Please note that this agenda is preliminary and subject to ongoing review and updates by CARILEC. As preparations for the conference continue, adjustments may be made to session topics, speakers, and scheduling to ensure the most relevant and impactful experience for participants. Attendees are encouraged to check regularly for the latest updates.
Agenda
| Day 1 – Sunday, March 22nd, 2026 | |
| 5:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. | Registration |
| 6:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. Opening Ceremony & Cocktail Reception | Opening Ceremony Keynote Speaker – John Mencias, Chief Executive Officer, Belize Electricity Limited (BEL) The 2026 HRCCCS Conference is honored to welcome John Mencias, Chief Executive Officer of Belize Electricity Limited, as this year’s keynote speaker. With over 25 years of leadership experience spanning the energy sector and public service, Mr. Mencias brings deep insight into strategic leadership, organizational transformation, and stakeholder engagement in complex operating environments. Since assuming leadership of BEL in 2019, he has guided the organization through a period of innovation, operational improvement, and strengthened focus on people, communications, and customer experience. His unique perspective, bridging government, economic policy, and utility operations, makes him exceptionally well positioned to speak on the leadership and alignment required for organizations to thrive in today’s rapidly evolving energy landscape. |
| Day 2 – Monday, March 23rd, 2026 | |
| 8:30 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. Panel Discussion – Aligning Purpose for Authentic Engagement and Impact
| Abstract: In today’s utility environment, alignment between Human Resources, Corporate Communications, and Customer Service is essential. As utilities navigate workforce pressures, rising customer expectations, the energy transition, and increasing public scrutiny during outages and crises, how these functions work together directly impacts trust, performance, and resilience. This panel challenges attendees to consider how stronger alignment across these areas can lead to more engaged employees, clearer crisis communication, improved customer confidence, and stronger relationships with stakeholders and communities. Join the conversation and explore practical strategies to ensure your organization’s purpose, messaging, and service delivery work together to create authentic engagement and real impact. |
| Block #1 Human Resource Management | |
| SESSION 1 – 9:30 a.m. – 10:05 a.m. Presentation Topic: Understanding And Overcoming Resistance to Change – Building A Culture That Accepts and Embraces Transformation
| Abstract: Organizational change significantly impacts employee’s wellbeing and productivity, and organizations today seem to be in a constant change cycle. This presentation will look at the “transformational” – impacting structures and cultures and “emergent” – unpredictable, more complex and challenging changes – that have become the drivers of our business. It will then explore the impact on all Team Members and how to drive successful change and transformation through communication, empowerment and support. The presentation will be supported by information from a variety of sources including the Investors in People/Censuswide Survey 2025 and Pelican Energy TCI’s current organizational change. Speaker: Claudia Munnings, PELICAN Moderator: Dr. Cletus Bertin, Executive Director, CARILEC |
| 10:05 a.m. -10:35 a.m. – Networking Break | |
| SESSION 2 – 10:35 a.m. – 11:55 a.m. Presentation Topic: Ensuring Alignment: How Toxic Leaders Short-Circuit Engagement & Impact | Abstract: As Caribbean electric utilities increase renewables and grid resilience, a major risk point is outdated leadership approaches. While we engineer resilience into our grids, archaic behaviours trigger “organisational power loss,” diluting strategic alignment. Leadership toxicity acts as a “short circuit,” driving the brain drain and disengagement of engineers, essential for the energy transition. To be purpose aligned, our leadership maturity must match our technological ambition. In 2026, regional strength relies as much on leadership integrity as transmission capacity. Reliable power is the commodity; Human Resilience is the competitive advantage. Speaker: Richard Solomon, Principal, Development Consulting Company Moderator: Dr. Cletus Bertin, Executive Director, CARILEC |
| SESSION 3 – 11:55 a.m. – 12:30 pm Workshop Topic: Management of Change & Innovation: Understanding Resistance & the Science of Adoption | The session introduces a dual framework that combines the Change Management Equation, used to assess readiness for change, with Rogers’ Diffusion of Innovations, which explains how new ideas and practices spread within organizations. In the first part of the workshop, participants will explore the foundation of change through the Change Management Equation. Through the activity “Audit Your Initiative,” participants will apply the framework to a past or current project to identify potential barriers and better understand how to communicate the purpose and urgency of change. The second part focuses on accelerating the adoption of change. Participants will examine the key attributes that influence how quickly innovations are adopted. In the activity “Innovation Makeover,” groups will redesign a complex change initiative using these principles to reduce resistance and improve the likelihood of successful adoption across their organizations. Moderator: Dr. Cletus Bertin – Change Management |
| LUNCH – 12:30 P.M. – 1:30 P.M. | |
| 1:30 P.M. – 2:15PM
| WORKSHOP CONTINUED Management of Change & Innovation: Understanding Resistance & the Science of Adoption |
