Abby has branched out into several fields since returning to the BVI after studying and working in Europe for ten years. These include, Event Management and a Territory Wide Vermicompost Solution for Organic Waste to name a couple.

The Scuba Diving and Swimming Instructor has always been a Water Sports enthusiast and has been a Regatta Sailor since childhood. Abby currently serves as a Director on the Board of Directors of KATS (Kids And The Sea). The Non–Profit was founded in the BVI in 1990 to teach Basic Sea Skills, Swimming and Rowing to youth in the BVI. Abby has been an instructor with KATS since she was 14.

Abby’s first qualifications are in Fashion Design. She worked in Marketing and & Public Relations in Europe between 2002 and 2007, having most recently completed studies in Advertising, Public Relations and Print Journalism.

In 2013 Abby Co-Founded the BVI Wine & Food Festival which staged its first annual event in November of 2013 featuring world renowned and award winning chefs Francois Payard, Cesare Casella, Ron Durpat and Jennifer Carroll.

Abby is currently the Vice President of the Rotary Club of Tortola.

Originally from the Virgin Islands, I am currently studying medicine at Swansea University. I participate in a number of organisations including Swansea's Rural and Remote Health in Medical Education track, Clinical Leadership for Improving Patient Services Society and Swansea University dance society. In my spare time I sing and dance (although not at the same time) and I enjoy participating in performing arts. My ambition is to use the medical and life skills I'm gaining during my studies to improve the provision of health services in the Virgin Islands.

Born and raised in the Virgin Islands, I am a proud Islander. I earned my Bachelors of Science degree in Graphic Design & Illustrations in 2010 at the Arts Institute of Pittsburgh, PA, where I then returned home to use my skills to the best of my ability in my community. My work spans from branding and editorial design to art direction, layouts & illustration. Through taking the inherent personality and condition of a project into consideration, I try create powerful aesthetics that form a life of their own. Overall, my aim is to create great experiences and real connections through my designs, and be able to explore various fields through collaboration with other professionals in art industry. In my free time when my creativity is at rest I enjoy going to the beach, though I can not swim and going to the gym as I absolutely enjoy trying new foods (a little too much!).

Asiyah Grant is on disability leave from Scotia Bank, where she was a Relationships Manager. She was in a near fatal car accident on February 1, 2014. It is by the grace of God that she is here today. As a certified Civil Engineer, she also worked for the BVI Ports Authority as the Ports Engineer.

Asiyah is a proud Rotarian and before her accident was slated to be the 2015 secretary of the Rotary Club of Tortola. She has held a few positions as well:

• Sergeant at Arms 2013-2014
• Committee member of Hospitality for District conference Tortola 2013
• Director of Service Projects 2012-2013
• Committee member for production of Grand Affair 2012 (raising $100K for Autism)
• Producer of Jail & Bail fundraiser 2012 (raising $14k for Crime Stoppers BVI

Asiyah received a Bachelors of Science in the field of Civil Engineering from the State University of New York at Buffalo. With that degree she moved (a.k.a drove) all over the United States with the Federal Highway Administration where she worked to install roads, tunnels, and bridges. Her favorite assignment was when she worked in NJ as part of the team to implement the EZ pass system in NYC.

She is a native New Yorker who always wanted to explore the world. She took her first adventure when she went away to college and then a second adventure when she took her first job out of college. They both moved her all over the country. But her latest adventure was to move to the BVI where she got married and decided that the warmer climate worked best for her.

Danika Stoutt is a Special Educator who currently works with the McLain Association for Children in Tbilisi, Republic of Georgia. In addition to working in the BVI, she has also held teaching positions in California and the BVI.

What excites you about TED?

Based on my work over the years in education, I have come to believe that there are two important things that can inspire people to create change: curiosity and connection. How much does this topic make you want to learn more about it? How does this topic relate to your life? By allowing for a variety of speakers and locations, all linked through one forum, TED has created experiences that continuously encourage people--no matter where you are-- to be curious, and to make those connections.

Boasting sixteen years experience in the Caribbean and NCIDQ certification, her designs are proven sustainable solutions. Carson’s portfolio reflects a vast range including the main offices for Conyers Dill & Pearman, KPMG, the new renovation for YCCS, Nanny Cay and Brandywine developments along with numerous others in all facets of commercial, residential and hospitality design.

From producing interior architectural documentation, and site-work to procurement, her firm has expansive relationships with fabricators, suppliers and resources that are sure to be vital to any design project.

Debi is a well sought after artist in our region. You can find her artwork displayed in Commercial Offices, Private Collections in the US and throughout the Caribbean, and Hospitality installations such as Peter Island. Her piece “Neon Energy” was selected to represent the BVI in the Pan-Am Olympics in 2015. Her latest installation is the Gallery at IAC here in Road Town.

