Team Members

Yvette Sutherland-Reid is an Attorney-at-law, who was admitted to practise at the Jamaican Bar in 2004. Having practised at the Private Bar in the areas of Civil Litigation, Commercial Law and Family Law , she subsequently joined the public service where she has served with distinction for over ten years . Mrs. Sutherland -Reid is currently engaged as the Senior Assistant General in Ministry of Industry Investment and Commerce (MIIC). She has a wealth of experience and expertise in diverse areas of the law. This has contributed to her serving on several legal working groups and committees in both the public and private sector to develop , review and advance enactment legislation. Her expertise has been sought out in numerous capacities including, but not limited to, Corporate Secretary, Chairperson of the MIIC’s Procurement Committee and as a Director on various public boards. She has also acted as Chairperson and sits as a member of various Appeal Tribunals and Disciplinary Committees. Mrs Sutherland-Reid has served as a tutor in the Law of Association course at the Norman Manley Law School. She holds a Diploma in Teacher Education from the Mico University College, and has a Bachelor of Arts Degree and a Master’s Degree (Arts and Education) from the University of the West Indies. She is an advocate for continuous learning, and is of the view that knowledge is the key to empowerment and growth. Mrs Sutherland-Reid is a mentor who seeks to promote positive values and attitudes in the next generation.

Ian Neita is an exemplary corporate executive with over thirty years’ experience in leading both large and emerging companies in diverse industries. He is currently a key player in the team that is transforming Yello Media Group from print to being the premier Caribbean company in digital marketing. Throughout his career Ian has participated in and led the transformation of start up entities such as the Workers Bank/Corporate Group; Victoria Mutual Investments Ltd. (Now Victoria Wealth Management) and he was the first Executive Director for the Tourism Enhancement fund. He has also demonstrated his abilities to drive transformation and growth, having been a part of the first executive team at Digicel. His experience also took him to LOJ(Sagicor) as senior vice president of investments and to Appliance Traders Ltd as General Manager. Mr. Neita has served on several public boards such as Caribbean Cement Company Ltd., and RJR Group as well as privately held boards. He currently serves on two Government Boards; JSEZA and JBDC. Outside his professional endeavors, Ian is actively involved in initiatives that support the environment, serving on the board of Jamaica Conservation Development Trust. He chairs the Management Monitoring and Review Committee of Project STAR, which is the most recent crime reduction initiative in Jamaica. He is also the immediate Past President of the Jamaica Chamber of Commerce.

Steven Gooden is the Founder and Principal of White River Capital Inc, a private equity and real estate outfit. For 10 years leading up to September 2023, he was the Chief Executive Officer of NCB Capital Markets Ltd. Under his leadership, the entity became a leading investment house in the Caribbean, having significantly expanded its footprint via the establishment of strategic hubs in the Cayman Islands, Trinidad & Tobago, Barbados, and Guyana. Steven’s ascent to executive leadership began at the age of 26 when he assumed the role of General Manager at one of Jamaica’s prominent fund management companies. Between 2017 and 2023, he served as the President of the Jamaica Securities Dealers Association (JSDA), presiding over an era marked by unprecedented growth and progress within Jamaica’s capital markets. A Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) charter holder, Steven has a Master of Science degree in Finance and Economics from the University of Southampton and a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics and Accounting from the University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona. He has also participated in executive development programs covering strategy, change Leadership and mergers & acquisitions. In 2023, the Government of Jamaica appointed Steven as Chairman of the Jamaica International Financial Services Authority (JIFSA) and as a director of the Jamaica Special Economic Zone Authority (JSEZA). He is also a director of the Mona School of Business and Management at UWI, the Jamaica Stock Exchange Ltd, TransJamaican Highway Ltd. Additionally, he is chairman of the boards for Elite Diagnostics Ltd and Limnars & Bards Ltd.

Rachel Applewhaite is the Acting Director of the Debt Strategy and Analysis Unit in the Economic Management Division (EMD) of the Ministry of Finance and the Public Service (MOFPS). Mrs. Applewhaite possesses over ten years’ experience in economic policy research and risk analysis, five of which have been dedicated to Jamaica’s civil service in the areas of debt and fiscal policy management. During this time, she has served on various committees and working groups focused on the Government of Jamaica’s response to climate change and natural disaster risk. Mrs. Applewhaite holds a Bachelor of Science (BSc) and a Master of Science (MSc) degree in Economics from the University of the West Indies (UWI) and is currently in pursuit of the Financial Risk Manger (FRM) designation from the Global Association of Risk Professionals (GARP)