| 2:15 pm – 3:00 pm Panel Discussion: The Emotional Cost of Silence | In many workplaces, silence can be mistaken for compliance or stability. But when employees do not feel safe to speak up, the consequences reach far beyond missed ideas or operational gaps—they affect people on a deeply human level. Fear of speaking up can lead to stress, disengagement, burnout, unresolved conflict, and a loss of trust within teams. For organizations operating in high-pressure environments, such as utilities where safety, public trust, and operational performance are critical, psychological safety is not just a cultural aspiration; it is a leadership responsibility. When employees feel unheard, problems remain hidden, innovation is stifled, and small issues can escalate into larger organizational challenges. This panel explores how leaders, HR professionals, and communications teams can create environments where employees feel safe to speak, confident to challenge ideas, and empowered to raise concerns. Panelists will share insights on recognizing the emotional toll of silence, building trust across teams, and creating cultures where transparency and open dialogue are encouraged. |
| Networking Break – 3:00 p.m. -3:30 p.m. | |
| Block # 2 – Corporate Communications | |
| SESSION 4 – 3:30 p.m. – 4:05 p.m. Topic: Purpose Before Platforms: Building Trust and Authentic Engagement During Change | Abstract: Building Trust During Transformation: Internal Communication That Actually Engages Employees. As Caribbean utilities navigate regulatory change, digital transformation, and evolving workforce expectations, employee trust is a critical success factor. Let’s examine how effective internal communication can strengthen trust and engagement during periods of change. Moving beyond traditional tools, it explores leadership visibility, clear messaging, storytelling, and feedback as drivers of alignment and behaviour change. Drawing on practical utility experience, the presentation highlights the connection between engaged employees, service excellence, and organisational resilience.Speaker: Omari Frederick, Senior Manager Corporate Communications, St. Lucia Electricity Services Limited |
| SESSION 5 – 4:05 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. Topic: When the Lights Go Out Online: Crisis Messaging for Utilities in a Real-Time Social Media Environment | Abstract: In today’s digital environment, companies no longer control the timing or tone of crisis conversations. Social media amplifies emotion, misinformation, and public frustration in real time. This session focuses on how utilities can respond effectively under intense public pressure while maintaining credibility and authority. Using practical scenarios, it explores message framing, speed versus accuracy, leadership visibility, and coordination between communications, customer service, and operations teams. Attendees will gain tools for managing online narratives, addressing misinformation, and communicating with calm and confidence when every word is scrutinised. Speaker: Nicole Duke-Westfield, Principal, Westfield Communications |
| Day 3 – Tuesday, March 24th, 2026 | |
| 8:30 a.m. – 9:15 a.m. Panel Discussion – Branding a Utility – Building Affinity for Monopolistic Environments
| Electricity is something most people only notice when it’s gone. For utilities, this creates a unique branding challenge: how do you build a positive, trusted identity for a service that customers often associate with outages, bills, or infrastructure projects? In monopolistic environments where customers cannot simply switch providers, brand perception becomes even more important. A strong utility brand is about trust, transparency, and connection with the communities served. Communications teams play a critical role in shaping how the organization is experienced, ensuring that the utility is seen not just as a service provider, but as a partner in national development, resilience, and everyday life. This panel will explore how utilities can move beyond purely technical messaging to create brands that resonate with people. Panelists will discuss strategies for humanizing the utility, highlighting the people behind the power, communicating the value of infrastructure investments, and building goodwill through community engagement, sustainability initiatives, and customer-centered storytelling. The discussion will also examine how branding supports key organizational goals from improving customer relationships and employee pride to strengthening public understanding during challenging moments such as outages, tariff changes, or system upgrades. Moderator: Chelsa Jongue, Assistant Manager, Member Services (Communications and Marketing) CARILEC |
| SESSION 7 9:15 am – 9:50 am Topic: Humanizing Digital Communications in an Era of Automation | Abstract: Automation has increased the speed and volume of workplace communication yet engagement, trust, and emotional connection are quietly declining. Technology does not replace culture; it amplifies it. When communication becomes automated without intention, tone, dignity, and psychological safety are often the first casualties. This presentation challenges HR, Corporate Communications, and Customer Service leaders to rethink their role in shaping human-centred digital ecosystems. In a Caribbean context where relational intelligence and respect anchor workplace trust, protecting humanity within automation is no longer a soft skill; it is a strategic imperative.Speaker: Shelly-Ann Aqui-Solomon, Business Strategist + Leadership Mentor, Shelly Aqui Coaching & Consulting |
| Block #3 Customer Service | |
