

National Anthem
Mrs. Althea Cooper, Office of the Prime Minister, Grand Bahama
8:35 am Opening Prayer
Pastor Robert Lockhart, Vice President of the Grand Bahama Christian Council
8:40 am Chairperson Opening Remarks
Harcourt Brown, Permanent Secretary, Office of the Prime Minister Grand Bahama
8:45 am Remarks
Ian Rolle, President Grand Bahama Port Authority and Title Sponsors
8:50 am Welcome Remarks
Sen. The Hon. J. Kwasi Thompson, Minister of State for Grand Bahama, Office of the Prime Minister
9:00 am Keynote Remarks
Dr. the Hon. Hubert Minnis, Prime Minister Commonwealth of the Bahamas
9:25 am Video Presentation
9:30 am Presentation
Mr. Micheal Johnston, Hewlett Packard
“Developing A Technology Hub “
10:00 am Presentation
Dr. Donovan Moxey, CBI Bahamas
“Technology Industry the 3rd Pillar of the Economy”
10:25 am Morning Keynote Presentation
Ken Bodnar and Kimberley King Burns
"Diversifying the Economy with Block chains"
11:00 am MORNING REFRESHMENTS AND NETWORKING
11:20 am

Keynote Panel
Developing Grand Bahama into a Tech Hub

Part 1: Logistics, Infrastructure & Policy

  • Sebastian Tickle, Ibetel IBO
  • Dr. Gadryn Higgs, Silicon Valley
  • Kristie Powell, Google
  • Xerxes Beharry, Microsoft
  • Damian Blackburn, Aliv
  • Archie Collins, CEO Grand Bahama Power Company
  • Eldri Ferguson-Mackey, VP Northern Service BTC.
  • Mr. Iram Lewis, MP & Parliamentary Secretary Ministry of Works (Facilitator)
12:50 pm

LUNCH

Stakeholders Luncheon (By Invitation Only)
Keynote Speaker:

  • Sen. The Hon. J. Kwasi Thompson, Minister of State for Grand Bahama, Office of the Prime Minister

2:20 pm

Keynote Panel
Developing Grand Bahama into a Tech Hub

Part 2: Creating a Competitive Advantage

  • Dr. Gadryn Higgs, Silicon Valley
  • Dedric Adderley, Quantum Data Solutions
  • Demarius Cash, Network Security
  • C. Allen Johnson
  • James Clarke, Global Sun Integration Management
  • Kimberly King Burns, Convergenz
  • Mrs. Pakeisa Parker-Edgcombe, MP & Parliamentary Secretary Office of the Prime Minister (Facilitator)
3:50 pm

Afternoon Keynote Presentation

  • Shadan Deleveaux, Google Global Recruiter
    “The ICT Industry As a Career”
4:50 pm End of Day One
5:00 pm

Blue Marlin Business Innovation Pitch
Whale Cay Room

  • Panel Shadan Deleveaux, Google
  • Xerxes Beharry, Microsoft
  • Ken Bodnar
  • Laron Burrows, Urio
  • Jeffrey Schlosser, StartX
  • Kristie Powell, Google
  • Dr. Jarvis Sulcer

9:00 am

Chairperson Opening Remarks

  • Harcourt Brown, Permanent Secretary, Office of the Prime Minister Grand Bahama
9:05 am

Presentation

  • Mr. Edison Sumner, President Bahamas Chamber of Commerce
    “Shaping Policy as it relates to Tax Incentives and Concessions”
10:05 am

Keynote Conversation sponsored by Google

  • Kristie Powell, Google
    ‘Bridging the Digital Divide’
10:30 am

Video Presentation

  • Aisha Bowe, STEMBoard
  • Dr. Jarvis Sulcer, STEMBoard
    "Strengthening Education for Innovation"
10:50 am

Presentation

  • Laron Burrows, Urio
    Education for Innovation
11:10 am MORNING REFRESHMENTS AND NETWORKING
11:25 am

UNIVERSITY OF THE BAHAMAS Panel
The Role of the University in Developing A Technology Hub

  • Dr. Ian Strachan, VP University of the Bahamas, North
12:30 pm LUNCH

1:30 pm Announcing of the Winner of the Blue Marlin Business Innovation Pitch
1:40 pm

Presentation

  • Dr. Jeff Schlosser, StarX
    Developing Tech Incubators and Accelerators Entrepreneurship and Innovation
2:00 pm

Spotlight on Bahamians
Integrating Bahamians Abroad with Local Development

  • Dr, Gadryn Higgs, Silicon Valley
  • Kristie Powell, Google
  • Laron Burrows, Urio
  • Kimberly King Burns, Convergenz
  • Aisha Bowe, STEMboard
  • Sen. The Hon. Jasmine Dareus (Facilitator)
3:00 pm

Presentation
Disruptors of Innovation – ‘What Will Hinder the Progress of Grand Bahama as the Gateway to Innovation & Technology’

  • Alex Camron
3:20 pm

Presentation
Influencers of Start-up Economies – ‘What Will Propel Grand Bahama Forward as the Gateway to Technology & Innovation’

  • George Tsakis, Huawei
3:40 pm – 4:40 pm

Talk Back Open Forum
2:00 pm

Keynote Closing Remarks

  • Sen. The Hon. J. Kwasi Thompson, Minister of State for Grand Office of the Prime Minister
4:50 pm End of Day One
4:50 pm Close Out Party – A Taste of Port Lucaya

Venue

The event will take place at the Grand Lucayan Resort’s Convention Center. If you have any questions regarding the summit, feel free to contact us using the information below.

Grand Lucayan Convention Center
1 Seahorse Lane
Freeport, Grand Bahama
www.grandlucayan.com

info@grandbahamatechsummit.com

1-242-350-8578/8599/8585

Register

You can register for the 2-Day event by completing the form below.

  • Registrant Information

  • Select all that apply

  • Registration Dates

    Select the dates that you will be attending
  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

REGISTRATION IS FREE

Where to Stay

 

Grand Bahama Vacations

Getting to Grand Bahama Island is a breeze.

Hop a plane, board a cruise or depart on the Fast Ferry from Ft. Lauderdale and enjoy a relaxing glide to our tropical destination. Explore your transportation options and plan your trip to Grand Bahama Island today.

Book Your Stay

Our Event Sponsors

We’d like to thank these organizations, for their valued contribution to making this event a reality.

Title Sponsor – Grand Bahama Port Authority

Grand Bahama Port Authority / Invest Grand Bahama

Innovation Sponsor – ALIV

Aliv

Supporting Sponsors

  • Grand Bahama Island

  • Quantum Data Solutions

  • Network Security Consultant Group

  • Global Sun