Debi has a passion for art and design, and you can often find her in our community teaching art to children, the young at heart or in search of the next great opportunity to collaborate in creative projects.

Photography has always been a passion for me John F. Black, a 4th generation photographer with over 11 years experience.

With the introduction of video in the DSLR cameras I embraced and incorporated videos into my portfolio five years ago.

My main genres are events of any kind, especially weddings, portraits, drone photography (my passion) and real estate villa promo videos.

My two greatest pieces of work to date are two amazing drone videos featuring beautiful BVI sceneries from the series DRONELIFEBVI received enormous feedback worldwide. To the tune of over 220k views on my fb social media page https://www.facebook.com/jblakx1/.

For more of my work visit my website http://johnfblackphotos.com

Kaletha Henry is a city gal with southern roots on a journey through the Caribbean world. A proficient writer and communicator, she is the owner of Media Matters – a media, communications and public relations agency based on Tortola that provides first-rate communications services to companies, small businesses and individuals seeking to build and promote their brand, product, or service.

Kaletha is a visual artist who has a thirst for learning and discovering. Passionate about the arts, she has become a collector of paintings, photography, and illustrations from artists in Latin America and the Caribbean. She believes traveling offers a well-rounded educational experience that exceeds the confines of a classroom, and she believes everyone should have access to free and exceptional higher learning opportunities.

As a radio host she’s able to address issues facing teens and young adults through a roundtable discussion and open questions from callers within the community and overseas.

She holds an extensive writing portfolio that includes articles published in lifestyle, entertainment, business, and women’s magazines.

Kaletha believes food is a key connection to breaking barriers and writes about culinary experiences. She is currently working on a documentary photography project.

Lavina Liburd is the founder and Principal of TigerQi Architecture, a boutique design firm based in the British Virgin Islands, with current projects in the BVI and St. Kitts-Nevis. Her work includes commercial buildings, luxury residential developments, and single family homes, as well as corporate, medical, and retail interior fit-out projects. Prior to founding TigerQi Architecture, Lavina was a lead designer and Project Architect with OBMI (BVI) for seven years.

After receiving her professional degree in Architecture from Florida A&M University, Lavina practiced in the San Francisco Bay Area for seven years before moving to the BVI. While in the Bay Area, she worked on significant civic and institutional projects including the San Francisco International Airport, the San Francisco Youth Guidance Center, and the design of two Outpatient Clinics for the Santa Clara Valley Health and Hospital System. She was also an active member of the Organization of Women Architects, achieved First Kyu in Cuong Nhu at the Tuyet Tan Dojo, and earned a Master's of Science from the University of California at Berkeley, College of Environmental Design.

Lavina became a Rotarian at the Rotary Club of Road Town, BVI, in July 2008 and was awarded a Paul Harris Fellow by her club in June 2009. Over the following years she has served on the board of her club as Vice President, twice as Membership Director, and most recently as Public Relations Director. She was also a member of the Public Relations Committee for the 2013 Rotary District 7020 Conference in the BVI.

A native of St. Kitts-Nevis, Lavina attended the Basseterre High School, and was part of the inaugural class of the Clarence Fitzroy Bryant College of Further Education. There she sat University of Cambridge ‘A’ Levels and was awarded the State Scholarship on graduation.

An avid reader, Lavina loves but avoids the boating culture of the BVI as she gets horribly sea-sick. So at home or on the beach she reads Science Fiction and Fantasy for its reflection on, and analysis of human values and cultures, and it's attempt to imagine beyond.

Reymar Gooding has been advising businesses, organizations, and individuals on how to use both web and mobile technologies to automate and streamline their operations since graduating from the University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus, with honors in 2006. During his final year, Reymar launched Picture2Life, a popular online photo editing application which has been featured in PC World Magazine, September 2008 issue and has gained more than 100 million page views to date.

Reymar’s career objective is to bring his technical and analytical skills to benefit progressive organizations and businesses around the world. Reymar can be contacted at me@reymargooding.com or by visiting his LinkedIn profile at http://www.linkedin.com/in/reymargooding

Mavis Small Abednego moved to the British Virgin Islands over 20 years ago. She teaches high school English. Mavis has shared her love of English, Literature and Communication Studies with students from middle school level up to the university level. She holds a BA in Political Science from the University of the Virgin Islands and a MSc in Reading Education from CUNY.

Over the years, Mavis has come to appreciate TED as a learning resource for both her students and for herself.In true TED addict fashion, she started with a few interesting videos and now consistently consumes talks on topics ranging from poetry to science to design and more, in video format and in podcasts.