Mrs. Shullette Cox became President of Jamaica Promotions Corporation (JAMPRO) on February 13, 2023, marking a remarkable journey from her beginnings as a JAMPRO intern over 20 years ago. Her dynamic leadership and unwavering dedication are focused on driving JAMPRO’s mission to promote exports, investments and Jamaica’s overall growth, shaping a prosperous future for the nation. Previously, Mrs. Cox served as Vice President of the Research, Advocacy, and Project Implementation Division (RAPID), where she skillfully managed crucial national programs such as the National Competitiveness Council (NCC), the National Investment Policy (NIP), and the Jamaica Business Gateway (JBG). Her tenure has seen her driving pivotal government reforms that have elevated Jamaica’s global business ranking, particularly the significant leap from 21st to 6th place worldwide for starting a business. With diverse qualifications, including certification as a change management practitioner, gazetted court mediator, and training in finance and estate planning, Mrs. Cox’s influence extends beyond JAMPRO. She contributes as a respected board member for various institutions, such as the Jamaica Special Economic Zone Authority (JSEZA), the Cannabis Licensing Authority (CLA), and the Jamaica International Financial Services Authority (JIFSA).

Mr. Honeyghan is a seasoned management professional with a wealth of experience working in the public and private sectors. He has skills in government operations, public sector management, diplomacy, economic and social development, and strategic planning and implementation. He has led advisory and enterprise teams with emphasis on business optimization and reorganization, strategic management and operational improvement. Mr. Honeyghan led enterprise risk management (ERM) transformation programs for public sector government entities, managed enterprise-wide risks and provided recommendations to support financial and operational management. Mr. Honeyghan speaks on finance and business management at local and international conferences and has made contributions to government policies towards increased economic growth in key sectors. These include Business Process Outsourcing (BPO), Special Economic Zones (SEZ), The National Water Commission (NWC) and the Jamaica International Financial Services Authority (JIFSA). He has led initiatives with international corporations and multilateral entities.

Ava Tomlin has over 20 years of experience as an operations leader and project manager in the aviation, construction, and utilities sectors. She currently serves as the Regional Director- Jamaica for BMR Energy. Prior to joining BMR Energy, Ava was the Jamaica Public Service Company’s Parish Manager for Manchester and St. Elizabeth, managing all aspects of service delivery. She has also served as the Director of Engineering, Maintenance and Planning for the Airports Authority of Jamaica, where she managed the facilities maintenance of an international airport and four domestic airports. Ava holds a bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from the University of the West Indies and an MBA in Operations Management & Strategy from the University of Rochester’s Simon Business School. A past Chairman of Holmwood Technical High School, she is also on the Board of Directors of the National Resource Conservation Authority.

Mr Christopher E. Levy, CD, MBA Chairman, Jamaica Special Economic Zone Authority Group President & CEO, Jamaica Broilers Group Ltd. Christopher Levy has been highly regarded as an astute corporate leader in the agricultural and production industries. President and CEO of Jamaica Broilers Group Limited since 2009, the scope of his leadership has grown exponentially with the acquisition of several significant assets in the Group’s US Operations. Under his leadership the Company expanded the business to Haiti (2010), a decision that has been rewarding both in terms of social responsibility to the Caribbean community as well as for the overall growth of the Group, as the Haiti Operations crossed the threshold of profitability (2017). Christopher Levy is passionate about nation building and has been invested in several significant philanthropic pursuits in support of education, sports, the indigent, community, and social empowerment. He was recently conferred the National Honour of the Order of Distinction in the Rank of Commander for his contribution to the development of Jamaica’s agri-business as well as community service. His appointment as Chairman of the Jamaica Special Economic Zone Authority (JSEZA) (2021) places him in a position to impact the way forward for Jamaica in a critical time in our global history. He also serves as a Director of the Jamaica Broilers Group Foundation; Caribbean Poultry Association; Swallowfield Chapel Outreach Foundation; Stony Brook Board of Trustees, NY USA; and Global Orphan Project. His previous directorships include service to the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA), the Jamaica Manufacturers Association and the Postal Corporation of Jamaica. As a follower of Christ, Chris Levy attributes his success to an abiding trust and faith in the Lord’s guidance. He is married to Sarah and together they have three children: Josephine, Austin and Morgan. Christopher Levy holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Management from the University of Miami, USA as well as a Master’s in Business Administration from Regent University in Virginia Beach, USA. He has also successfully completed the Executive Management Programme at Harvard Business School.