| SESSION 8 9:50 a.m. – 10:20 a.m. Topic: The Thinking Utility: Unifying People, Data, and Purpose for Authentic Engagement | Abstract: Electric utilities have long operated in fragmented, siloed ecosystems that weaken employee and customer engagement. Disconnected systems create manual routines, muddy communications, and a disjointed customer experience. Bolting on AI as an external advisor often adds noise without solving root causes. This session presents the “Thinking Utility”. A unified customer operations platform with embedded intelligence that bridges knowing and doing. By converging data into a single source of truth, utilities reduce friction and burnout, increase transparency, and empower service teams with real-time insight. Practical use cases illustrate measurable CX improvements and innovation for all. Speakers: Jesús Sánchez, CMO, and Felipe Corredor, Business Development Manager, Open Intelligence |
| Networking Break 10:20 a.m. -10:35 a.m. | |
| 10:35 am – 11:20 am Panel Discussion: In the Eye of the Storm: Coordinating HR, Communications, and Customer Service Before, During, and After a Crisis | When a major storm approaches, utilities move quickly into response mode, but effective crisis management depends on more than technical readiness. Human Resources, Corporate Communications, and Customer Service play critical roles in ensuring that employees are prepared, the public is informed, and customers are supported every step of the way. This panel explores how these three disciplines work together before, during, and after a storm to maintain safety, manage expectations, and support recovery. From preparing staff and communicating risk ahead of an event, to delivering timely updates during outages and managing the emotional toll on employees and communities afterward, the conversation will highlight the importance of alignment across people, messaging, and service delivery. Panelists will share lessons learned from real-world storm responses and discuss strategies for strengthening coordination, maintaining public trust, and supporting both employees and customers through high-pressure situations. Attendees will gain practical insights on how collaboration across these functions can improve crisis response, accelerate recovery, and build stronger organizational resilience when the storm hits. Moderator: Chelsa Jongue, Assistant Manager, Member Services (Communications and Marketing) CARILEC |
| LUNCH – 12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. | |
| 1:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Utility Best Practice & Lessons Learnt (Members Only) | This session is not just one to inform, but also to bring the Caribbean Utilities closer together to create synergies and best practices throughout the region. There is no doubt a shift in the industry towards energy transition, more sector resilience, smart grid integration and inter-connection. Therefore, the time is now to ensure we are all prepared to take the journey together. |
| Networking Break 3:00 p.m. -3:30 p.m. | |
| 6:30pm – 8:30pm A Taste of Belize Culture
| Step beyond the conference room and experience the vibrant spirit of Belize at “A Taste of Belize Culture.” This special event invites participants to unwind and enjoy the rich flavors, music, and traditions that make Belize unique. Conference Attendees will have the opportunity to sample authentic Belizean cuisine, experience elements of local culture, and connect with fellow attendees in a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere. It’s the perfect setting to continue conversations, build new relationships, and celebrate the shared experiences that bring us together at the conference. Join us for an evening of great food, cultural discovery, and meaningful connections as we celebrate the warmth and hospitality of Belize. |
| Day 4 – Wednesday, March 25th, 2026 | |
| 9:00 a.m. -10:00 a.m. Panel Discussion – Is the Region’s Push for Digital Transformation/Service Delivery Leaving Some Customers/Citizens Behind? | |
| Networking Break 10:00 a.m. -10:30 a.m. | |
| 10:30 am – 12:15 pm – The Convergence Room | The Convergence Room is an interactive, cross-functional experience designed to bring Human Resources, Corporate Communications, and Customer Service professionals together to examine real-life workplace and crisis scenarios. Rather than viewing challenges through a single lens, participants will collaborate in mixed teams to analyze situations from all three perspectives. Through carefully developed scenarios, attendees will explore the key considerations each discipline must address, people impact, messaging strategy, operational response, and customer experience. This session is designed to highlight the importance of alignment, shared accountability, and coordinated decision-making. Participants can expect dynamic discussion, practical problem-solving, and valuable insight into how stronger collaboration across these functions leads to more effective and resilient organizational responses. |
| LUNCH – 12:15 p.m. – 1:15 p.m. | |
| Island Tour: Xunantunich Maya Ruins – Cayo District – 1:30 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
| Take a break from the conference and embark on a memorable journey to one of Belize’s most iconic cultural treasures, the Xunantunich Maya Ruins in the beautiful Cayo District. This guided island tour offers participants the opportunity to explore the rich history of the ancient Maya civilization while enjoying the natural beauty and charm of Belize’s countryside. Participants will visit the impressive archaeological site, known for its towering pyramid “El Castillo,” which offers breathtaking views of the surrounding landscape. Along the way, guests will learn about the fascinating history, culture, and traditions of the Maya people from knowledgeable guides. This tour provides the perfect opportunity to experience Belize beyond the conference, connect with fellow attendees in a relaxed setting, and immerse yourself in the country’s vibrant heritage and scenic beauty. Join us for an unforgettable adventure filled with culture, history, and great company. |
