BIT names Kathy Smith first female chair in board’s 115-year history

READ THE RELEASE FROM THE BOARD OF INDUSTRIAL TRAINING (BIT):

The Board of Industrial Training (BIT) is pleased to announce the appointment of its newly inducted Board, which will serve for the period January 23, 2026 to January 22, 2027.

Following her appointment by the Cabinet of the Government of Guyana, Ms. Kathy Smith will serve as Chairperson of the Board of Industrial Training for the 2026–2027 term.

This appointment is regarded as historic, as Ms. Smith becomes the first woman to hold the position of Chairperson in BIT’s 115-year history.

Ms. Smith brings to the Board a wealth of experience and knowledge accumulated over several decades. She is widely recognised as a prominent leader within the Guyanese business community and a strong advocate for private sector development and economic growth.

In 2025, Ms. Smith also made history when she became the first female President of the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) in its 136-year history. Her leadership experience and commitment to strengthening the relationship between industry and workforce development will be invaluable to the work of the Board of Industrial Training.

The Honourable Minister of Labour and Manpower Planning, Keoma D. Griffith, has expressed confidence that the newly appointed Board will continue to strengthen the role of the Board of Industrial Training in advancing national workforce development and expanding opportunities for skills training across Guyana.

Under the leadership of the Chairperson and the newly appointed Board, BIT will continue to focus on strengthening technical and vocational education and training (TVET), addressing skills gaps through stronger alignment with industry needs, and expanding partnerships with the private sector in support of Guyana’s growing economy.

The official members of the Board of Industrial Training (2026–2027) are as follows:

Chairperson - Ms. Kathy Smith

Vice-Chair - Mr. Ganesh Singh

Members

Mr. John Edghill

Ms. Andrea Benjamin

Mr. Yannick Garraway

Ms. Sheila Verasammy

Mrs. Karen Roopchand

Mrs. Desa Liverpool

Ms. Penelope Harris

Mr. Michael Turner

Mr. Krishn Sharma

Mr. Suresh Singh

Ex-Officio Members

Ms. Indrani Ramnarine

Mr. Jainarine Sarjoo Sookpaul

Mr. Richard Maughn

The Board of Industrial Training remains committed to its mandate of supporting technical and vocational education and training (TVET) in Guyana through the development of a skilled, competent, and productive workforce.